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Newletters From November, 2008
HERE IS A REASON WHY THERE IS LESS RED TAPE SELLING THROUGH DEALERS THAN THROUGH THE GSA CHANNEL TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Originally Posted: November 26, 2008 3:38 PM
Last Updated: November 26, 2008 3:38 PM
Here is another reason why fire manufacturers should stick to their dealer network and not get involved in the complicated world of Federal government contracting.
Of course, all Federal contractors are audited to ensure they provide the prices they promised and have reported accurately their income to the Federal Government.
But, there are more headaches facing fire manufacturers. Last week the Federal Acquisition Council (FAR) published the final rule mandating the use of the E-Verify/Basic Pilot program for federal contractors and subcontractors. The final rule requires prime and subcontractors to use the E-Verify system to verifying that their employees are eligible to work in the United States.
Three areas of particular concern from a legal perspective include the flow down requirements (vicarious liability) to subcontractors, the reverification of the workforce, and the lack of a phased in approach. There are several problems with the final rule, but, in particular, these three areas merit particular attention and are described with more detail below.
First, there seems to be some confusion as to whether the rule applies to contracts of over $100,000 or just over $3,000. The answer is both! If the company is providing work on the “prime contract” only, the threshold is $100,000, but if the contract is “to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or a subcontract” it is $3,000. It is unclear how much responsibility and liability the prime contractor or subcontractor would have for the use of E-Verify/Basic Pilot by their own subcontractors.
The FAR Council argues that the prohibition on making the program mandatory applies only to DHS and DHS was not involved in making the program mandatory in this rule. The FAR Council also argues that this is not an immigration related regulation.
Second, the rule mandates reverification through E-Verify/Basic Pilot program to confirm the employment eligibility of all existing employees who are directly performing work under the covered contract. Currently, the existing MOU and general interpretation of employment verification laws prohibits reverification of existing employees. The FAR Council argues that the prohibition against reverification applies only to I-9 checks.
Third, the use of the E-Verify/Basic Pilot program must be company-wide for all new employees, not just those for employees of the facilities working on the federal contract/subcontract. Currently, companies can voluntarily choose to phase it in one facility/area at a time.
One of the costs manufacturers have to bear when they deal with the Federal government, such as with GSA, is meeting all the rules and relations. It can be tedious and expensive. To all the manufacturers who are thinking about using their GSA contract as a channel to replace your dealers, are you willing to give all this information to and be audited by the Federal government?
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MISSOURI HAS 1500 CATASTROPHY RESPONDERS: PLAN SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT DEALERS
Originally Posted: November 24, 2008 1:46 PM
Last Updated: November 24, 2008 1:46 PM
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is pleased with Missouri's Statewide Disaster Responder Notification System. The call system notifies up to 1,500 key contacts critical for a statewide disaster deployment in the event of a catastrophic event.
However, the Governor did not mention including emergency equipment dealers in the state's critical reponse system. Kenton Pattie, Executive Director, National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association: "Dealers have supplies of equipment and protective wear that are needed in an emergency. Dealers have proven themselves in every local and national emergency -- dealers are close to the incident scene, know all the responders, and have relations with manufacturers that enable them to get immediate shipment of anything that is required. Dealers work daily with fire and EMS departments and should not be omitted from emergency planning"
Blunt: "This technology is very important especially in light of the fact that our state has faced 19 devastating disasters over the last three years. We continue to take aggressive steps to improve our overall emergency preparedness and response, and to proactively reach out to communities to help save lives and property."
The call down system is designed to contact the Homeland Security Regional Response Systems, Emergency Management Directors, regional fire mutual aid coordinators, state employees in the Division of Fire Safety, MIAC, and State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) responders, and shelter points of contact. Presiding commissioners will also be included in future tests.
On Friday, October 24, 2008 and again on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in conjunction with multiple state agency partners under the Department of Public Safety (DPS) successfully tested more than 1,300 Missouri contacts that may be utilized during a disaster.
In the initial two tests, response organizations were notified within minutes of call system activation. During both tests, the system contacted 1,300 telephone numbers within five minutes and produced a report detailing the success of the calls showing those answered live, by machine or those that were failed numbers.
During a real event, SEMA will be able to contact key responders and decision makers by region, by discipline or by county.
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SHOULD FEMA STAY IN HOMELAND SECURITY OR RETURN TO INDEPENDENT STATUS?
Originally Posted: November 24, 2008 11:24 AM
Last Updated: November 24, 2008 2:00 PM
Bill Webb, Congressional Fire Service Institute, commented on this issue in his regular internet video newsfeed: Should FEMA staty in Homeland Security? As Bill reports, there are viewpoints on both sides of the issue. For example:
By Editor in Chief of Governement Security News, Jacob Goodwin
Matthew Bettenhausen, once a DHS official and now the director of homeland security for the State of California and a member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cabinet: FEMA would probably have helped itself if it had embraced the idea of being consolidated into the newly established Department of Homeland Security – much as the Coast Guard did – rather than fighting the idea.
Bettenhausen on Nov. 18, 2008 at a maritime security conference in Long Beach, CA asked: “Should FEMA be in DHS or out?” He answered his own rhetorical question by looking back to 2003, the year DHS was born.
He told his audience: The example of the Coast Guard is very instructive. The Coast Guard’s leadership recognized in 2003 that it would become a better organization by virtue of joining the new DHS, which was then being created out of 22 separate agencies and offices. “They [the Coast Guard] jumped in whole hog to make sure the department succeeded,” Bettenhausen recalled.
By contrast, FEMA resisted the consolidation the whole time, he noted. “They fought the change and always saw difficulties with it.”
When asked by GSN whether Schwarzenegger thought FEMA should remain in DHS, Bettenhausen declined to comment on a federal matter, but observed that Schwarzenegger’s recent decision to merge the state’s homeland security and emergency services agencies into one consolidated agency might provide a telling clue.
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AIR METHODS WINS $17 MILLION CONTRACT TO OUTFIT 48 BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS WITH MEDEVAC INTERIORS
Originally Posted: November 22, 2008 6:11 PM
Last Updated: November 22, 2008 6:11 PM
Air Methods Corporation (Denver, CO), an air medical transportation company, has been awarded a contract in excess of $17 million from Sikorsky Aircraft Company for production of 48 HH-60M Black Hawk Multi-Mission Medevac Interior Systems.
Production has started and is anticipated to be completed by the third quarter 2010.
Art Torwirt, vice president, Air Methods Products Division: "Through this contract, Air Methods is pleased to continue to be part of the U.S. Army's historic efforts to modernize its air ambulance fleet. Our
interior system allows this proven airframe to convert from one
configuration to another in a matter of minutes which maximizes the
effectiveness, utility, and overall value of the HH-60M."
The HH-60M is the medical evacuation configuration of the newest
version of the Black Hawk. The HH-60M provides additional payload and
range, advanced digital avionics, better handling, active vibration control
and improved survivability over past versions. The aircraft can support
medical, personnel or cargo transport missions and is equipped with
state-of-the-art medical systems to provide critical care for up to six
patients. Medical systems include a Patient Loading System, an on-board
oxygen generation system, medical suction, patient monitors and high
intensity NVG compatible lighting.
The aircraft is also equipped with advanced avionics and special mission systems to assist the crew in locating and rescuing injured personnel. Specialized equipment includes a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system and an external rescue hoist.
Air Methods Corporation is a leader in emergency air medical transportation and medical services. The Hospital Based Services Division is the largest provider of air medical transport services for hospitals. The Community Based Services Division is the largest community-based provider of air medical services. The Products Division specializes in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and
aerospace technology. The Company's fleet of owned, leased or maintained
aircraft features over 320 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
MORE INFO? www.airmethods.com or Aaron D. Todd, Chief Executive Officer, (303) 792-7413 or Christine Clarke at (303) 792-7579
NEEDA NEWSLETTER has published numerous articles about ambulance and EMS subjects. To see them all, use the Search application in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER page.
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JOHN GILL, FIRE TRUCK SALESMAN, EMERGENCY VEHICLES OF TEXAS: ANDERSON HOSPITAL FOR CANCER
Originally Posted: November 22, 2008 5:43 PM
Last Updated: November 24, 2008 5:10 AM
Karen H. Burnham, Executive Assistant to the Boards, FAMA and FEMSA, sent this message to FAMA/FEMSA members:
John Gill, a fire truck salesman since the early 1970's, is battling a rare form of cancer caused by radiation from his previous cancer.
John who also organized the Texas CAFS Symposium which trains 200-300 firefighters every year. We understand he is currently self-employed and sells through Emergency Vehicles of Texas.
John's spirits are good - he has an amazing balance of realism and optimism!
John's contact information is:
MD Anderson Hospital
P1011 - John Gill
1515 Holcomb Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030
Cell: 281-799-1122
281-799-1122
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NIOSH: FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD WEAR SEAT BELTS
Originally Posted: November 18, 2008 5:09 PM
Last Updated: November 18, 2008 5:09 PM
The U.S. Fire Administration (Emmitsburg, MD) says the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has added its logo to the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge 100% Participation Certificate. This endorsement of the seat belt campaign, by NIOSH Acting Director Dr. Christine Branche, reinforces the importance of wearing these safety devices to the American Fire Service.
U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade: “We are grateful to NIOSH for adding their logo to the Seat Belt Pledge 100% Certificate. We welcome their participation to further support our efforts to encourage and remind firefighters to buckle up.”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health joins the U.S. Fire Administration, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation as leading supporters of the Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge Campaign. To date, over 70,000 firefighters have taken the pledge and approximately 300 fire departments have received a 100% Certificate for their accomplishment in getting all personnel to sign the pledge. The goal of this program is 1,000,000 firefighter signatures and 30,000 fire departments with 100% participation.
Dr. Christine Branche of NIOSH: “Motor vehicle-related crashes are the second leading cause of death for firefighters, and reducing this toll on our nation’s firefighters is a priority for NIOSH. Wearing seat belts is an essential component of efforts to ensure the safety of firefighters in fire apparatus and vehicles.”
MORE INFO? www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp
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NEEDA: OPPOSES GSA'S PLAN TO TAKE OVER THE STATE AND LOCAL MARKET FOR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Originally Posted: November 18, 2008 4:52 PM
Last Updated: November 18, 2008 4:52 PM
FROM: Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
PO Box 220
Annandale VA 22003
703 850 8552
KentonP1@aol.com
NOVEMBER 18, 2008
TO: US GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)
REGULATORY SECRETARIAT
RE: GSAR Case 2008-G517
COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ACQUISITION REGULATION (GSAR)
TO IMPLEMENT PUBLIC LAW 110-248, LOCAL PREPAREDNESS ACQUISITION ACT AFFECTING SCHEDULE 84
1. We disagree with GSA Administrator Jim Williams who states that there is
an “urgent and compelling reason . . . to promulgate this interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment.” We know of no urgent or compelling reason why such an extraordinary expansion of GSA powers and authorities should occur without a public hearing.
In fact the GSA case information published in the Federal Register clearly identified areas where GSA has neither information nor a means to know what effects this new expansion of GSA powers and authorities will have.
GSA does not know the extent to which existing Schedule 84 contractors will agree to amend their contracts. For example, contractors with dealer networks may say “No” to GSA. Nor does GSA know if companies not on Schedule 84 will agree to go onto a Schedule 84 contract for any purpose. A public hearing would be an appropriate way to determine all manufacturer views on Schedule 84.
After all, companies which have spent decades building their own channels to the state and local market may wish to express their views on why GSA should not open up a new competitive channel to state and local buyers.
As admitted in the Case information, GSA does not know if the Schedule as announced will make “local government more efficient by reducing duplication of effort.” In fact, based on the Case information, it does not appear that GSA has obtained a measurement of the value for state and local governments to be served. A public hearing would be an obvious way in which to begin the research on the need and impact of Schedule 84 at the state and local level.
While GSA claims the new rule will reduce duplication, the public would be interested in knowing what “duplication” there is and what alternatives there are for responding to it. A public hearing would enable the questions to re raised: “Is the GSA expansion of power and authority into the state and local market an unnecessary duplication?
Further, the GSA case admits GSA does not know “the number of small entities to which the interim rule will apply.” Nor does the GSA case review a projection of the impact the rule will have on non-Schedule small businesses which already contract with state and local governments.
The GSA case announcement never mentions “dealers and distributors” but a sound analysis of the market place, including a public hearing, would help understand what dealers and distributors do at the local level and why they would be negatively impacted by the imposition of the GSA channel into the local level.
2. Most state and local governments have laws, rules and regulations requiring open public competition for procurements. This fact is not discussed in the GSA case for GSAR 2008-G517. It is obvious that GSA expects all state and local governments to accept GSA’s negotiation authority as an acceptable substitution for state and local government laws, rules and regulations. But will they?
Before 2008-G517 proceeds, an independent study by an entity outside GSA and with no stake in the outcome should be conducted to determine if the Federal Schedule procedure is a sufficient and prudent substitute for state and local laws. Further, such an analysis should examine the GSA contention that true savings will ensue from GSA’s buying capabilities.
3. The GSAR 2008-G517 case does not refer to or explain GSA’s costs. Will GSA be going to trade shows, conferences and exhibits as well as making sales calls on state and local governments to use the GSA channel? And will GSA staff be soliciting and pressuring manufacturers and suppliers with GSA contracts to amend their contracts for the purpose of accommodating the GSA state and local government channel?
Certainly, the costs to GSA of marketing this new channel will be substantial, enough to justify a public hearing and the release of an independent study of GSA finances to project the costs of the new GSA business line plus the impact on the GSA staff.
4. The GSAR 2008-G517 case does not identify the income GSA projects to earn from a new state and local government sales channel. GSA would be requiring all GSA Schedule contractors to provide a percent of sales directly to GSA. Presumably, GSA has calculated its probable income. Such income and comparable expenses should be made available to the public immediately and regularly into the future so there can be adequate accountability and public scrutiny.
5. Many of the items mentioned in the GSA case for GSAR 2008-G517 require local service. For example, firefighter clothing requires measurement and fitting. This is a service that dealers perform as part of their service to fire departments. A manufacturer on the GSA schedule can hardly be expected to provide service of that local nature throughout the nation.
In fact, liability issues abound with emergency safety gear and equipment to the extent that dealers are essential to provide training and vital opperational information that a GSA schedule contractor would not be able to perform. The liability issue alone would be one key reason why manufacturers with dealer networks would not wish to use the new GSA channel to state and local markets.
But, if the impact of the new GSA channel is to put dealers and distributors out of business, the costs of serving the state and local market will soar and in due course the GSA’s schedule contractors will seek increased compensation for their work.
6. The true marketplace in our nation is at the state and local level. Letting the local marketplace work without government interference should be rule one for the new Administration. The GSA view is that the agency is so big that it can manage the Federal and the state and local government markets from Washington, DC. There is no credible research to support this viewpoint.
Nor is there credible research to support the view expressed by GSA Administrator Jim Williams: “Access to Schedule 84 will help our state and local government partners make their communities safer today.” Dealers and the emergency responders help communities be safe today; GSA has yet to prove it can be effective. So, why change today’s formula if it is working?
7. “Cooperative Purchasing” is a concept in which buyers share a common source provided by government or a united purchasing authority but the concept has a weak track record in the United States. The concept has had its advocates and detractors, its successes and failures.
The GSA’s case for Schedule 84’s state and local penetration is repleat with weaknesses such as “may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities . . . will affect large and small entities including small businesses.” Such a dark side is reason enough for GSA to delay implementation, pending a public hearings plus an independent analysis of the assumptions and presumptions reflected in GSA’s case paper for GSAR Case 2008-G517.
8. GSA itself has had its ups and downs as a procurement agency for Federal agencies. It has never used fair and indisputable statistics to show it really accomplishes what it purports to accomplish. GSA’s price comparisons in the fire industry have been suspect because for the most part GSA does not include dealer participation in Schedule contracts.
GSA often is responsible for acquisition of far less than the total of all Federal procurements. Why? Because Federal agencies often buy on their own, seeking to be independent from and more successful than GSA. The fact that some agencies don’t use GSA is reason enough to hesitate before giving GSA a new procurement green light.
GSA was established in 1949 to serve the Federal government. Only recently has it sought successfully to broaden its penetration into the state and local government.
The record will show that when GSA launched a law enforcement purchasing channel for state and local governments, the program received a very luke warm reception. Some states did not use it at all. GSA took the authority to help in “drug enforcement” and arbitrarily expanded the scope to anything a police department wanted or needed. But even with the expansion and almost no oversight, the program was weak and an ineffective tool against the narcotics trade – drug use continued to rise and GSA was not closing any doors on a major national problem.
Now, with the US economy in a period of severe stress, with state and local governments having little money to spend on their goals and objectives, it is again very unlikely that the GSA’s pursuit of a new era in Cooperative Purchasing with be any more successful than its past.
Why GSA has a severe hostility to local dealers is an institutional cancer that Administrator Jim Williams wishes to perpetuate. I have heard GSA officials deny their enmity to dealers; but the facts show otherwise. Rather than try to help GSA customers get the service they need through dealers, year after year GSA leaves dealers out of contracts, or forces contractors to drop their dealers.
Here with GSAR Case 2008-G157 we again have GSA pitted against the dealers. GSA says they have “Small Businesses” among their contractors.
But, the definition of “small” may have 500 employees.: a number which exceeds the size of most emergency equipment dealers.
The dealers in the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association serve state and local first responders in an exceptional and honorable way, with the deepest consideration of service, cost and the highest standards of performance. Why GSA is hostile to those standards and the men and women who live by those standards 24-7 I don’t know.
But, GSA was set up to serve the Federal agencies not state and local governments. GSA should return to its 1949 roots. Neither the Oklahoma Federal Building bombing, nor the attack on the World Trade Center, nor Katrina have found the dealers weak on prompt and full local support. We have been on duty at every national crisis; our record of accomplishment has earned the respect of the fire and crisis response community. GSA wishes the same could be said about their performance.
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US CHAMBER ISSUES MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD AFFECT EMERGENCY VEHICLES BUT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP RESOLVE THE NATION'S ENERGY CRISIS
Originally Posted: November 17, 2008 4:58 PM
Last Updated: November 17, 2008 4:59 PM
by Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
KentonP1@aol.com
Congress will get an “energy” report and the new Obama Administration will go through it to find proposals they can endorse.
But, for dealers, manufacturers and first responders at the state and local level, now is the time to express your views on the future of the engines used in emergency vehicles. The decisions in Washington during 2009 could affect our industry and our customers for decades to come.
The incoming Obama Administration and Congress is receiving November 17, 2008, an extensive list of recommendations for future US energy policy.
The report was discussed at a meeting I attended by Tom Donohue, US Chamber President, General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.), President and CEO of the Institute for 21st Century Energy, US Senator Chuck Hagel (Republican, Nebraska), Daniel Yergin, author of “Quest for Oil,” Sam Donaldson, ABC News, and Morton Kondracke, Editor of Roll Call news publication.
I am a member of the US Chamber Procurement Committee.
Among the many issues discussed were proposals for a new tax on gasoline and diesel. I am concerned about the impact such a tax would have on trucks and hopefully Congress will avoid applying the tax to fire and emergency response vehicles and the first responders who operate these vehicles.
Another detail discussed in the Chamber’s proposal is a set of alternatives to gasoline and diesel. The report states “The transportation sector is heavily dependent on petroleum, primarily in the form of gasoline and diesel, jet and bunker fuels. . . Petroleum use in transportation is a big source of CO2 emissions from energy use, accounting for about one-third all US CO2 emissions from fossile fuels.”
For several years I have been expressing my fear that the public focus on fuel policies that would overlook the importance of diesel and its use in emergency vehicles. I again expressed that view today. You can count on some serious proposals that will affect our industry in 2009.
As in the past, the report mentions the Federal requirement that all passenger cars operate at 35.7 miles to the gallon by 2015. Federal support for hybrid cars and plug in electrical batteries are in proposals under consideration. As I have stated in NEEDA Newsletter in the past, plugging fire trucks in for a nightlong recharging of huge batteries is hardly a viable idea for any emergency equipment vehicle.
But the report also mentions biofuels and the possible infusion of hydrogen into an engine as an energy carrier. The report states “The conversion of hydrogen to electricity in a fuel cell results in no emissions other than pure water. When hydrogen is burned in an internal combustion engine, only trace amounts of NOx are produced. These characteristics offer the possibility of fuel that can be produced from a variety of domestically available resources.”
It would be up the fire industry to respond to the proposals such as the one above. Is any of this appropriate for the fire industry and should there be new requirements or national goals that affect the cost and efficiency of operation for fire and emergency response vehicles?
Congress will get this Chamber “energy” report and the new Obama Administration will go through it to find proposals they can endorse.
But, for dealers, manufacturers and first responders at the state and local level, now is the time to express views on the future of the engines used in emergency vehicles. The decisions in Washington during 2009 could affect our industry and our customers for decades to come.
For the US economy, there is a lot to like in various parts of the Chamber’s report. As General Jones stated "The transition of administrations and a new Congress presents an opportunity for a new effort to put our nation on more secure footing. It is clear that energy is critical to our nation's competitiveness and security, and our recommendations will put the United States on a path for a cleaner, more secure future."
The Transition Plan outlines the comprehensive actions proposed for the executive branch and Congress to foster economic growth, strengthen national security, and ensure a better energy future.
In order to implement a new energy strategy, the report recommends that President-elect Obama create a new office within the Executive Office of the President to coordinate the implementation of all aspects of energy policy, both foreign and domestic. The head of this office would have a seat on the National Economic Council and National Security Council. Further, the report recommends that the Obama administration and Congress should also come together to enact comprehensive energy legislation codifying the Institute's recommendations in the first year of the new administration.
The recommendations in the Chamber’s Transition Plan are aimed at:
• Promoting greater energy efficiency?• Increasing and diversifying our energy supplies?• Improving environmental stewardship?• Modernizing and protecting our nation's energy infrastructure.
The Transition Plan builds on 13 fundamental pillars that the Institute released in July in an Open Letter to the next president and Congress that was signed by 27 national leaders and has received broad bipartisan support. In September, the Institute released a Blueprint for Securing America's Energy Future that put specific recommendations behind each pillar.
The mission of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a commonsense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean. Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful energy action at the local, state, national, and international levels.
MORE INFO? www.energyxxi.org
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SMALL FIRMS PRODUCE MORE NEW PATENTS THAN BIG BIZ: SO WHY IS ALL THE BAILOUT SUPPORT DIRECTED AT BIG BIZ?
Originally Posted: November 15, 2008 12:49 PM
Last Updated: November 15, 2008 12:49 PM
Small businesses obtain many more patents per employee than larger firms, according to a study by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
NEEDA Executive Director Kenton Pattie: "The many contributions of small firms and their vulnerability to today's recession-drive economy makes one wonder: Why is all the Federal bailout money directed to giant companies rather than supporting the survival of highly productive small businesses?"
Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the US Office of Advocacy: Small firm patents are more likely to be technologically important than those of larger firms.
Moutray: “Small firms are the innovative driver of the American economy. This report adds more weight to the evidence we already have that encouraging small firms is the best way to increase innovation, productivity, and jobs.”
The report analyzes a database of 1,293 small and large technology firms and more than 1 million patent records between 2002 and 2006.
An Analysis of Small Business Patents by Industry and Firm Size,
with funding from the Office of Advocacy, is the third work of the authors who also published in 2003 and 2004.
Not only do all small firms (under 500 employees) obtain more patents per employee than larger firms, but the relationship seems to hold for all size classes. That is, firms with fewer than 25 employees have a higher patent per employee ratio than those with fewer than 50 employees and so on.
The authors found that during the period studied, small firms made up 40 percent of all firms with 15 or more patents. They also found that the smaller patenting firms are younger, with 56.5 percent under 15 years old, while 90 percent of the larger firms were 15 or more years old.
MORE INFO? www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs335tot.pdf or www.sba.gov/advo or call (202) 205-6533.
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COLLEGE AND CELEBRITY HOMES STRUCK BY RAGING MOUNTAIN WILDFIRE: 500 FIREFIGHTERS PLUS HELICOPTERS AND TANKERS RESPOND
Originally Posted: November 14, 2008 9:40 AM
Last Updated: November 16, 2008 10:07 AM
Nichole Koon, Santa Barbara County, California, Executive’s staff: “So far over 100 homes have been destroyed” in a fire that threatens Westmont College, a Christian liberal arts with 1,000 students. The school is near Monticito, CA. Flames ruined an eucalyptus grove on the 135-acre campus and destroyed several buildings housing the physics and psychology departments, a dormitory and a faculty home.
The area is famous for its TV and movie star homeowners and estates. President John F. Kennedy honeymooned in the area.
For other NEEDA Newsletter stories on wildfires, use the search application in the upper right corner of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.
A team of 500 firefighters were on the scene during the night.
Santa Barbara City Fire spokesman John Ahlman told KABC-TV he spotted about 20 homes burning Thursday night, November 13, 2008. The rest, seen from the air, appeared as glowing embers staying bright by the strong winds.
Goleta high school became a refuge for people escaping the fire.
Terri Nisich: Fire officials planned an aggressive attack from the air at daybreak Friday, November 14, with nine water-dropping helicopters and 10 air tankers.
Two firefighters and two residents were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
The area is known for evening 70 mph winds known locally as "sundowners," which gust from land to sea in the evening driving downhill from the Santa Ynez Mountains.
The fire knocked out power to more than 20,000 homes in Santa Barbara served by Southern California Edison.
Fires burned in Los Angeles County, to the east in Riverside and Orange counties, and to the northwest in Santa Barbara County, blackening a total of 26 square miles and burning more than 800 mobile homes, houses and apartments since Thursday night. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared states of emergency in all three counties.
Forecasts indicated the Santa Ana winds would abate by Sunday afternoon, but humidity levels would remain very low.
The most threatening blaze early Sunday had scorched more than nine square miles in Orange and Riverside counties after erupting Saturday and shooting through subdivisions entwined with wilderness parklands. Containment was just 5 percent.
More than 60 homes burned in the communities of Corona, Yorba Linda and the Anaheim Hills area of Anaheim. In addition, 50 units of one apartment complex burned, Orange County fire spokeswoman Angela Garbiso said.
The Associated Press in LA was covering this urban-wildland fire with Associated Press writers Thomas Watkins, Greg Risling, Denise Petski and Daisy Nguyen.
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HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES STANDARD LIST OF EQUIPMENT: FEDERAL GRANTS WILL PAY FOR THIS
Originally Posted: November 13, 2008 12:26 PM
Last Updated: November 13, 2008 12:26 PM
The Authorized Equipment List (AEL) was derived from the Standard Equipment List (SEL), which was developed by the Interagency Board (IAB) for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability.
Changes and additions to the AEL reflect input from State and local responders and demonstrate a continued commitment to better serve the nation.
The AEL has expanded beyond the initial focus on personal protective, detection, and communications equipment and is updated regularly. The Authorized Equipment List includes the following twenty-one categories and applies to twelve grant programs:
Personal Protective Equipment
Equipment - Explosive Device Mitigation and Remediation
CBRNE Operational and Search and Rescue Equipment
Information Technology Equipment
Cyber Security Enhancement Equipment
Interoperable Communications Equipment
Detection Equipment
Decontamination Equipment
Medical Equipment
Power Equipment
CBRNE Reference Materials
CBRNE Incident Response Vehicles
Terrrorism Incident Prevention Equipment
Physical Security Enhancement Equipment
Inspection and Screening Systems
Agricultural Terrorism Prevention, Response, and Mitigation Equipment
CBRNE Prevention and Response Watercraft
CBRNE Aviation Equipment
CBRNE Logistical Support Equipment
Intervention Equipment
Other Authorized Equipment
MORE INFO? www.rkb.mipt.org
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TYCO FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS RISE AS REVENUE IS UP 7%
Originally Posted: November 11, 2008 4:45 PM
Last Updated: November 11, 2008 4:47 PM
TYCO (Pembroke, Bermuda) reports revenue up 7 percent in the quarter to $5.3 billion. Cash from operating activities was $1.0 billion in the quarter.
Tyco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ed Breen: "We delivered solid results in the fourth quarter and for the full year, with good revenue growth and operating income improvement. We continued to make progress on our key initiatives to improve our operations, refine our portfolio and carefully allocate our capital. While we always take a disciplined approach to managing our businesses, this is an area of intense focus in this period of economic uncertainty. Our strong balance sheet and cash flow provide us with flexibility to strengthen our businesses through internal investments and bolt-on acquisitions."
Fire Protection Services for the fourth quarter of 08 were $944 million, up 4% from 07's fourth quarter of $911 million.
2008 results for fire protection services are $3.553 billion vs $3.366 in the previous year.
For other news stories about TYCO, use the search application in the upper right of the NEEDA Newsletter screen.
MORE INFO? www.tyco.com or Ed Arditte, 609-720-4621
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DEALERS FACE HUGE TRILLION DOLLAR FEDERAL DEFICIT AND AN ATTACK ON THE STATE AND LOCAL MARKETS BY THE US GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Originally Posted: November 10, 2008 12:20 PM
Last Updated: November 10, 2008 12:20 PM
by Kenton Pattie, Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
KentonP1@aol.com
On October 9, 2008, I attended a meeting at the National Press Club sponsored by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The event, was broadcast on CSPAN. Of all the meetings I have attended recently on the future of the Federal budget, this one was the best. I wrote a previous NEEDA Newsletter article about the event.
The reason this issue is so important? It not only affects the Federal grant funds available to the fire and emergency first responders, it affects the massive amount of funding state and local governments have come to rely on coming from Washington. With the government sector so deeply underfunded, our industry will be struggling to make sales.
At the same time, the US General Services Administration is planning to take away from emergency equipment dealers as much business as possible with it's brand new authority to use the GSA multiple awards schedule program to dominate state and local sales.
So dealers will be hit by the steep drop in Federal, state and local funds and by the US General Services Administration.
Unless the Obama Administration stops GSA a lot of dealers are going to be severely hurt. In it's final year in office the Bush Administration got Congress to OK the GSA invasion of the local marketplace that dealers serve. The new Administrator of GSA is a huge advocate for this expansion of GSA into the state and local government market.
I have written about this previously in NEEDA Newsletter. But now the situation is worse because the state and local market is going to be shrunk by Federal spending restraints and direct Federal competition.
If you have a pro or con vew about what GSA is doing let the Obama Administration, US Senate, and US House know immediately. The window for "change" won't be open very long so you need to act now.
Many of the nation's most experienced experts are part of the Committee are are contributing to the group's research.
Their latest conclusion is as follows: The fiscal year 2009 Federal deficit could reach over one trillion dollars. Having worked in the US Senate for ten years and having followed Federal spending policies from the business standpoint, this "one trillion dollars" is astounding. For anyone who has not been paying attention this is the most powerful warning the nation can receive -- it far exceeds the Federal election in importance but is lays before the new leaders the playing field they will have to work on.
This deficit would be more than twice as large as the 2008 deficit of $455 billion and would represent a post-war record both in nominal terms and as a share of GDP. Certainly, it is the single biggest budget number in my career; it was developed by experts from all parties who have had careers in and out of Washington.
Maya MacGuineas, president of CRFB: “Of course we can’t try to balance the budget right now when the economy is in such turmoil, but when the deficit has that many zeros, you have to ask yourself how we let things get so bad. If a trillion dollar deficit isn’t a wake-up call for the need for fiscal responsibility, I don’t know what is.”
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget’s analysis begins with the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) baseline estimate of a $438 billion deficit. It adds $160 billion for costs for since-passed legislation, including an AMT patch, business and clean energy tax breaks, disaster relief, additional discretionary spending, and emergency loans. CRFB assumes $62 billion in lower revenues and higher costs from slower economic growth and $150 billion in on-budget bailout costs. Since Congress and the Obama Administration plan for the passage of a $200 billion stimulus package, the trillion figure anticipates more Federal spending under the title "stimulus."
Deficit Projection for Fiscal Year 2009
Components:
CBO September Baseline $438 billion
Enacted Legislation $160 billion
AMT Patch $79 billion
Tax Breaks $30 billion
Disaster Relief $23 billion
Additional Discretionary Spending $20 billion
Loans to Auto-Manufacturers $8 billion
Fiscal Cost of Recession $62 billion
Federal Bailouts* $150 billion
New Stimulus Legislation $200 billion
TOTAL PROJECTED FY2009 DEFICIT=$1.01 TRILLION
*Estimate includes costs associated with TARP, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other obligations.
Leon Panetta, CRFB co-chair and former Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton: “Senator Obama is being handed an immense challenge which could impact many of his campaign promises. President Clinton had to drop his plans for middle-class tax cuts in his first year due to fiscal concerns and he faced deficits of well under $300 billion.”
The actual FY 2009 deficit could differ significantly from CRFB’s trillion dollar estimate depending on how the Congressional Budget Office budgets for the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which could recoup much of its costs over time.
CRFB assumes that the program will be accounted for primarily based on the expected net cost to the government (similar to the Federal Credit Reform Act standards), as the Congressional Budget Office has suggested it would likely do; however, the Treasury Department is considering accounting the first $250 billion – spent on the purchasing of bank equities – on a cash basis.
CRFB assumes the cyclical effects on revenue and spending in 2009 will be similar to those of past recessions, while CBO (in September, 2008) predicted they would not be as severe, and some analysts are predicting they will be considerably worse. Furthermore, the actual price of stimulus legislation is far from certain. House Democrats begin next week to consider a $150 billion stimulus package with $60 to $100 billion passed immediately, while President-elect Obama has suggested a $190 billion plan—though those costs could be spread over more than a single year.
Some suggestions being considered would push the stimulus over $300 billion. Congress wants to enact something dramatic and with he "sooner not later" encouragement of President-Elect Obama, the $300 billion or a figure in that range could be set by Thanksgiving or early December, 2008.
Total borrowing by the US Treasury will be much greater than the estimated one trillion dollars the various bailouts which require new capital but are not budgeted for on a cash basis.
Former Congressman Bill Frenzel, co-chair of CRFB: “Borrowing this much money may be unavoidable given current economic conditions. The government’s top priority over the next year must be to stabilize the financial markets and the economy. But we can’t just borrow a trillion dollars and call it a day. We must tie any stimulus plan to a credible plan to put the budget on the path to recovery, so that we aren’t laying the foundation for the next economic crisis stemming from excessive government debt.”
MORE INFO? For previous articles by Kenton Pattie, use the search application in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.
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WASHINGTON DC 2009 FIRE/EMS CADET PROGRAM SEEKS 35 18-20 YEAR OLDS FOR $10.21 PER HOUR
Originally Posted: November 9, 2008 8:54 PM
Last Updated: November 9, 2008 8:54 PM
The Washington DC Fire/EMS Cadet Program is a competitive, full-time one-year, firefighter/EMT training program for Washington DC residents ages 18 to 20. Applicants must reach their 18th birthday by October 1, 2009 and not reach their 21st birthday by January 31, 2010 on or before January 31, 2010.
The program is a collaboration between the Fire/EMS Department and the Department of Employment Services (DOES).
The 2009 Fire/EMS Cadet Program has approximately 35 positions available for qualified applicants and those who successfully complete the training program can start rewarding public service careers with the DC Fire/EMS Department. Candidates selected for the program will receive a regular stipend.($10.21 per hour)
Applications may be picked up in person at one of three locations or downloaded from the Fire/EMS website starting Dec 8, 2008. Completed applications must be submitted in person to one location, the Department of Employment Services Office of Youth Programs, from February 2- 27, 2009.
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OSHKOSH FIRE AND EMERGENCY SALES UP 25.6 PERCENT
Originally Posted: November 9, 2008 8:06 PM
Last Updated: November 9, 2008 8:07 PM
Oshkosh Corporation (Oshkosh, WI), a manufacturer of fire and other specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, had fourth quarter net income of $53.6 million compared to $85.4 million in the prior year's fourth quarter.
Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer: "We finished the year with a solid fourth quarter performance, driving strong cash flow and more than $200 million of debt reduction. Our growing defense business led the way in the quarter, which helped propel our full year revenue to more than $7 billion for the first time in our history.”
Sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 increased 5.8 percent.
Fire & emergency sales increased 25.6 percent to $366.5 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in sales reflected increased market penetration by the Company's domestic fire apparatus business, higher sales at the Company's international fire apparatus business as a result of a shift in the timing of multiple-unit sales from the third quarter to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 and strong airport products growth.
Operating income increased 26.2 percent in the fourth quarter to $33.2 million, or 9.1 percent of sales, compared to the prior year quarter operating income of $26.3 million, or 9.0 percent of sales. The increase in operating income during the fourth quarter was primarily related to the higher sales in the segment, offset in part by the costs of a work stoppage that was settled during the quarter at a fabrication facility.
Access equipment sales decreased 11.7 percent to $742.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 compared to the prior year quarter. Sales in North America declined more than 20 percent versus the comparable prior year quarter on significantly lower aerial work platform shipments as a result of weak U.S. construction markets. Sales in Europe declined nearly five percent. Sales continued to grow in emerging markets in the fourth fiscal quarter.
Oshkosh Corporation is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty access equipment, military, commercial and fire & emergency vehicles and vehicle bodies.
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STATE LEGISLATURES CHANGE HANDS AS RESULT OF 2008 ELECTION
Originally Posted: November 9, 2008 7:29 PM
Last Updated: November 9, 2008 7:30 PM
The Democrats won 20 seats in Congress and majority control of five state chambers.
In New York's Senate, led by the Republicans since '66 the Democrats already controlled the House and governor’s office, so the win gives them most of New York lawmaking for the first time since 1935.
Democrats won the Delaware House for the first time since 1984, the Ohio House, Wisconsin’s Assembly and Nevada’s Senate, and shared control of
Alaska’s Senate.
Tim Storey, elections expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): “Obama’s coattails definitely helped Democrats win legislatures in the Nevada, Wisconsin and Ohio.”
Biden helped Democras take the Delaware House.
Republicans won the Senate in Oklahoma and both the House and Senate in Tennessee, and took control of the Montana Senate.
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SHIP FIRE SAFETY: WHAT IMPROVEMENTS IS THE MARITIME COMMUNITY MAKING?
Originally Posted: November 6, 2008 8:14 PM
Last Updated: November 6, 2008 8:14 PM
Back in 1982, shipboard fire destroyed the M/V Protector Alpha (Motorized Vessel). That fire took the life of one U.S. Coast Guardsman and injured a local fire fighter.
In 1983, port authorities, private companies, federal and state agencies, counties and fire districts responded to the tragedy, coming together to form the Maritime Fire & Safety Association (MFSA), to promote fire protection, safety, and enhancement of navigation on the lower Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
Here's "the setup." Two states, Oregon and Washington, are involved, as the lower Columbia River forms the boundary between them. Ports are on both sides of the river. The Willamette River tributary has extensive marine facilities and flows though the middle of downtown Portland.
Both private and public entities had huge invested interests to ensure and enhance a sustained response and preparedness level. And, after that fire destroyed the M/V Protector Alpha, took one life, and injured a second person, motivation was high.
Establishing the basic structure: an association to manage coordination, communications, training, oil spill clean-up, and planning, down to the detail of insuring acceptable response times, required great skill and attention to hundreds of details... and functioning as a team.
Homeland Security/U.S. Coast Guard, state agencies, bordering counties, fire districts, port authorities, and private companies form this all-volunteer organization.
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NEW OBAMA TEAM: FIRST LOOK AT THEIR PLANS
Originally Posted: November 6, 2008 5:09 PM
Last Updated: November 6, 2008 5:09 PM
The new Obama team is asking Congress to meet in a rump session later this month to approve $175 billion in spending under a stimulus plan that includes $25 billion for state governments and $25 billion for roads and bridges, Congressional leaders, all Democrats, have not agreed to this program but may consider $100 billion in new Federal payments. The Bush Administration and the Republican leaders have not indicated their support at this point.
Meanwhile, the new Obama team is recommending $50 billion in loans as bailout for the car and truck manufacturers. The goal? To encourage fuel efficient vehicles.
In October, Congress agreed to a $700 billion emergency rescue package that left the targets mostly up to the US Treasury Department. The money is currently being given to banks and financial institutions.
Here are some of the people being considered for financial leadership in the Obama Administration:
Lawrence Summers: Was Sec of Treasury under President Bill Clinton.
Robert Rubin: Was also Sec of Treasury under President Bill Clinton.
Paul Volcker: Was head of the Federal Reserve 79-87. He is semi-retired.
Austan Goolsbee: Economic Professor at U of Chicago, a close adviser to Obama,
Jason Furman: Economic advisor to Obama and was director of Brookings Institution's Hamilton Project, which promotes free trade.
The AFL-CIO, after supporting Obama, is seeking more power to form and build labor unions. Union membership has dropped from 20 to 12 percent of all US workers in the past 25 years.
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THREE BILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURIY'S PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM
Originally Posted: November 6, 2008 4:39 PM
Last Updated: November 6, 2008 4:39 PM
Three billion dollars will be given to state and local agencies with fewer strings attached by the US Departmen of Homeland Security. These funds go to ports, transit systems, emergency managers, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and fire departments. Sixty two high risk cities will also receive specific amounts from DHS.
The release of these funds immediately following the November national election is being announced under pressure from Congress whose leaders feel too much of DHS money is being spent on terrorism and too little on local issues such as law enforcement, drugs, gangs and violence.
David Heyman, Homeland Security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies: "The economic crisis is placing a great strain on local resources, forcing officials to decidd between, say, a school lunch program and cops on the street."
The House Homeland Security Committee says: "This sounds like the department being very responsive to years of deep-seated complaints from local authorities aout the enormous federal funding bureaucracy."
Local governments will be able to spend up to 50 percent of homeland security grants for personnel expenses, up from 15 percent.
Based on information NEEDA has obtained, funding levels appear to be similar to the 07-08 fiscal period. Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia will receive $100 million under the six biggest DHS grant programs.
Nov 5, 2008 Fact Sheet: FY 2009 Preparedness Grants:
FY 2009 Overview Grants Application Guidance (PDF, 27 pages – 575 KB )
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency today released Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Application Guidance for 14 federal grant programs, totaling more than $3 billion available in federal funding to assist state and local governments in strengthening community preparedness. More than $27 billion has been provided since 2002 to strengthen our nation’s ability to prevent, protect, respond and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters or other emergencies.
“Several years of investment have taken us largely from capability building to performance-based planning and investment,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “This year’s funding priorities are consistent with last year, and reflect a mature and disciplined grants program. We are now in the position of being able to inform high threat urban areas of their target allocations ahead of time, which will go a long way in helping their applications.”
DHS also is announcing for the first time FY 2009 targeted allocations under the State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative. This is the result of direct stakeholder feedback and will assist states and urban areas in writing investment justifications that reflect available grant resources. The department will continue to use the peer review process and applicants’ effectiveness scores in determining final allocations.
The grant program allocations for FY 2009:
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) – $1.7 billion. FY 2009 HSGP funding priorities are targeted for either states or urban areas, and reflect capabilities that are most critical to build in those jurisdictions. At least 25 percent of the total FY 2009 HSGP funding must be dedicated for activities involving planning, training and exercises in building or sustaining capabilities. HSGP is comprised of four programs:
State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) – $861.3 million to strengthen and build state, territorial and local preparedness capabilities through planning, equipment, training and exercise activities.
Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) – $798.6 million to enhance regional preparedness by strengthening capabilities in 62 high-threat, high-density urban areas across the country. The seven highest risk urban areas will compete for approximately $439 million, or 55 percent of available funds, while the remaining areas will compete for about $359 million, or 45 percent of the funds.
(Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities—Although the FY 2009 DHS Appropriations Act did not provide a separate appropriation for a Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, the 9/11 Act requires grantees to dedicate at least 25 percent from both SHSP and UASI funds for law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.)
Metropolitan Medical Response System Program (MMRS) – $39.8 million is divided evenly among 124 MMRS jurisdictions to enhance and sustain comprehensive regional mass casualty incident response and preparedness capabilities.
Citizen Corps Program (CCP) – $14.6 million for states and territories to bring community and government leaders together to engage citizens in community preparedness, response and recovery activities.
State Homeland Security Program Tribal (SHSP Tribal) – approximately $1.7 million will be provided to tribal applicants to build preparedness and response capabilities, and to implement homeland security plans. This program provides supplemental funding directly to eligible tribes, pursuant to the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Act of 2007.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) – $15 million to support target-hardening activities at nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack.
Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) – $60 million to states to enhance law enforcement and border security operations. States bordering Canada (including Alaska), southern states bordering Mexico, and states and territories with international water borders are eligible for funding under FY 2009 OPSG. Previous grants were restricted to states located on a land border.
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) – $388.6 million to protect critical transit infrastructure from terrorism, including:
Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP) – $15 million to target resources for security plans, vulnerability assessments, employee security awareness training and GPS tracking systems for railroad cars transporting toxic inhalation materials.
Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak) – $25 million for Amtrak to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies within the Amtrak rail system.
Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) – $388.6 million to protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness and risk management capabilities to protect against improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons; to conduct training and exercises; and support implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) – $48.6 million to increase preparedness capabilities of jurisdictions responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure sites and key resource assets, such as chemical facilities and nuclear power plants, through planning and equipment acquisition.
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) – $11.7 million to assist operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services to support security plans, facility security upgrades, and vehicle and driver protection.
Trucking Security Program (TSP) – $7.8 million for eligible applicants to implement security improvement measures and policies that focus on the purchase, installation or enhancement of equipment and systems related to tractor and trailer tracking systems; to help develop a system for DHS to monitor, collect and analyze tracking information; and to develop plans to improve the transport and distribution of supplies and commodities during catastrophic events.
Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) – $306 million to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.
Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) – $48.6 million for planning, training, exercises and equipment to states, territories, local and tribal governments to carry out initiatives identified in Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans, and improve interoperable emergency communications for responding to natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP) – $34 million to enhance catastrophic incident preparedness in selected high-risk, high-consequence urban areas and to support technical assistance funding in FY 2009. RCPGP supports coordination of regional all-hazards planning for catastrophic events, including the development of plans, protocols, and procedures.
Selected preparedness grants, such as the Urban Areas Security Initiative, are awarded according to a risk assessment methodology that assesses threat, vulnerability and consequence. The FY 2009 risk methodology has not changed from FY 2008.
TSGP, PSGP, BZPP, IBSGP, and TSP applications are due no later than Jan. 13, 2009. Applications for the HSGP programs are due no later than March 20, 2009. Other program application deadlines are listed in the program guidance.
The FY 2009 Application Guidance reflects the strategic priorities set by the Homeland Security Strategy as well as the National Preparedness Guidelines and National Response Framework.
MORE INFO? www.dhs.gov and www.fema.gov/grants.
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ALABAMA'S HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR PICKED FOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL BY GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION: ONLY ELECTED MEMBER FROM SOUTH
Originally Posted: November 3, 2008 4:40 PM
Last Updated: November 3, 2008 4:40 PM
The Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council has elected Jim Walker, Alabama's homeland security director, to its Executive Leadership Council. Walker, is the only elected member from a Southern state. In a statement, Walker said that the new position will give Alabama a voice when homeland security issues are discussed by the new administration in Washington, DC.
The council represents homeland security advisers in all states and U.S. territories.
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20 GRANT WRITING SEMINARS OFFERED
Originally Posted: November 3, 2008 4:24 PM
Last Updated: November 3, 2008 4:24 PM
Homeland Defense Journal Training Workshop (tm) is offering grant writing seminars, as follows:
Nov 17-18, 2008 Minneapolis, MN
Dec 2-3, 2008 Scottsdale, AZ
Jan 15-16, 2009 Arlington, VA
Feb 26-27, 2009 Dallas (Frisco), TX
Mar 4-5, 2009 Albuquerque, NM
Mar 18-19, 2009 Atlanta, GA
Apr 1-2, 2009 Kansas City, MO
Apr 22-23, 2009 San Francisco,, CA
May 14-15, 2009 Arlington, VA
May 28-29, 2009 Orlando, FL
Jun 17-18, 2009 Chicago,, IL
Jul 9-10, 2009 Portland, OR
Jul 22-23, 2009 Oklahoma City, OK
Aug 20-21, 2009 Nashville, TN
Sep 10-11, 2009 Minneapolis, MN
Sep 17-18, 2009 Washington, DC
Oct 1-2, 2009 Denver, CO
Oct 15-16, 2009 Seattle, WA
Nov 19-20, 2009 New Orleans, LA
Dec 9-10, 2009 Scottsdale, AZ
About this Workshop:
This comprehensive hands-on boot camp covers everything from learning grants-related terminology to learning how to conduct funding searches and actually writing the critical, high point review sections of a sure to win grant application/proposal. This course covers the essential grant seeking and grant writing strategies required to successfully submit competitive corporate and foundation proposals as well as state and federal grant applications for funding consideration. Participants are encouraged to bring real project ideas and supporting documentation to complete 95% of their proposal narrative onsite. Emphasis will be placed on researching and writing. Laptops are welcome.
Topics:
- Finding Funding Sources and Best Practices
- Qualifying the Funding Opportunity and Your Organization
- Pros and Cons of Community Partnerships
- Considering Grant Writing Teams
- Reviewing Grant Writing Formats
- Describing Your Organization
- Describing Your Request to the Funder
- Developing a Compelling Problem Statement
- Writing a Program Design and Planning the Evaluation Process
- Demonstrating Sustainability
- Planning the Budget
- Recommended Attachments
- Finishing Touches
- Following Up
Who Should Attend?
- Any nonprofit or for-profit organization that has not been successful at winning government grants and cooperative agreements
- Regional, state and local public safety and emergency management executives and senior staff
- State and local grants personnel interested in learning about updating grant writing skills
- Academia interested in funding for critical programs and projects
- Novice grant seeker to the seasoned grant writer that wants to increase their rate of funding success
MORE INFO? www.homelanddefensejournal.com
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LESSONS LEARNED SHARING NETWORK ADDS US FIRE ADMINISTRATION INFO
Originally Posted: November 3, 2008 12:42 PM
Last Updated: November 3, 2008 12:43 PM
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) is connected to the Lessons Learned Information Sharing Network is the national network of lessons learned, best practices, innovative ideas, and preparedness information for homeland security and emergency response professionals.
By sharing knowledge, www.LLIS.gov enhances the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to terrorism, natural disasters, and other incidents. Lessons Learned Information Sharing Network is a network that enables homeland security and emergency response professionals from across the country to share their knowledge and expertise in a secure, online environment.
LLIS.gov has created a new USFA Resource Page where LLIS.gov members can access USFA technical and special reports, related LLIS.gov original content, featured documents, and links.
MORE INFO? www.LLIS.gov: LLIS.GOV PARTNERS under “US Fire Administration Resource Page”
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THERE ARE SOME GOOD REASONS WHY MANUFACTURERS SHOULD NOT CAVE IN TO THE GSA STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN
Originally Posted: November 1, 2008 8:00 PM
Last Updated: November 1, 2008 8:00 PM
As you know, NEEDA is opposed to a new law that gives the US General Services Administration the right and power to sell directly to state and local goverments, bypassing dealers and distributors but rather making manufacturers and suppliers sell direct.
OK, say a manufacturer has made a sale to a local government! Here is what they are up against in getting paid. These comments are thanks to a friend of mine Bill Blumberg who works full time on helping companies untangle the complicated Federal payment system. This tangle of rules and trip-points is going to make life hell for the manufacturers who decide to take business away from their dealers and work directly with GSA. Some manufacturers in the fire industry say they want to work directly with GSA. Will GSA help them get paid? No. Will state and local governments pay manufacturers any faster than Federal agencies pay? What other barriers will there be to getting paid under the new system? All state and local buyers must now withhold 3% from manufacturers; plus all manufacturers will be obligated to send one percent of every sale on to GSA as a finders fee!
In other words, manufacturers who abandon their dealers and sell direct to state and local governments are in for some tough problems getting paid and in making their sales profitable. And of course, they will not have dealers at the local level to provide delivery and service and support for the buyer.
About Blumberg's Laws.
OK, you’ve won the contract, performed the work, and now it is time to bill and collect from your Government customer.
Blumberg’s Law will help Government Contractors:
Handle issues that arise when managing billing, collections, and payments.
Navigate the financial and administrative lifecycle of a contract, versus the actual performance lifecycle, and introduce you to key regulations.
Supplement other company policies used for commercial customers
Design appropriate, vigorous financial procedures, credit policies, and collection procedures for federal customers.
Introduce the various regulations and events that can impact your federal collections.
Assist credit managers in understanding basic federal payment procedures and the distinct differences from commercial practice.
Blumberg’s Law will give you practical, hands on, solutions to many of the problems I encountered whilst serving as the US Ombudsman for Federal Contractors with payment issues.
Remember, by following Blumberg’s Law the odds of getting paid by Uncle Sam are better than you think.
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