During May, I gave my one-day workshop, "A Survival Guide For The RFP Process," twice: once in Sacramento at Government Technology's Conference, and once in Halifax at the Atlantic Public Purchasers Conference. During this workshop, I describe a number of Web sites dealing with a variety of issues including procurement reforms, laws, protests, and electronic commerce. Each of these sites can provide much valuable information.

Here is a list of some of the Web sites referenced during the workshop with a short commentary on each.

1. Government Technology - http://www.govtech.net
   This monthly magazine contains articles dealing with solutions for state and local government including RFPs, electronic commerce and procurement reform. Click on "Books & Reports" to obtain information about the Request for Proposal Handbook.

2. Alaska Division of General Services - http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/dgs/home.htm
   This page provides links to How to do Business with the State, Procurement Streamlining Initiative, and Policy & Resource Library. The streamlining initiative describes concepts and issues and provides links to existing and proposed legislation and regulations.

3. Intergovernmental On-Line Information Kiosk - http://www.intergov.gc.ca
   This site offers a single window on Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal government on-line services in Canada. It provides links to more than 200 municipalities.

4. Government Computer Magazine - http://www.hum.com
   This monthly magazine describes technology solutions for Canada's public sector. It contains a monthly column on procurement issues by Michael Asner.

5. Journal of Internet Purchasing - http://www.arraydev.com/commerce/JIP/
   Started in April, 1997, its purpose is to inform purchasing professionals and executives on principal developments, benchmark practices, and future trends in the world of Internet purchasing and government procurement.

6. Government Finance Officers Association - http://www.financenet.gov/gfoa.htm
   This is the professional association of state/provincial and local finance officers in the U.S. and Canada. It publishes more than 75 books including An Elected Officials Guide to Procurement.

7. A Report Describing Procurement Measures - http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/perfmeas/pathways/pp8ahow.htm
   This report by the President's Procurement Council contains a menu of 54 procurement measures related to price, quality, timeliness, and productivity. It also discusses barriers to implementation.

8. Presidential Executive Order Dealing with Protests - http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/html/library.htm
   This Web page permits access to Executive Order 12979, Oct. 25, 1995, Agency Procurement Protests, which describes the characteristics of the new procedures to be developed.

9. Massachusetts Operational Services Division - http://www.state.ma.us/osd/
   This state has undertaken a major reform of its procurement function. Their home page provides access to their new Vendor Handbook, Procurement Policies & Procedures Handbook, and Questions & Answers About Procurement.

10. California Procurement Division - http://www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/direct.htm
    This home page contains links to many services and much information. Of particular interest is the link to California Acquisition Reform Act, with extensive information about procurement reform.

11. Washington State Office of Information Technology - http://www.wa.gov/DIS/IOTO/index.html
    The home page provides links to policy manuals, guidelines, and regulations dealing with the acquisition of information technology.

12. National Institute of Governmental Purchasers - http://www.nigp.org/nigp/
    The professional organization provides a wealth of support to purchasing agencies throughout the world. Of particular interest is its on-line book service.

13. The Purchasing Station - http://management.bus.okstate.edu/faculty/christensen/
    This site provides links to a great variety of procurement related sites. Links are organized by category: Government, Education, Professional Organizations, Products & Services, Information Resources, Private Sector Sites, News, Training, Careers, and even Surplus Exchanges. It is worth browsing for new sites and ideas.

Michael Asner
Contributing Editor, JIP