Change is occurring incredibly fast - so fast, in fact, it is somewhat challenging to keep up with everything.

COVID-19 data is more positive, an extremely encouraging shift. Congress has approved billions in funding for citizens, schools, hospitals, and state and local governments - more welcome news. First-time programs, resources, and funding are available for initiatives linked to sustainability, citizen services, and public good. It’s important to understand the changes because they are funded by taxpayer revenue.

New grant programs have emerged along with tax incentives for private sector investment in selected types of public projects. Infrastructure reform is a hot topic, and Congress is expected to address the country’s aging infrastructure in even more significant ways very soon. That will create fresh opportunities.

Congress has approved funding for several new programs, and one that is definitely worthy of notice, has received too little attention. The Build America Bureau, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has launched a visionary initiative to establish regional infrastructure accelerator centers throughout the U.S. Surprisingly, the program has not received the type of visibility it deserves, so read closely because this is important news!

Illinois – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced a third installment from the Rebuild Illinois capital program will be awarded to counties, municipalities, and townships.

The $250 million in funding will go toward improving safety, quality of life, and economies across the state. The state is investing a total of $1.5 billion through the capital program over three years to advance municipal, township, and county projects across the state.

Projects, which will be selected and managed locally with financial oversight by IDOT, include road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacements, and other long-term maintenance needs.

The city of Chicago will get $29.61 million of the $56.46 million the state will award to cities within Cook County. DuPage County will get $5.91 million, Will County will collect nearly $4 million, Lake County will accept $3.96 million, and Kane County will collect $2.88 million.

California – Ventura County issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from vendors interested in partnering with the county and other public and private stakeholders to create a countywide broadband network capable of delivering at least 1 gigabit symmetrical speeds.

The county desires information about innovative methods from potential partners willing to take part in deploying a network comprised of both existing and new fiber, conduit, and wireless assets.

County officials released the RFI to assist them in developing a request for proposals to achieve their goals of:

The county also wishes to close the digital divide by increasing available broadband infrastructure and services in unserved and underserved communities to support e-learning, telehealth, aging in place, and remote work.

Ventura County currently leases fiber optic and wireless communications circuits through private parties to connect county facilities. It is the county’s intent to own the fiber network backbone infrastructure.

RFI responses are due by 11 a.m. PDT April 30. An optional information meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. PDT April 5.

Georgia – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) board authorized the purchase of 31 acres in Clayton County with plans to build a $116 million multi-purpose operations and maintenance bus facility.

The 105-square-foot facility in Forest Park will include a MARTA Police precinct, training and maintenance areas, operations and administration offices, and bus maintenance infrastructure, such as multi-fuel point, inspection station, wash and garages.

It will be strategically located in northern Clayton County and will significantly reduce deadhead costs, or the distance a bus travels without customers. It will solve fleet capacity issues by servicing and housing 66 percent more vehicles than the next closest bus garage located in DeKalb County.

In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $13 million to MARTA for construction of the new maintenance facility. Completion is scheduled for 2026 to support 31 bus routes and more than 250 buses and 50 paratransit vehicles.

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $285 million in 556 deferred infrastructure improvements in national forests and grasslands for fiscal year 2021.

These U.S. Forest Service projects will benefit from the newly created National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund established to contribute to economic growth and job creation in rural America.

Project investments in 2021 will improve recreation facilities, visitor centers, dams, and trails. Other projects aim to increase public access by restoring and repairing roads, trails, bridges, tunnels, and parking areas.

About $31.5 million will be allocated to projects in USDA’s Rocky Mountain Region, including several improvements at Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. Funding will be used to complete the final phase of the stabilization and preservation of the historic Anderson Lodge. Additional improvements will involve removal of an old bridge, installation of a 30-foot footbridge, rehabilitation of an impacted water crossing, and construction of a trail to connect to the new bridge.

Several roads in Nebraska and South Dakota will be reconditioned as part of a placement and grading project across a significant geographical area of the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands.

In Colorado, funds will go toward the reconstruction of the Kendall Reservoir dam to address safety concerns. Engineering and design have been completed. Another Colorado project will reconstruct multiple segments of the Crag Crest National Recreational Trail that travels across the crest of the largest flat-top mountain in the world. This project will resolve numerous safety hazards and erosion problems.

A new study found that airports are expediting their technology projects to support their recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Air Transport IT Insights study found that airports budgeted 5.46 percent ($3.5 billion globally) of their revenues on information technology (IT) in 2020.

More than half of the responding airports projected they would budget the same or more for IT expenses in 2021 with 83 percent of them implementing a significant cybersecurity program and 11 percent considering pilot programs.

Robots, sensors, and video monitoring are among the initiatives that airports are implementing or planning to implement, in addition to technology for temperature checks and sanitization.

Among the airports’ top priorities were acquiring and upgrading business intelligence tools and touchless self-service amenities.

Seventy-seven percent installed or plan to implement biometric touchpoints across their airports. An emphasis on biometric technology was prevalent among respondents with 64 percent – three times as many as in 2020 – planning to open self-boarding gates using biometric and identification documentation before 2023.

Pennsylvania – Trustees at the Pequea Valley School District approved plans to build a $63 million high school and intermediate school building to replace existing schools with total construction costs estimated at up to $83.2 million.

Discussions will continue on proposed floor plans, parking improvements, and athletic field layouts. Plans call for the existing schools to be converted into athletic facilities to serve the new schools. A potential new private sewer line and water line would cost $677,000 and $853,000, respectively.

The design phase is expected to be complete in June or July, and bidding is scheduled to begin in January 2022. The first phase of construction is set for completion in summer 2024. The second phase is anticipated to be finished by summer 2025.

Massachusetts – The state’s Department of Public Utilities is reviewing a draft request for proposals (RFP) that would solicit 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind generation.

Department officials anticipate the award of a final contract by spring 2022 for the procurement that is seeking a greater percentage of clean energy than in earlier offshore wind solicitations.

Potential turbine sites near Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket could add to the state’s plans for expanding its offshore wind energy capabilities.

The Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan details provisions for advancing the proactive planning and siting of transmission corridors to bring electricity from offshore wind projects in federal waters across state waters to access the mainland grid.

New Jersey – Newark councilmembers introduced an ordinance that would authorize $23 million in upgrades to the city of Newark’s Pequannock Water Treatment Plant to increase its capacity of 60 million gallons per day (MGD) and improve water quality.

The city is approaching completion of its lead pipe replacement program, but additional work on the plant’s coagulation system is needed as is replacement of several components of its filtration system. Upgrades to the plant’s air scouring, electrical, and control systems are planned.

This project and the lead pipe replacement program are part of the city’s efforts to reduce its sewer overflows and regain compliance under state regulations.

New York – The town of Riverhead will seek a $10 million state grant and issue solicitations to achieve its vision for a town square project.

Town officials are working on purchasing three buildings in the downtown area and releasing a request for proposals (RFP) to demolish to clear space for the new square from Main Street to the Peconic River. Officials are considering public-private partnerships (P3s) that would see the town sell or lease the properties to private developers.

A transit-oriented development (TOD) on Railroad Avenue would feature zoning for a mixed-use concept with retail space on the first floor and apartments above the stores. The site would be on a city-owned parking lot across from the train station.

Virginia – Chesterfield County released a request for information (RFI) to solicit vendor input on a Risk Management and Claims Administration Information System (RMIS).

The county seeks information about respondents’ claims and risk management software solutions, data storage capabilities, and ongoing maintenance and support. Officials prefer systems that require minimal or no customization.

RMIS functions should include:

It is the county’s preference that the RMIS provides required functionality in a single, integrated software system. RFI submissions are due by 4 p.m. April 22.

Colorado – A request for information (RFI) by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is seeking input on an online web-based educator performance management system.

The state-paid for educator performance management system provides a free information technology solution for districts so that educators (teachers, special services providers, and principals) may be rated on quality standards that measure professional practice and student learning and outcomes over time.

A system is desired that allows for the entry of educator evaluation data that meets state rules and policies and has these functions:

RFI submissions are due by 3 p.m. MDT March 25.

New York – Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Rachel Loeb as acting president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC). She succeeded James Patchett who returned to the private sector in January. Loeb had been serving as the EDC’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Mississippi – The Tupelo Airport Authority Board selected Joseph Wheeler as the executive director of the Tupelo Regional Airport, effective April 1. He will succeed Cliff Nash who retired in January. Wheeler is the airport director for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission in Louisiana. Before that, he served as the executive director of Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission in Louisiana and as airport manager for the city of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Washington – The Bainbridge Island City Council appointed Blair King as the new city manager, effective May 17. He will take over from Interim City Manager Ellen Schroer who filled the position after Morgan Smith’s contract expired in December 2020. King is the city manager of Coronado, California and has 36 years of local government experience.

Colorado – The state’s Department of Transportation selected Julie Constan as its regional transportation director for southwest and south-central Colorado. Constan most recently served as the region’s traffic and safety program engineer. Before that, she was the engineering division director for Mesa County.

Alabama – The Alabama Community College System named Brad Newman as president of Shelton State Community College. Newman previously served as a plant manager. He is the chairman of West Alabama Works.

New Mexico – Quay County selected Daniel Zamora as its county manager. He will succeed Richard Primrose who is retiring April 19. Zamora has been serving as the county’s emergency manager. He joined the county as a GIS technician and worked in the petroleum industry in Fort Worth, Texas.

Mary Scott Nabers, Publisher

Devin Monk, Editor

Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is a free, weekly newsletter detailing important happenings nationwide and the premier source for federal, state, and local government news and contracting opportunities.