GovWin SLED Coronavirus Recon

Word on the Street

(What our Analysts are hearing from government)

• City of Philadelphia - As result of COVID-19, the city has suspended all RFP and RFI processes.  After the city resumes non-essential services, they will provide revised timelines for procurements.

General 

• Los Angeles launches coronavirus test website

• US Army Corps of Engineers has a plan to convert hotels into “ICU-like” facilities

• FCC Announces Waiver of the RHC Program Gift Rules

  • Order granting limited waivers of the rules necessary to fully fund all eligible Rural Health Care Program funding requests filed during the FY 2019 application window

• Hundreds pledge to help state, local government solve coronavirus challenges

• Needed Masks: Gov. Pritzker Announces Partnership to Produce Life-Saving Supplies for State

• Local governments are giving themselves special powers in the time of coronavirus

• Public employees keep local government running amid coronavirus crisis

• (Chicago) City has issued Stay at Home Order and may be delayed in responding to non-essential inquiries and service requests.

 

Funding & Economic Impact 

• (Nebraska) Lawmakers advance $84 million COVID-19 funding

• With COVID-19, California's Economy is in Uncharted Territory

• Abbott: Millions for COVID-19 response going to local health departments

  • Texas Department of State Health Services will distribute $19.5 million to 43 local health departments

• Alaska Senate passes operating budget with COVID-19 response funding, PFD funding

• How will the coronavirus affect state and local government budgets?

• Alaska Senate passes operating budget with COVID-19 response funding, PFD funding

  • The Alaska state senate passed the bill for the budget, which included $80 million set aside to help fight COVID-19.

• Legislature advances emergency pandemic funding

  • Nebraska legislature approved an amendment providing emergency funding up to $83.6 million to strengthen the states response to COVID-19.

• Bay Area gets millions in coronavirus funding for the homeless

  • The State will provide millions in emergency funds to cities and counties in the Bay Area protect the homeless populations from COVID-19.

• Gov. Hogan announces Maryland emergency funds for small businesses affected by COVID-19

  • Maryland will provide access to loan and grant funding to assist small businesses that have struggled with the onset of the COVID pandemic.

• Iowa offering small businesses up to $25,000 in state grants to stay afloat during coronavirus pandemic

  • Small businesses in Iowa can apply for $25,000 grants to stay afloat during the pandemic after $4 million in disaster money was approved to be used by the state legislature.

• Michigan Approves $20 Million In Small Business Relief In Response to COVID-19

  • $20 million in emergency funding will be made available through a loan fund and grant program for Michigan small businesses.

• States and Cities Face the Prospect of Severe Budget Shortfalls

 

Purchasing 

• GSA Warns of COVID-19 Contracting Scam and Price Gouging

 

Technology 

• A special report on the government IT response to COVID-19

• Coordinated response required to optimize telehealth during COVID-19 pandemic

  • This article examines what should be done in the way of telehealth implementation and usage.

• Non-profit launches COVID-19 treatment and vaccine tracker with daily updates

  • Nonprofit Milken Institute has a resource to track the efforts for COVID-19 treatments and vaccine development.

 

Education 

• Students, Schools Navigate the Inequity of the Digital Divide

• COVID-19 is forcing rapid tech adoption in higher ed

• Stay updated on the inclusion of cancelling student debt in the stimulus package … follow story here.

• Central Washington Declares Financial Exigency: “the absence of people on campus will lead to a drop in revenue for auxiliary services. Event cancellations will also hurt the university.” Follow story here.

• Rural communities' digital deserts cripple tele-education during coronavirus outbreak

• So far, school days lost to the coronavirus in Illinois don’t have to be made up. But how long can that continue?

   

Health Care

• New York Now Has 20,000 Cases Of Coronavirus, As State Orders Hospitals To Increase Capacity By 50%

• Kansas coronavirus update: Gov. Laura Kelly orders expansion of telemedicine; 66 confirmed cases

• WMC says it's launching telehealth program to expand coronavirus care

• California in need of more health care resources amid COVID-19 outbreak

   

Social Services 

• Arizona's state workers may not be notified of possible COVID-19 exposure

  • The state is not stopping employees exposed to confirmed cases from coming to work unless they show symptoms

 

Justice/Public Safety

• Coronavirus cybercrime task force launches in Virginia

• More police are getting coronavirus, that could be bad news for public safety in the US

  • The next few weeks will be crucial for Police Departments across the country as more officers continue to get sick. There may be a reshuffling of personnel to fill gaps in coverage of officers out in the field.

• Colorado Coronavirus Updates: What You Need To Know Today

  • Here is what Colorado is doing today to keep the public safe.

• The Meaning of ‘Public Safety’ in a Time of Coronavirus

  • An opinion piece that highlights while steps are now being taken to lessen crowding in the criminal justice system, the author argues the reaction has been too slow to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Transportation

• House releases its version of stimulus bill as transit agencies join forces to raise call to be included

  • The transit industry is requesting funding from the Coronavirus stimulus bill, referencing a decline in ridership as a main reason for a decreases in revenue. The industry argues they will need some monetary help to recover from the slump in ridership once the pandemic begins to ease.

• Coronavirus has killed off public transportation across the Western world

  • Public transportation ridership has come to a screeching halt with a near 80% decline since January. This article provides data along with graphs showcasing just how big the effect COVID-19 has had on the western world’s public transportation industry.

• Transit agencies help deliver food to riders at risk during pandemic

  • Transit providers across the USA are delivering food and groceries for those in need whom may be vulnerable to venture to the grocery store, and/or have a disability that limits their movement.

 

Utilities

• How utility, phone and internet companies are giving consumers a break during coronavirus pandemic

  • Utility companies, telecommunication companies and automakers are waiving shutoffs and late fees for customers across the United States struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This article has a list of what some of these companies are doing to help out customers during this time.

• How SC leaders plan to keep power on, water flowing during coronavirus outbreak

  • Officials asked to suspend disconnection of power during the pandemic. This is a similar scenario we are seeing across the United States.

 

Other

• U.S. Digital Response Team

  • A new online platform seeks to connect volunteer technology experts with state, county and local governments in need of technology help during the coronavirus crisis.

• Amazon will help Seattle residents receive at-home COVID-19 testing

  • Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN), with funding from Bill Gates’ private Gates Ventures, is beginning to provide test kits to be delivered straight to anyone in the Seattle area, including to those who may be asymptomatic