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Incoming: What Local Governments Can Learn From Federal Cybersecurity Efforts

Long before the federal government charged two defendants in 2018 for ransomware attacks on municipal computer systems—including Atlanta’s—cities found ways to make do during these outages. Police wrote reports by hand, traffic tickets were paid in person and social media kept everyone informed in a way that showcased a city’s resiliency. But some communities now struggle more than others, especially when incident-response efforts are not designed to address multiple physical or cyber events at the same time. Cities and counties are underfunded and understaffed when it comes to cyber resources. According to a survey by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, 92 percent of states have developed and taken advantage of security awareness training, but only 65 percent offer security infrastructure or services to local governments.

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Enroute Computer Solutions - ECS

Enroute Computer Solutions is a government contractor that provides a wide range of engineering services to the FAA. Technology is complex and relentless. In order for any business to flourish one needs the prowess and tenacity that is so vital in today's markets. ECS can help by providing solutions to keep your business in the forefront of technology and on the cutting edge of your industry.

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Government Business

How Computer-Aided Design Is Used in Government

Article | July 14, 2022

Federal agencies design a wide range of tools, equipment, vehicles and even rockets. Computer-aided design (CAD) technology allows agencies and users to create digital designs more efficiently. CAD is used for a lot more than designing buildings, but is a basic building block of a more advanced tool known as Building Information Modeling, or BIM. CAD can be used to render 2D digital models of products, equipment and buildings. BIM takes those efforts to the next level and serves as a 3D design tool to “create and simulate how a building would operate,” says Andrew Friendly, associate vice president of government affairs at Autodesk, a leading CAD and BIM firm.

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Emerging Technology, Government Business

Transit, mobility projects to play vital role in economic recovery

Article | October 7, 2022

As the country battles to recover from COVID-19, transit leaders are calling for the next federal relief package to appropriate substantial funding to allow public transit to play its critical part in the economy’s recovery. In the interim, many of these transit and mobility authorities throughout the nation are moving forward with capital improvement projects already in the pipeline and in various phases of development. They will soon be announcing large projects, especially in quickly growing regions, and their planning documents list upcoming initiatives that range from mid-size construction projects to sprawling billion-dollar programs that focus on aging infrastructure. The following are just a few examples of upcoming projects from tollway and mobility authorities. California Just east of San Francisco, the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority in late June approved $46.8 million in funding for the next stage in Valley Link, a 42-mile light-rail line. This project will connect a planned train station in North Lathrop to an existing station in Pleasanton. Another $13 million previously dedicated to the project paid for conceptual design work that is near completion. Also, elsewhere in the state, the Transportation Corridor Agencies, in coordination with Caltrans, is proposing a $180 million project to add a direct 241/91 Express Connector linking the northbound 241 Toll Road to the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and the westbound 91 Express Lanes to the southbound 241 Toll Road. The connector will alleviate traffic and improve access to toll lanes in Orange and Riverside counties. Texas The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has several forthcoming procurements and will be soliciting bids in early August for the third phase of the 183A extension project. This $180 million project will create a 6.6-mile extension of the busy tollway north from Leander to east of Liberty Hill. Construction is expected to begin in early 2021. New Jersey The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has $24 billion in various road and infrastructure projects in its Proposed 2020 Capital Improvement Program released in March 2020. The authority has outlined 24 projects that provide system solutions and upgrades. One of the largest initiatives is a $2.9 billion project to replace approximately 200 bridge decks. Another large undertaking, projected to cost about $1.4 billion, is described as raising a section of Garden State Parkway above a revised 100-year floodplain. Florida Florida’s 2021 budget earmarks $90 million for an ambitious tollway project spanning hundreds of miles. The Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance, or M-CORES, plan calls for construction of 340 miles of new toll roads by 2030. M-CORES outlines new road infrastructure for three corridors: the Suncoast Connector from Citrus County to Jefferson County; the Northern Turnpike Connector from the northern terminus of Florida’s Turnpike northwest to the Suncoast Parkway; and the Southwest-Central Florida Connector from Collier County to Polk County. Initiated by a state Senate bill in 2019, this is a $10 billion project. Kansas The city of Overland Park and the Kansas Turnpike Authority are conducting a study that could lead to a $300 million project for U.S. 69. City leaders turned to the Turnpike Authority for help with widening the highway which has become the most congested in the state. The collaborative effort would include widening the highway to six lanes, with two of them being tolled. Illinois The Illinois Tollway Authority is closing its bid filing period for a more than $100 million project to reconstruct a section of Interstate 294, and numerous other projects are slated to occur in the next several years. A project to reconstruct the northbound C-D Road has a cost projection of between $25 and $50 million. Another planned project includes demolishing and rebuilding the Southbound Mile Long Bridge with a cost of more than $100 million. Another interesting project outlined involves building ongoing ramps from 75th Street to Interstate 55 which will also cost approximately$100 million. Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) released a request for information to determine how best to structure procurements to replace and enhance the commission’s tolling Customer Service Center system and customer service operations. A number of contracting opportunities will result from this initiative. The commission is inviting responses from software application development companies with innovative products in the customer relationship management, customer account management, and customer experience spaces. System integrators and/or software developers with expertise in CRM, customer account management, call centers, customer contact systems and CX, and transactional/financial processing and billing systems also are also encouraged to respond. PTC is also interested in input from customer service firms specializing in the design and integration of innovative customer contact systems with new or existing applications. In addition to construction and engineering projects, numerous tollway authorities are moving toward all-electronic toll collections. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission moved from toll collectors to all-electronic this year, and the Bay Area Toll Authority suspended in-person toll collecting in March because of COVID-19. This trend will provide numerous opportunities for IT companies in the near future as transit and mobility authorities search for technology solutions to modernize the driving experience on toll roads. 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.

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Emerging Technology

What Agencies Should Consider Before Deploying AI

Article | July 13, 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.

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Cities, counties launching projects to reach sustainability goals

Article | September 4, 2020

Motorists and automobile lovers are already noticing rather rapid change. Sustainability goals adopted by elected officials at cities and counties are continuing to promote projects that support walking, biking, and using public transportation. Housing density, walkable communities, technology enhancement and convenient public transportation are the goals. Parking options are being reduced. Automobiles are being banned on many community streets, and cities are adding parks, entertainment venues, affordable housing, and more retail. Mixed use development, biking lanes, and convenient transportation options for non-motorized travel are the goal. The arguments for such changes are that people will be healthier and safer, the air will be cleaner, and there will be more options for people with disabilities. The trend is called ‘livable and walkable communities,’ and as it sweeps through the country, it opens up thousands of partnering opportunities between public entities and private sector contractors. Indiana The city of Indianapolis plans to add more sidewalks throughout the city and has commissioned an inventory to determine how many and which streets don’t have a sidewalk. The results of that study will be published by the end of 2020. The city, which covers 360 square miles, has approximately 8,400 lane miles of streets. Indiana’s Department of Transportation maintains about one-third of the state’s sidewalks, and the cities are responsible for the rest. The study is part of the Indy Moves plan, a long-range planning document that combines walking, biking, and public transportation goals. More than 400 projects are outlined that include building new roads, developing greenways, upgrading existing roads with sidewalks, and constructing more bike lanes. Adding sidewalks to every street without them could cost more than $1 billion. The sidewalks, however, appear to be a high priority because city officials have pledged net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and that requires fewer automobiles in the city. Texas In August, the city of Houston approved a plan that is built around walkable places and transit-oriented programs that encourage pedestrian-friendly spaces. The city, like many others throughout the country, will work to promote mixed-use development designed for walkability. For three years, the city has studied ways to make neighborhoods more walkable. Its new plan lists Midtown, Emancipation Avenue, and the Northside as the first places of high focus. Ordinances will be effective beginning October 1. Some of the first initiatives include the construction of facades closer to the road, expansion of sidewalks and relocation of parking lots to the side or rear of buildings. Additionally, the ordinances call for additional bike parking standards in areas that are within a half-mile walking distance from Metro transit station platforms. New Hampshire The Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission recently unveiled its Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan. The document outlines projects that include constructing streets and paths that encourage walking and biking. It calls for developing safer intersections and compact and well-signed city blocks. The city of Manchester has applied for a $25 million federal grant to will help fund a pedestrian bridge and the addition of a new street to help alleviate traffic congestion around the Southern New Hampshire University parking garage. City leaders hope to know by November if their grant request has been approved. If so, projects related to improving connectivity and walkability will be launched. The plan calls for an approximate $125 million investment, but the projects could unlock $600 million more in anticipated development. The new developments are expected to include a facility for 1,802 residential units, a hotel with 154 rooms, 785,000 square feet of office space, and 198,000 square feet of retail space. Illinois The city of Chicago has announced an initiative called INVEST South/West. This plan commits $750 million of public funds for projects in 12 commercial corridors in 10 neighborhoods. The objective of this plan is to improve streetscapes and public and also strengthening transportation networks and repurposing vacant lots for public amenities and affordable housing. Currently, three solicitation documents have been released for one neighborhood but numerous others will be released in coming months for projects in other neighborhoods. The initial solicitation documents call for proposals by November 24 with construction to begin by the end of 2020. Projects outlined for the various neighborhoods were developed through a months-long community-engagement process, and the developers and contractors will be expected to begin work quickly. California The city of Modesto has approved a 20-year plan that calls for bicycle lanes as well as widening and enhancing of sidewalks. Other projects are also planned with the overall objective of making neighborhoods more convenient for non-drivers and encouraging foot traffic and bicycles. City leaders point out that the downtown area has strong office, restaurant, and entertainment sectors, but there is a desire to reduce automobile traffic. Denser housing options and the encouragement of transportation options that include walking and biking are the goal. Construction of new home sites, retail, and other uses will be left to developers. City leaders plan to replace the Stanislaus County Courthouse and adjacent jail to make that property available for new, denser home sites. A pedestrian-friendly route would lead to the Tuolumne River. Georgia Clayton County and the cities of Sandy Springs, Savannah, and Valdosta were selected for funding in Georgia Tech's 2020 Georgia Smart Communities Challenge. Each region will receive $100,000 in grant funding to be used for planning purposes. The Clayton County Smart Pedestrian Planning project outlines plans to promote mobility, equity, and the identification of smart technologies to support walkability in communities. Sidewalk data will be collected, and the county will oversee the selection of pilot projects in locations that represent different neighborhood typologies. The first projects will be studied for future development of additional regions. Cities and counties throughout the country are rushing to meet sustainability goals and these efforts are resulting in an abundance of contracting opportunities for developers, engineering firms, construction companies, landscape firms, and technology providers. 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.

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Government Business

Revitalization of Economies: Government Supporting Start-ups

Article | July 14, 2022

Federal agencies design a wide range of tools, equipment, vehicles and even rockets. Computer-aided design (CAD) technology allows agencies and users to create digital designs more efficiently. CAD is used for a lot more than designing buildings, but is a basic building block of a more advanced tool known as Building Information Modeling, or BIM. CAD can be used to render 2D digital models of products, equipment and buildings. BIM takes those efforts to the next level and serves as a 3D design tool to “create and simulate how a building would operate,” says Andrew Friendly, associate vice president of government affairs at Autodesk, a leading CAD and BIM firm.

Read More
Emerging Technology, Government Business

How Does Government Operations Continuity Help Them Perform Better?

Article | October 7, 2022

As the country battles to recover from COVID-19, transit leaders are calling for the next federal relief package to appropriate substantial funding to allow public transit to play its critical part in the economy’s recovery. In the interim, many of these transit and mobility authorities throughout the nation are moving forward with capital improvement projects already in the pipeline and in various phases of development. They will soon be announcing large projects, especially in quickly growing regions, and their planning documents list upcoming initiatives that range from mid-size construction projects to sprawling billion-dollar programs that focus on aging infrastructure. The following are just a few examples of upcoming projects from tollway and mobility authorities. California Just east of San Francisco, the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority in late June approved $46.8 million in funding for the next stage in Valley Link, a 42-mile light-rail line. This project will connect a planned train station in North Lathrop to an existing station in Pleasanton. Another $13 million previously dedicated to the project paid for conceptual design work that is near completion. Also, elsewhere in the state, the Transportation Corridor Agencies, in coordination with Caltrans, is proposing a $180 million project to add a direct 241/91 Express Connector linking the northbound 241 Toll Road to the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and the westbound 91 Express Lanes to the southbound 241 Toll Road. The connector will alleviate traffic and improve access to toll lanes in Orange and Riverside counties. Texas The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has several forthcoming procurements and will be soliciting bids in early August for the third phase of the 183A extension project. This $180 million project will create a 6.6-mile extension of the busy tollway north from Leander to east of Liberty Hill. Construction is expected to begin in early 2021. New Jersey The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has $24 billion in various road and infrastructure projects in its Proposed 2020 Capital Improvement Program released in March 2020. The authority has outlined 24 projects that provide system solutions and upgrades. One of the largest initiatives is a $2.9 billion project to replace approximately 200 bridge decks. Another large undertaking, projected to cost about $1.4 billion, is described as raising a section of Garden State Parkway above a revised 100-year floodplain. Florida Florida’s 2021 budget earmarks $90 million for an ambitious tollway project spanning hundreds of miles. The Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance, or M-CORES, plan calls for construction of 340 miles of new toll roads by 2030. M-CORES outlines new road infrastructure for three corridors: the Suncoast Connector from Citrus County to Jefferson County; the Northern Turnpike Connector from the northern terminus of Florida’s Turnpike northwest to the Suncoast Parkway; and the Southwest-Central Florida Connector from Collier County to Polk County. Initiated by a state Senate bill in 2019, this is a $10 billion project. Kansas The city of Overland Park and the Kansas Turnpike Authority are conducting a study that could lead to a $300 million project for U.S. 69. City leaders turned to the Turnpike Authority for help with widening the highway which has become the most congested in the state. The collaborative effort would include widening the highway to six lanes, with two of them being tolled. Illinois The Illinois Tollway Authority is closing its bid filing period for a more than $100 million project to reconstruct a section of Interstate 294, and numerous other projects are slated to occur in the next several years. A project to reconstruct the northbound C-D Road has a cost projection of between $25 and $50 million. Another planned project includes demolishing and rebuilding the Southbound Mile Long Bridge with a cost of more than $100 million. Another interesting project outlined involves building ongoing ramps from 75th Street to Interstate 55 which will also cost approximately$100 million. Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) released a request for information to determine how best to structure procurements to replace and enhance the commission’s tolling Customer Service Center system and customer service operations. A number of contracting opportunities will result from this initiative. The commission is inviting responses from software application development companies with innovative products in the customer relationship management, customer account management, and customer experience spaces. System integrators and/or software developers with expertise in CRM, customer account management, call centers, customer contact systems and CX, and transactional/financial processing and billing systems also are also encouraged to respond. PTC is also interested in input from customer service firms specializing in the design and integration of innovative customer contact systems with new or existing applications. In addition to construction and engineering projects, numerous tollway authorities are moving toward all-electronic toll collections. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission moved from toll collectors to all-electronic this year, and the Bay Area Toll Authority suspended in-person toll collecting in March because of COVID-19. This trend will provide numerous opportunities for IT companies in the near future as transit and mobility authorities search for technology solutions to modernize the driving experience on toll roads. 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 as a driving force

Article | July 13, 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

Cities, counties launching projects to reach sustainability goals

Article | September 4, 2020

Motorists and automobile lovers are already noticing rather rapid change. Sustainability goals adopted by elected officials at cities and counties are continuing to promote projects that support walking, biking, and using public transportation. Housing density, walkable communities, technology enhancement and convenient public transportation are the goals. Parking options are being reduced. Automobiles are being banned on many community streets, and cities are adding parks, entertainment venues, affordable housing, and more retail. Mixed use development, biking lanes, and convenient transportation options for non-motorized travel are the goal. The arguments for such changes are that people will be healthier and safer, the air will be cleaner, and there will be more options for people with disabilities. The trend is called ‘livable and walkable communities,’ and as it sweeps through the country, it opens up thousands of partnering opportunities between public entities and private sector contractors. Indiana The city of Indianapolis plans to add more sidewalks throughout the city and has commissioned an inventory to determine how many and which streets don’t have a sidewalk. The results of that study will be published by the end of 2020. The city, which covers 360 square miles, has approximately 8,400 lane miles of streets. Indiana’s Department of Transportation maintains about one-third of the state’s sidewalks, and the cities are responsible for the rest. The study is part of the Indy Moves plan, a long-range planning document that combines walking, biking, and public transportation goals. More than 400 projects are outlined that include building new roads, developing greenways, upgrading existing roads with sidewalks, and constructing more bike lanes. Adding sidewalks to every street without them could cost more than $1 billion. The sidewalks, however, appear to be a high priority because city officials have pledged net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and that requires fewer automobiles in the city. Texas In August, the city of Houston approved a plan that is built around walkable places and transit-oriented programs that encourage pedestrian-friendly spaces. The city, like many others throughout the country, will work to promote mixed-use development designed for walkability. For three years, the city has studied ways to make neighborhoods more walkable. Its new plan lists Midtown, Emancipation Avenue, and the Northside as the first places of high focus. Ordinances will be effective beginning October 1. Some of the first initiatives include the construction of facades closer to the road, expansion of sidewalks and relocation of parking lots to the side or rear of buildings. Additionally, the ordinances call for additional bike parking standards in areas that are within a half-mile walking distance from Metro transit station platforms. New Hampshire The Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission recently unveiled its Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan. The document outlines projects that include constructing streets and paths that encourage walking and biking. It calls for developing safer intersections and compact and well-signed city blocks. The city of Manchester has applied for a $25 million federal grant to will help fund a pedestrian bridge and the addition of a new street to help alleviate traffic congestion around the Southern New Hampshire University parking garage. City leaders hope to know by November if their grant request has been approved. If so, projects related to improving connectivity and walkability will be launched. The plan calls for an approximate $125 million investment, but the projects could unlock $600 million more in anticipated development. The new developments are expected to include a facility for 1,802 residential units, a hotel with 154 rooms, 785,000 square feet of office space, and 198,000 square feet of retail space. Illinois The city of Chicago has announced an initiative called INVEST South/West. This plan commits $750 million of public funds for projects in 12 commercial corridors in 10 neighborhoods. The objective of this plan is to improve streetscapes and public and also strengthening transportation networks and repurposing vacant lots for public amenities and affordable housing. Currently, three solicitation documents have been released for one neighborhood but numerous others will be released in coming months for projects in other neighborhoods. The initial solicitation documents call for proposals by November 24 with construction to begin by the end of 2020. Projects outlined for the various neighborhoods were developed through a months-long community-engagement process, and the developers and contractors will be expected to begin work quickly. California The city of Modesto has approved a 20-year plan that calls for bicycle lanes as well as widening and enhancing of sidewalks. Other projects are also planned with the overall objective of making neighborhoods more convenient for non-drivers and encouraging foot traffic and bicycles. City leaders point out that the downtown area has strong office, restaurant, and entertainment sectors, but there is a desire to reduce automobile traffic. Denser housing options and the encouragement of transportation options that include walking and biking are the goal. Construction of new home sites, retail, and other uses will be left to developers. City leaders plan to replace the Stanislaus County Courthouse and adjacent jail to make that property available for new, denser home sites. A pedestrian-friendly route would lead to the Tuolumne River. Georgia Clayton County and the cities of Sandy Springs, Savannah, and Valdosta were selected for funding in Georgia Tech's 2020 Georgia Smart Communities Challenge. Each region will receive $100,000 in grant funding to be used for planning purposes. The Clayton County Smart Pedestrian Planning project outlines plans to promote mobility, equity, and the identification of smart technologies to support walkability in communities. Sidewalk data will be collected, and the county will oversee the selection of pilot projects in locations that represent different neighborhood typologies. The first projects will be studied for future development of additional regions. Cities and counties throughout the country are rushing to meet sustainability goals and these efforts are resulting in an abundance of contracting opportunities for developers, engineering firms, construction companies, landscape firms, and technology providers. 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
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Spotlight

Enroute Computer Solutions - ECS

Enroute Computer Solutions is a government contractor that provides a wide range of engineering services to the FAA. Technology is complex and relentless. In order for any business to flourish one needs the prowess and tenacity that is so vital in today's markets. ECS can help by providing solutions to keep your business in the forefront of technology and on the cutting edge of your industry.

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."

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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