Business Insights

The City of Denver has adopted policies to ensure that small businesses have equal opportunity to participate in the city’s procurement processes. As part of Denver’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity the city introduced Executive Order 101, which states that all city departments and agencies soliciting goods and services must take into account a vendor’s status in regards to diversity and inclusivity when entering into contracts. [i]

The first thoughts that come to many people’s minds when they hear the words New York are images of Broadway, Wall Street and Times Square. But beyond the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets of New York City are the diverse landscapes of Upstate and Western New York State.

Just 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island in the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean is Block Island, a 9.7 square mile island home to around 1000 people. Named one of the "The Last Great Places" by the Nature Conservancy, 40 percent of Block Island is set aside for conservation, making the island attractive for tourists. [i] Visitors to Block Island in 2017 will be welcomed by a new green infrastructure project just off the coast of the island: the five towering turbines of America’s first offshore wind farm.

Employing a staff of 10,000, The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) maintains 14 complexes across the state that collectively house more than 42 thousand inmates. The ADC’s procurement needs are handled by the Procurement Services Unit, which has an approximate annual budget of $1.1 million and is tasked with sourcing products and services for each ADC facility, including supplies and materials for inmate education and rehabilitation programs. [i]

More than any other American city, Portland, Oregon is a leader in adopting green and sustainability initiatives. By working closely with residents and businesses, the city of Portland has adopted policies that promote clean energy and urban livability that continue to generate impressive results.

In the City of Chicago, the Department of Procurement Services (DPS) is the contracting authority for the procurement of goods and services. Through a competitive open bid process, the DPS awards contracts with the goal of securing the best value for the city. By establishing a procurement system that focuses on open communication, timely processes and fair business practices, vendors are able to partner with the city for a variety of contract opportunities.

The state of California will soon be starting work on one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the United States: the California High-Speed Rail project. Designed to travel at speeds exceeding 200 mph (which will enable travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than 3 hours), this state-of-the-art rail system will be the first of its kind to be built in the United States. Upon completion, the project will connect up to 24 stations spread throughout California, opening up new opportunities for job creation and business in many regions of the state. [i]

Managing state services throughout New York is a massive responsibility entrusted to The Office of General Services (OGS). The OGS was established in 1960 to provide support services for the New York State government; since then their responsibilities have grown to include management of state property, construction projects, state tours and procurement. With a focus on delivering value and maximizing cost-effectiveness, the Office of General Services is always working to modernize and improve their processes to ensure the needs of the state are met.

The City of Chicago is home to approximately 2.7 million people and is the third-largest city in the United States. On January 1^st 2017 the city’s new $9.8 billion budget went into effect, a substantial increase over the previous year’s $9.3 billion. A key component of the new budget is an increase in funding for Chicago’s Public Safety departments, including nearly $53 million to pay for the hiring and training of 900 new police officers over the next two years. [i]

In the United States, the correctional system is big business. The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) operates 149 facilities statewide that collectively house approximately 98,000 inmates and employ more than20,000 people. With an annual operating budget of $2.4 billion, the FDC is the third-largest prison system in the country. [i] A portion of the FDC’s budget is used to maintain a vast system of educational and life-skills programs for inmates to support their rehabilitation. In addition to preparing inmates for their return to society, these programs create many profitable opportunities for businesses that are interested in providing goods and services to the FDC.