Home > Resources > Articles > THE TIMES THEY-ARE-A CHANGIN’

THE TIMES THEY-ARE-A CHANGIN’

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHALLENGES. At SAFEbuilt, for the past 23 years, we have been dedicated to, and successful in helping local government managers solve these exact problems

Spotlight

Washington State Department of Early Learning

The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) was created in 2006 to help Washington's children get ready for school and life. Our work focuses on children's earliest years of life. We offer information and resources for children's first and most important teachers—parents—as well as others who care for and teach young children.

OTHER ARTICLES
Emerging Technology, Government Business

What Agencies Should Consider Before Deploying AI

Article | October 7, 2022

Artificial intelligence is the major buzzword in federal IT these days, the way that cloud once was. It’s easy to see why. There is booming investment in AI in the private sector, and various agencies across the government are experimenting with AI to achieve their missions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working with Microsoft to use AI and cloud technology to more easily and accurately identify animals and population counts of endangered species. NASA is ramping up the use of AI throughout its operations, from conducting basic financial operations to finding extra radio frequencies aboard the International Space Station. And the Defense Health Agency’s dermatologists are even using AI to better monitor patients’ skin.

Read More
Government Business, Government Finance

The Essential Role of Government During COVID-19

Article | July 12, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic touches every aspect of business, technology, and society. And stable and effective government is at the heart of managing through this crisis. What we do now will have longer-term implications for the health and safety of our families, our citizens, the economy, and even global stability. In the past few weeks, IBM has collaborated with many of our government clients and is driving action across three critical phases of response.

Read More

Billions in funding from COVID relief programs now flowing to state, local governments

Article | May 26, 2021

The CARES ACT (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) passed by Congress created a sprawling, multi-faceted plan to combat COVID-19 and its debilitating effects on the U.S. economy. Signed into law in March, the $2 trillion relief package allocated funding for preserving jobs, backfilling government budgets, helping school districts, providing assistance for the unemployed and establishing grant programs for various industry sectors such as transportation and telecommunications. There are murmurs of a second stimulus bill which could be debated as soon as July, with the president on July 2 expressing his support for one. But, billions of dollars remain in the CARES Act funding for numerous programs. Much of that funding has reached recipients already, and more should start flowing at any time. All parties and stakeholders are eager, of course, for the funding to reach governmental entities. CARES Act funding programs include the following examples. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, program was established with approximately $13.2 billion. This funding is designated for public school districts through an application process that has oversight from each state’s centralized education agency. Texas school districts received $1.29 billion through the program, just behind the state of California, which received the highest allotment at $1.6 billion. Other states receiving a larger share of ESSER funding are New York ($1.03 billion), Florida ($770 million), Illinois ($569 million), and Georgia ($457 million). The program requires that at least 90 percent of the grant funding must be awarded to schools that received Title I, Part A funding during the 2019-20 school year. That stipulation will result in only school systems with a high number of students from low-income families being eligible for the bulk of the revenue. Applications are to be submitted to the state education agency for review and approval. However, decisions about how the funding is used are to be made by local officials in the school districts. Another part of the CARES Act provides billions more in funding for airports. The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) offers $10 billion in distributions through grants for capital projects. This revenue can also be used to fill funding gaps in fiscal year 2020 budgets, since airport systems throughout the nation sustained such heavy losses as a result of the pandemic. Previously, the grants required a local funding match, but the CARES Act increased the federal share to 100 percent. The AIP program allocates $7.4 billion for commercial airports that serve more than 10,000 passengers annually. Another $2 billion is set aside for commercial airports and general aviation airports. Looking at the listed intended uses of these funds, it appears that many airports will have thousands of upcoming contracting opportunities. Millions will be spent on projects to extend and/or rehabilitate runways. Other airports plan to install new lighting, expand terminals, purchase additional safety equipment, reconfigure taxiways, conduct studies, and develop planning documents for future expansion. Cities and counties are most eager to participate in the $5 billion in funding available for local government programs and projects through the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, program. This funding is intended for local governmental officials to use for corridor redevelopment, economic development initiatives and other projects. Every state received funding and some of the larger allocations were designated for Texas ($63.4 million), California ($113 million), Florida ($63 million), and New York ($70.5 million). The U.S. Economic Development Organization continues to accept applications for projects that reinvigorate regional economic recovery, with $1.5 billion earmarked in the CARES Act for the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program. Through grants for projects that “leverage existing regional assets,” this program is designed to support economic development within distressed communities. Funding is available to states, counties, universities, and regional planning organizations, as well as for public-private partnerships. Examples of funding allocated through the program include the award of a $400,000 in grant to the Kennebac Valley Council of Governments in Maine to update its economic development plans and provide COVID-19 services. In Texas, the Concho Valley Council of Governments in San Angelo received a $2.2 million grant to purchase a building for its regional headquarters. The city of Odessa is using $927,708 in CDBG grant money for several social services programs and to supplement local nonprofits’ efforts during the pandemic. And the city of Lewisville recently received $5.8 million in CARES Act money, which includes $452,305 in CDBG grants. The Federal Transit Administration is distributing $25 billion with approximately $22.7 billion earmarked for large and small urban areas and $2.2 billion set aside for rural areas. This funding does not require a local match of any kind, and it can be used for capital projects and for operations and/or planning purposes, as long as those activities relate in some way to COVID-19. Transit agencies in urban areas with a population over one million --- such as Cap Metro, which received $104 million --- are getting $17.5 billion through the FTA. Transit agencies serving areas with populations fewer than one million --- such as Brownsville, Texas, which is receiving $7.6 million --- are getting $5.1 billion. In the middle of the current, historic pandemic, the economy will significantly be stimulated by projects and initiatives that result from this funding. Public-private collaboration will not only create jobs and generate additional revenue flow, it will result in getting Americans working together again … and that will serve the country well. Mary Scott Nabers is president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships Inc., a business development company specializing in government contracting and procurement consulting throughout the U.S. Her recently released book, Inside the Infrastructure Revolution: A Roadmap for Building America, is a handbook for contractors, investors and the public at large seeking to explore how public-private partnerships or joint ventures can help finance their infrastructure projects.

Read More

Fiscal year 2021 prime for government contracts of every type

Article | August 26, 2020

In spite of a decline in contracting opportunities in state and local government, public officials are announcing dozens of new, large projects each week. The announcements usually include upcoming solicitations for new construction projects as well as renovation and upgrade projects. Because of population growth, many of the most recent announcements have expansion projects. Educational facilities need more classrooms, cities and counties need more office facilities, and economic development organizations have plans to develop more revenue-generating venues. Overall, it appears that contracting opportunities will not suffer much as a result of fewer solicitation documents that are anticipated over the near term. Here’s a sampling of what to anticipate in 2021. New York Broome County is planning a two-phase $180 million renovation project for the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The project will be a rather large one, and the first phase work has a projected cost of $58 million. That work will involve improvements and upgrades to the arena's current space. Phase two of the project carries an estimated cost of approximately $125 million. It will include construction of a second ice rink and a convention center, both of which will be linked to the current arena. The objective is to increase the number and type of activities that can be accommodated in this downtown. Accommodations will be made for e-sports, various types of tournaments and space for practice sessions by the American Hockey League Binghampton Devils. Phase two will also include another downtown hotel and a new park alongside the Susquehanna River. Formal solicitations for the project may be delayed until 2022, but interested contractors and/or partners will find no better time than now for positioning and pre-sales activities. Mississippi The Mississippi Legislature ended its yearly session with the approval of a bond bill in the amount of $291 million. This funding will be allocated for various types of projects. The sum of $13.5 million is earmarked for Mississippi Valley State University. The school will expand its student union building and upgrade other facilities. Another $13.5 million has been set aside for repairs to the state capitol building, grounds, and War Memorial building. Funding also will be provided to the city of Tupelo for repair, renovation, and expansion of the BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center. Greene County will receive funding for the renovation and expansion of the county’s rural events center in Leakesville. Georgia The Georgia General Assembly’s final version of a $25.9 billion fiscal budget was adopted in June and it calls for making $70 million available for an expansion project related to the Savannah Convention Center. Another $10.24 million is allocated for infrastructure improvements to the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The budget also will finance universities, colleges, and technical colleges. Specifically, $5 million is designated for renovations at the Driftmier Engineering Center at the University of Georgia’s main campus in Athens, $4.8 million for renovations to the Dublin Center and Library on the Dublin campus of Middle Georgia State University, and $4.5 million for renovations to the Memorial College Center on the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University in Savannah. Massachusetts An architecture firm will be selected to conduct a fast-tracked assessment of the Holyoke Soldier’s Home for an upcoming renovation and expansion project. The state of Massachusetts has designated 12 weeks for a firm to complete a needs assessment that will provide three scenarios for improvements that focus on infection control and needs of the residents. Planning for this project which is projected to cost approximately $116 million plan began years ago. The objective is to expand the facility with a five-story addition that provides 120 new private rooms. Oregon The Portland Public School Board plans to move forward with a $1.2 billion November bond election. If voters approve the bond package, there will be funding available for the modernization of Jefferson High School. Planning documents outline plans to fund design work and additional master planning. Initial implementation will include investments in the neighborhood schools surrounding Jefferson High School, pre-construction planning for the modernization of Cleveland and Wilson high schools, and final modernization of Benson Polytechnic High School. Indiana The Seymour ISD has announced plans to convert the Seymour Middle School Sixth Grade Center into an intermediate school for fifth- and sixth-grade students and also upgrade Seymour High School. Construction should begin in 2022 on this $52.45 million project. Objectives include the provision of additional classroom space, enhanced security, upgraded accessibility, and expansion opportunities for career and athletic programming. Enhancements and upgrades also will be made at the intermediate school. These include the construction of a new kitchen and cafeteria, administrative office, gymnasium, library, and band and choir rooms. The number of classrooms will be increased from 15 to 38. At the high school, a minimum of 25 new classrooms will be added and a corridor will be constructed to relieve congestion and create space for additional lockers. West Virginia The Greenbrier County Courthouse, built in 1837, is slated for an expansion project that will add approximately 22,000 square feet. The new annex, which will have an elevator, will be attached to the northern end of the current courthouse. The solicitation for construction is likely to begin in December. The construction project will include code upgrades and the upgrading of air conditioning equipment, sprinkler systems, and heating units. A secure elevator will be added in the existing courthouse to move prisoners. These projects are indicative of what can be found by researching upcoming contracting opportunities. Each new project also will require additional purchases related to technology, security, upgraded equipment, furniture, office supplies, landscaping, and numerous professional services. The government marketplace is still one of the hottest places to find abundant opportunities for private sector firms. Mary Scott Nabers is president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships Inc., a business development company specializing in government contracting and procurement consulting throughout the U.S. Her recently released book, Inside the Infrastructure Revolution: A Roadmap for Building America, is a handbook for contractors, investors and the public at large seeking to explore how public-private partnerships or joint ventures can help finance their infrastructure projects.

Read More
Emerging Technology, Government Business

How Does Government Operations Continuity Help Them Perform Better?

Article | October 7, 2022

Artificial intelligence is the major buzzword in federal IT these days, the way that cloud once was. It’s easy to see why. There is booming investment in AI in the private sector, and various agencies across the government are experimenting with AI to achieve their missions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working with Microsoft to use AI and cloud technology to more easily and accurately identify animals and population counts of endangered species. NASA is ramping up the use of AI throughout its operations, from conducting basic financial operations to finding extra radio frequencies aboard the International Space Station. And the Defense Health Agency’s dermatologists are even using AI to better monitor patients’ skin.

Read More
Government Business, Government Finance

U.S. Engagement with WHO

Article | July 12, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic touches every aspect of business, technology, and society. And stable and effective government is at the heart of managing through this crisis. What we do now will have longer-term implications for the health and safety of our families, our citizens, the economy, and even global stability. In the past few weeks, IBM has collaborated with many of our government clients and is driving action across three critical phases of response.

Read More

Creating Public Value using the AI-Driven Internet of Things

Article | May 26, 2021

The CARES ACT (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) passed by Congress created a sprawling, multi-faceted plan to combat COVID-19 and its debilitating effects on the U.S. economy. Signed into law in March, the $2 trillion relief package allocated funding for preserving jobs, backfilling government budgets, helping school districts, providing assistance for the unemployed and establishing grant programs for various industry sectors such as transportation and telecommunications. There are murmurs of a second stimulus bill which could be debated as soon as July, with the president on July 2 expressing his support for one. But, billions of dollars remain in the CARES Act funding for numerous programs. Much of that funding has reached recipients already, and more should start flowing at any time. All parties and stakeholders are eager, of course, for the funding to reach governmental entities. CARES Act funding programs include the following examples. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, program was established with approximately $13.2 billion. This funding is designated for public school districts through an application process that has oversight from each state’s centralized education agency. Texas school districts received $1.29 billion through the program, just behind the state of California, which received the highest allotment at $1.6 billion. Other states receiving a larger share of ESSER funding are New York ($1.03 billion), Florida ($770 million), Illinois ($569 million), and Georgia ($457 million). The program requires that at least 90 percent of the grant funding must be awarded to schools that received Title I, Part A funding during the 2019-20 school year. That stipulation will result in only school systems with a high number of students from low-income families being eligible for the bulk of the revenue. Applications are to be submitted to the state education agency for review and approval. However, decisions about how the funding is used are to be made by local officials in the school districts. Another part of the CARES Act provides billions more in funding for airports. The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) offers $10 billion in distributions through grants for capital projects. This revenue can also be used to fill funding gaps in fiscal year 2020 budgets, since airport systems throughout the nation sustained such heavy losses as a result of the pandemic. Previously, the grants required a local funding match, but the CARES Act increased the federal share to 100 percent. The AIP program allocates $7.4 billion for commercial airports that serve more than 10,000 passengers annually. Another $2 billion is set aside for commercial airports and general aviation airports. Looking at the listed intended uses of these funds, it appears that many airports will have thousands of upcoming contracting opportunities. Millions will be spent on projects to extend and/or rehabilitate runways. Other airports plan to install new lighting, expand terminals, purchase additional safety equipment, reconfigure taxiways, conduct studies, and develop planning documents for future expansion. Cities and counties are most eager to participate in the $5 billion in funding available for local government programs and projects through the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, program. This funding is intended for local governmental officials to use for corridor redevelopment, economic development initiatives and other projects. Every state received funding and some of the larger allocations were designated for Texas ($63.4 million), California ($113 million), Florida ($63 million), and New York ($70.5 million). The U.S. Economic Development Organization continues to accept applications for projects that reinvigorate regional economic recovery, with $1.5 billion earmarked in the CARES Act for the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program. Through grants for projects that “leverage existing regional assets,” this program is designed to support economic development within distressed communities. Funding is available to states, counties, universities, and regional planning organizations, as well as for public-private partnerships. Examples of funding allocated through the program include the award of a $400,000 in grant to the Kennebac Valley Council of Governments in Maine to update its economic development plans and provide COVID-19 services. In Texas, the Concho Valley Council of Governments in San Angelo received a $2.2 million grant to purchase a building for its regional headquarters. The city of Odessa is using $927,708 in CDBG grant money for several social services programs and to supplement local nonprofits’ efforts during the pandemic. And the city of Lewisville recently received $5.8 million in CARES Act money, which includes $452,305 in CDBG grants. The Federal Transit Administration is distributing $25 billion with approximately $22.7 billion earmarked for large and small urban areas and $2.2 billion set aside for rural areas. This funding does not require a local match of any kind, and it can be used for capital projects and for operations and/or planning purposes, as long as those activities relate in some way to COVID-19. Transit agencies in urban areas with a population over one million --- such as Cap Metro, which received $104 million --- are getting $17.5 billion through the FTA. Transit agencies serving areas with populations fewer than one million --- such as Brownsville, Texas, which is receiving $7.6 million --- are getting $5.1 billion. In the middle of the current, historic pandemic, the economy will significantly be stimulated by projects and initiatives that result from this funding. Public-private collaboration will not only create jobs and generate additional revenue flow, it will result in getting Americans working together again … and that will serve the country well. Mary Scott Nabers is president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships Inc., a business development company specializing in government contracting and procurement consulting throughout the U.S. Her recently released book, Inside the Infrastructure Revolution: A Roadmap for Building America, is a handbook for contractors, investors and the public at large seeking to explore how public-private partnerships or joint ventures can help finance their infrastructure projects.

Read More

Fiscal year 2021 prime for government contracts of every type

Article | August 26, 2020

In spite of a decline in contracting opportunities in state and local government, public officials are announcing dozens of new, large projects each week. The announcements usually include upcoming solicitations for new construction projects as well as renovation and upgrade projects. Because of population growth, many of the most recent announcements have expansion projects. Educational facilities need more classrooms, cities and counties need more office facilities, and economic development organizations have plans to develop more revenue-generating venues. Overall, it appears that contracting opportunities will not suffer much as a result of fewer solicitation documents that are anticipated over the near term. Here’s a sampling of what to anticipate in 2021. New York Broome County is planning a two-phase $180 million renovation project for the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The project will be a rather large one, and the first phase work has a projected cost of $58 million. That work will involve improvements and upgrades to the arena's current space. Phase two of the project carries an estimated cost of approximately $125 million. It will include construction of a second ice rink and a convention center, both of which will be linked to the current arena. The objective is to increase the number and type of activities that can be accommodated in this downtown. Accommodations will be made for e-sports, various types of tournaments and space for practice sessions by the American Hockey League Binghampton Devils. Phase two will also include another downtown hotel and a new park alongside the Susquehanna River. Formal solicitations for the project may be delayed until 2022, but interested contractors and/or partners will find no better time than now for positioning and pre-sales activities. Mississippi The Mississippi Legislature ended its yearly session with the approval of a bond bill in the amount of $291 million. This funding will be allocated for various types of projects. The sum of $13.5 million is earmarked for Mississippi Valley State University. The school will expand its student union building and upgrade other facilities. Another $13.5 million has been set aside for repairs to the state capitol building, grounds, and War Memorial building. Funding also will be provided to the city of Tupelo for repair, renovation, and expansion of the BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center. Greene County will receive funding for the renovation and expansion of the county’s rural events center in Leakesville. Georgia The Georgia General Assembly’s final version of a $25.9 billion fiscal budget was adopted in June and it calls for making $70 million available for an expansion project related to the Savannah Convention Center. Another $10.24 million is allocated for infrastructure improvements to the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The budget also will finance universities, colleges, and technical colleges. Specifically, $5 million is designated for renovations at the Driftmier Engineering Center at the University of Georgia’s main campus in Athens, $4.8 million for renovations to the Dublin Center and Library on the Dublin campus of Middle Georgia State University, and $4.5 million for renovations to the Memorial College Center on the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University in Savannah. Massachusetts An architecture firm will be selected to conduct a fast-tracked assessment of the Holyoke Soldier’s Home for an upcoming renovation and expansion project. The state of Massachusetts has designated 12 weeks for a firm to complete a needs assessment that will provide three scenarios for improvements that focus on infection control and needs of the residents. Planning for this project which is projected to cost approximately $116 million plan began years ago. The objective is to expand the facility with a five-story addition that provides 120 new private rooms. Oregon The Portland Public School Board plans to move forward with a $1.2 billion November bond election. If voters approve the bond package, there will be funding available for the modernization of Jefferson High School. Planning documents outline plans to fund design work and additional master planning. Initial implementation will include investments in the neighborhood schools surrounding Jefferson High School, pre-construction planning for the modernization of Cleveland and Wilson high schools, and final modernization of Benson Polytechnic High School. Indiana The Seymour ISD has announced plans to convert the Seymour Middle School Sixth Grade Center into an intermediate school for fifth- and sixth-grade students and also upgrade Seymour High School. Construction should begin in 2022 on this $52.45 million project. Objectives include the provision of additional classroom space, enhanced security, upgraded accessibility, and expansion opportunities for career and athletic programming. Enhancements and upgrades also will be made at the intermediate school. These include the construction of a new kitchen and cafeteria, administrative office, gymnasium, library, and band and choir rooms. The number of classrooms will be increased from 15 to 38. At the high school, a minimum of 25 new classrooms will be added and a corridor will be constructed to relieve congestion and create space for additional lockers. West Virginia The Greenbrier County Courthouse, built in 1837, is slated for an expansion project that will add approximately 22,000 square feet. The new annex, which will have an elevator, will be attached to the northern end of the current courthouse. The solicitation for construction is likely to begin in December. The construction project will include code upgrades and the upgrading of air conditioning equipment, sprinkler systems, and heating units. A secure elevator will be added in the existing courthouse to move prisoners. These projects are indicative of what can be found by researching upcoming contracting opportunities. Each new project also will require additional purchases related to technology, security, upgraded equipment, furniture, office supplies, landscaping, and numerous professional services. The government marketplace is still one of the hottest places to find abundant opportunities for private sector firms. Mary Scott Nabers is president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships Inc., a business development company specializing in government contracting and procurement consulting throughout the U.S. Her recently released book, Inside the Infrastructure Revolution: A Roadmap for Building America, is a handbook for contractors, investors and the public at large seeking to explore how public-private partnerships or joint ventures can help finance their infrastructure projects.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Washington State Department of Early Learning

The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) was created in 2006 to help Washington's children get ready for school and life. Our work focuses on children's earliest years of life. We offer information and resources for children's first and most important teachers—parents—as well as others who care for and teach young children.

Related News

Government Business

Carahsoft to Announce Partnering with Thentia

Carahsoft | June 30, 2022

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is agovernment IT solutions provider delivering best-of-breed hardware, software, and support solutions to federal, state, and local government agencies. It announced entering into a partnership with an industry-leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) to government regulatory bodies. ThentiaCloud,aproprietarylicensingplatformcreatedforregulatorsbyThentia,willbemorewidelyadoptedbyregulatorsasaresultofthisnewpartnership. Thentia's Master Government Aggregator®, Carahsoft, will make Thentia Cloud available to the public sector through its reseller partner networks and contracts with the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint, GSA Schedule, and OMNIA Partners. This exciting partnership comes at an incredibly opportune time for Thentia, as the company experienced significant growth in 2021 and is poised for even greater platform adoption in 2022 and beyond. We look forward to working with Carahsoft to further accelerate the momentum and traction we're currently gaining with regulatory agencies acrossNorth America. Carahsoft, as well as other partners, will play a pivotal role in expanding Thentia's position in the public sector as a leading government technology platform." Bonnie Campo, Thentia's Vice President, Strategic Alliances Campo added, "We look forward to leveraging Carahsoft's market expertise, procurement services, sales channels, proactive marketing, and large customer base to support public sector digital transformation for years to come." "Thentia's competitive advantage stems from the firsthand experiences of its creators, who have all worked as regulators themselves," statedHarjeet Khalsa, who manages the Thentia team at Carahsoft. "By drawing on their experiences, they have built a highly configurable platform that addresses the nuances of governmental workflows while streamlining compliance and increasing cybersecurity. That's exactly the combination our clients and reseller partners seek."

Read More

Government Business

Align Capital Partners Makes Growth Investment in GovTech Platform Schneider Geospatial

Align Capital Partners | June 24, 2022

Align Capital Partners announced the recapitalization of Schneider Geospatial, LLC, a SaaS provider of public access land management software and recurring support services to state and local governments. As one of the largest providers of GovTech geospatial solutions in the U.S. with a presence in over 25 states, the Company’s software allows citizens to access disparate government information sources in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Schneider Engineering Corporation was founded in 1962 and began offering geographic information system (GIS) services in 1989. After the GIS business grew well organically and through several acquisitions, the Schneider family decided to spin out Schneider Geospatial into a separate, independent business in 2018 while maintaining 100% ownership of the Company. Through this transaction, ACP is providing significant growth capital to Schneider Geospatial, while preserving the Schneider family legacy through their continued ownership interest in the Company. “Our grandfather, Vincent Schneider, had a love for technology that was ahead of his time. Our father, John Schneider, embraced this passion and began our GIS business with a keen insight that understood the importance of geographic data. We are very proud of Schneider Geospatial, its award-winning innovations and the amazing group of employees who have made this all happen. We are excited to be associated with Align Capital Partners and we look forward to the future as we continue to grow and expand,” said J. Barry Schneider and Victoria Schneider Temple. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Company’s 50+ person team helps power Schneider Geospatial’s cloud-based software platform that enables clients to manage over 500 million information requests from over 23 million users, including citizens, commercial real estate developers, appraisers, law firms, contractors and inspectors. The Company’s core solution combines web-based GIS data reporting tools including CAMA and tax, ownership history, liens, boundaries, environmental issues and topography, into a single, user-friendly web application. We are excited to continue our partnership with our amazing clients. ACP’s investment allows us to accelerate several of our growth initiatives which will result in even better solutions and services to our clients. Our talented team is excited to continue this next phase of the Company’s growth.” Jeff Corns, CEO of Schneider Geospatial Schneider Geospatial is ACP’s second GovTech platform investment to date, following its 2020 investment in Electronic Transaction Consultants Corporation. “The Company has a very strong value-proposition of helping clients provide public access to digitized records as a replacement to a historically inefficient and labor-intensive experience,” said ACP Managing Partner Chris Jones. “Our enthusiasm for Schneider Geospatial plays on the attractive tailwinds of our firm’s GovTech thesis. The Company is well positioned to help governments replace antiquated technology, increase access to important digitized information and enhance information sharing capabilities to improve citizen engagement.” This represents ACP’s 72nd closed investment since the firm was founded in 2016 and is ACP’s 11th new investment year-to-date, including two platforms and nine add-on investments. Principal Matt Iodice and Associate Aaron Lewis worked alongside Mr. Jones on the transaction. Schneider Geospatial was advised on the transaction by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, while ACP was supported by Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP. About Schneider Geospatial Schneider Geospatial is a provider of State & Local Government SaaS public access solutions and support services. The Company’s products include award-winning SaaS solutions such as Beacon™ and qPublic.net™ focused on local government information for the web; GeoPermits™ which is a SaaS permitting and workflow management platform; and Agland™ used to automate the calculating process for agricultural assessments. In addition to a diverse product portfolio, the Company offers a full range of GIS, technology and GovTech services. About Align Capital Partners Align Capital Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm that partners with business owners and management teams to create shared success. ACP manages $775 million in committed capital with investment teams in Cleveland and Dallas. ACP brings experience and resources to help lower-middle market companies accelerate their growth, to the benefit of management, employees and the firm’s investors. ACP makes control investments in differentiated companies within the business services, technology, specialty manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Read More

Government Business

Exabeam Next-gen SIEM and Advanced Cybersecurity Analytics Now Available Through Carahsoft’s NASPO Cloud Solutions Contract

Exabeam | June 23, 2022

Exabeam, the leader in Next-gen SIEM and XDR, and Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider announced that the advanced cybersecurity solutions by Exabeam have been added to Carahsoft’s National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Contract. As the Master Government Aggregator® for Exabeam, Carahsoft provides the Exabeam cloud-delivered Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and advanced cyber analytics solutions to participating States, Local Governments, and Educational (SLED) institutions. We are excited to be added to Carahsoft’s NASPO contract to help SLED cyber leaders readily access the technology needed to modernize their SIEM and fiercely defend their agencies and institutions against known and unknown threats. Exabeam analytics and automation solutions help security analysts gain efficiencies with Threat Detection, Investigation and Response (TDIR) workflows, enabling them to identify and resolve threats faster. Working with Carahsoft and their reseller partners, we aim to arm as many security teams as possible against the tactics of persistent adversaries who often bypass traditional prevention solutions or are already inside.” Chris Cesio, Chief Revenue Officer at Exabeam The NASPO contract makes the procurement process frictionless for SLED organizations. It will help them get faster access to Exabeam Fusion SIEM and Exabeam Fusion XDR products through the NASPO Cloud Solutions Portfolio. “SLED organizations are constantly under siege from sophisticated cyber adversaries. These vital public agencies and institutions rely on next-generation cyber products to help modernize their security operation centers,” said Steve Jacyna, Director of Emerging Cyber Security Solutions at Carahsoft. “The Exabeam Fusion product line is an excellent addition to our Cloud Solutions portfolio. We look forward to providing streamlined access through our reseller partners to the Exabeam cloud-delivered SIEM and cyber analytics solutions to help agencies thwart attacks.” In the last year, the Biden administration has issued several executive orders related to the dangers nation-states and other threat actor groups pose to public sector organizations. The documents emphasize the importance of deploying modern security solutions to continuously look for and respond to threats. About the Exabeam Fusion Product Line The Exabeam Fusion product line integrates market-leading behavioral analytics and automation capabilities to help streamline the TDIR process without disrupting an organization’s existing technology stack. Public sector organizations participating in the NASPO Cloud Solutions Portfolio can easily identify and respond to critical security issues, incidents, and attacks from a single, centralized control plane. This substantially increases analyst productivity and reduces response times. The Exabeam Fusion offerings differentiate normal from anomalous behavior, apply risk scoring using Exabeam Dynamic Alert Prioritization to allow analysts to quickly assess and prioritize risks, and build Smart Timelines™ to automatically reconstruct security incidents to gain a full picture of any incident. About NASPO ValuePoint NASPO ValuePoint is a cooperative purchasing program facilitating public procurement solicitations and agreements using a lead-state model. The program provides the highest standard of excellence in public cooperative contracting. By leveraging the leadership and expertise of all states and the purchasing power of their public entities, NASPO ValuePoint delivers the highest valued, reliable and competitively sourced contracts, offering public entities outstanding prices. About Exabeam Exabeam is a global cybersecurity leader that adds intelligence to every IT and security stack. The leader in Next-gen SIEM and XDR, Exabeam is reinventing the way security teams use analytics and automation to solve Threat Detection, Investigation, and Response (TDIR), from common security threats to the most critical that are difficult to identify. Exabeam offers a comprehensive cloud-delivered solution that leverages machine learning and automation using a prescriptive, outcomes-based approach to TDIR. We design and build products to help security teams detect external threats, compromised users and malicious adversaries, minimize false positives and best protect their organizations. Exabeam, the Exabeam logo, Exabeam Fusion, Smart Timelines, Security Operations Platform, and XDR Alliance are service marks, trademarks or registered marks of Exabeam, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective owners. © 2022 Exabeam, Inc. All rights reserved. About Carahsoft Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator® for our vendor partners, we deliver solutions for Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Open Source, Customer Experience and Engagement, and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles.

Read More

Government Business

Carahsoft to Announce Partnering with Thentia

Carahsoft | June 30, 2022

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is agovernment IT solutions provider delivering best-of-breed hardware, software, and support solutions to federal, state, and local government agencies. It announced entering into a partnership with an industry-leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) to government regulatory bodies. ThentiaCloud,aproprietarylicensingplatformcreatedforregulatorsbyThentia,willbemorewidelyadoptedbyregulatorsasaresultofthisnewpartnership. Thentia's Master Government Aggregator®, Carahsoft, will make Thentia Cloud available to the public sector through its reseller partner networks and contracts with the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint, GSA Schedule, and OMNIA Partners. This exciting partnership comes at an incredibly opportune time for Thentia, as the company experienced significant growth in 2021 and is poised for even greater platform adoption in 2022 and beyond. We look forward to working with Carahsoft to further accelerate the momentum and traction we're currently gaining with regulatory agencies acrossNorth America. Carahsoft, as well as other partners, will play a pivotal role in expanding Thentia's position in the public sector as a leading government technology platform." Bonnie Campo, Thentia's Vice President, Strategic Alliances Campo added, "We look forward to leveraging Carahsoft's market expertise, procurement services, sales channels, proactive marketing, and large customer base to support public sector digital transformation for years to come." "Thentia's competitive advantage stems from the firsthand experiences of its creators, who have all worked as regulators themselves," statedHarjeet Khalsa, who manages the Thentia team at Carahsoft. "By drawing on their experiences, they have built a highly configurable platform that addresses the nuances of governmental workflows while streamlining compliance and increasing cybersecurity. That's exactly the combination our clients and reseller partners seek."

Read More

Government Business

Align Capital Partners Makes Growth Investment in GovTech Platform Schneider Geospatial

Align Capital Partners | June 24, 2022

Align Capital Partners announced the recapitalization of Schneider Geospatial, LLC, a SaaS provider of public access land management software and recurring support services to state and local governments. As one of the largest providers of GovTech geospatial solutions in the U.S. with a presence in over 25 states, the Company’s software allows citizens to access disparate government information sources in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Schneider Engineering Corporation was founded in 1962 and began offering geographic information system (GIS) services in 1989. After the GIS business grew well organically and through several acquisitions, the Schneider family decided to spin out Schneider Geospatial into a separate, independent business in 2018 while maintaining 100% ownership of the Company. Through this transaction, ACP is providing significant growth capital to Schneider Geospatial, while preserving the Schneider family legacy through their continued ownership interest in the Company. “Our grandfather, Vincent Schneider, had a love for technology that was ahead of his time. Our father, John Schneider, embraced this passion and began our GIS business with a keen insight that understood the importance of geographic data. We are very proud of Schneider Geospatial, its award-winning innovations and the amazing group of employees who have made this all happen. We are excited to be associated with Align Capital Partners and we look forward to the future as we continue to grow and expand,” said J. Barry Schneider and Victoria Schneider Temple. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Company’s 50+ person team helps power Schneider Geospatial’s cloud-based software platform that enables clients to manage over 500 million information requests from over 23 million users, including citizens, commercial real estate developers, appraisers, law firms, contractors and inspectors. The Company’s core solution combines web-based GIS data reporting tools including CAMA and tax, ownership history, liens, boundaries, environmental issues and topography, into a single, user-friendly web application. We are excited to continue our partnership with our amazing clients. ACP’s investment allows us to accelerate several of our growth initiatives which will result in even better solutions and services to our clients. Our talented team is excited to continue this next phase of the Company’s growth.” Jeff Corns, CEO of Schneider Geospatial Schneider Geospatial is ACP’s second GovTech platform investment to date, following its 2020 investment in Electronic Transaction Consultants Corporation. “The Company has a very strong value-proposition of helping clients provide public access to digitized records as a replacement to a historically inefficient and labor-intensive experience,” said ACP Managing Partner Chris Jones. “Our enthusiasm for Schneider Geospatial plays on the attractive tailwinds of our firm’s GovTech thesis. The Company is well positioned to help governments replace antiquated technology, increase access to important digitized information and enhance information sharing capabilities to improve citizen engagement.” This represents ACP’s 72nd closed investment since the firm was founded in 2016 and is ACP’s 11th new investment year-to-date, including two platforms and nine add-on investments. Principal Matt Iodice and Associate Aaron Lewis worked alongside Mr. Jones on the transaction. Schneider Geospatial was advised on the transaction by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, while ACP was supported by Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP. About Schneider Geospatial Schneider Geospatial is a provider of State & Local Government SaaS public access solutions and support services. The Company’s products include award-winning SaaS solutions such as Beacon™ and qPublic.net™ focused on local government information for the web; GeoPermits™ which is a SaaS permitting and workflow management platform; and Agland™ used to automate the calculating process for agricultural assessments. In addition to a diverse product portfolio, the Company offers a full range of GIS, technology and GovTech services. About Align Capital Partners Align Capital Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm that partners with business owners and management teams to create shared success. ACP manages $775 million in committed capital with investment teams in Cleveland and Dallas. ACP brings experience and resources to help lower-middle market companies accelerate their growth, to the benefit of management, employees and the firm’s investors. ACP makes control investments in differentiated companies within the business services, technology, specialty manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Read More

Government Business

Exabeam Next-gen SIEM and Advanced Cybersecurity Analytics Now Available Through Carahsoft’s NASPO Cloud Solutions Contract

Exabeam | June 23, 2022

Exabeam, the leader in Next-gen SIEM and XDR, and Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider announced that the advanced cybersecurity solutions by Exabeam have been added to Carahsoft’s National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Contract. As the Master Government Aggregator® for Exabeam, Carahsoft provides the Exabeam cloud-delivered Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and advanced cyber analytics solutions to participating States, Local Governments, and Educational (SLED) institutions. We are excited to be added to Carahsoft’s NASPO contract to help SLED cyber leaders readily access the technology needed to modernize their SIEM and fiercely defend their agencies and institutions against known and unknown threats. Exabeam analytics and automation solutions help security analysts gain efficiencies with Threat Detection, Investigation and Response (TDIR) workflows, enabling them to identify and resolve threats faster. Working with Carahsoft and their reseller partners, we aim to arm as many security teams as possible against the tactics of persistent adversaries who often bypass traditional prevention solutions or are already inside.” Chris Cesio, Chief Revenue Officer at Exabeam The NASPO contract makes the procurement process frictionless for SLED organizations. It will help them get faster access to Exabeam Fusion SIEM and Exabeam Fusion XDR products through the NASPO Cloud Solutions Portfolio. “SLED organizations are constantly under siege from sophisticated cyber adversaries. These vital public agencies and institutions rely on next-generation cyber products to help modernize their security operation centers,” said Steve Jacyna, Director of Emerging Cyber Security Solutions at Carahsoft. “The Exabeam Fusion product line is an excellent addition to our Cloud Solutions portfolio. We look forward to providing streamlined access through our reseller partners to the Exabeam cloud-delivered SIEM and cyber analytics solutions to help agencies thwart attacks.” In the last year, the Biden administration has issued several executive orders related to the dangers nation-states and other threat actor groups pose to public sector organizations. The documents emphasize the importance of deploying modern security solutions to continuously look for and respond to threats. About the Exabeam Fusion Product Line The Exabeam Fusion product line integrates market-leading behavioral analytics and automation capabilities to help streamline the TDIR process without disrupting an organization’s existing technology stack. Public sector organizations participating in the NASPO Cloud Solutions Portfolio can easily identify and respond to critical security issues, incidents, and attacks from a single, centralized control plane. This substantially increases analyst productivity and reduces response times. The Exabeam Fusion offerings differentiate normal from anomalous behavior, apply risk scoring using Exabeam Dynamic Alert Prioritization to allow analysts to quickly assess and prioritize risks, and build Smart Timelines™ to automatically reconstruct security incidents to gain a full picture of any incident. About NASPO ValuePoint NASPO ValuePoint is a cooperative purchasing program facilitating public procurement solicitations and agreements using a lead-state model. The program provides the highest standard of excellence in public cooperative contracting. By leveraging the leadership and expertise of all states and the purchasing power of their public entities, NASPO ValuePoint delivers the highest valued, reliable and competitively sourced contracts, offering public entities outstanding prices. About Exabeam Exabeam is a global cybersecurity leader that adds intelligence to every IT and security stack. The leader in Next-gen SIEM and XDR, Exabeam is reinventing the way security teams use analytics and automation to solve Threat Detection, Investigation, and Response (TDIR), from common security threats to the most critical that are difficult to identify. Exabeam offers a comprehensive cloud-delivered solution that leverages machine learning and automation using a prescriptive, outcomes-based approach to TDIR. We design and build products to help security teams detect external threats, compromised users and malicious adversaries, minimize false positives and best protect their organizations. Exabeam, the Exabeam logo, Exabeam Fusion, Smart Timelines, Security Operations Platform, and XDR Alliance are service marks, trademarks or registered marks of Exabeam, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective owners. © 2022 Exabeam, Inc. All rights reserved. About Carahsoft Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator® for our vendor partners, we deliver solutions for Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Open Source, Customer Experience and Engagement, and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles.

Read More

Events