Expert Insights

The world as we know it has changed rapidly and dramatically in the last few months. Normalcy is but a memory at this moment in time. People are losing their jobs, businesses are closing, people are struggling, and some are dying. This is truly a sad time in history...

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full force, most government decisions are being made via teleconference. Public hearings, meetings, and conversations about business decisions must still meet all transparency statutes. Current conversations tend to revolve around...

State and local government contracting represented a multi-trillion dollar marketplace before the recent pandemic. That marketplace is now much larger … but its current size is insignificant compared to what it will be six months from now. To combat the virus,...

Over the last few weeks, state leaders have been forced to mandate drastic actions in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Normally, state emergencies are declared when natural disasters strike - hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods....

The team of researchers at Strategic Partnerships, Inc. is known for its ability to point clients to upcoming opportunities long before public announcements are made about the projects. One way the team uncovers this type of valued information is by monitoring...

Public-private partnerships (P3s), or collaborative initiatives as they are sometimes called, are becoming more common – so common in fact, that it’s hard to find any state where collaborative partnerships that include funding options are not being used to deliver...

Often, little known facts can point companies to lucrative contracting opportunities. A good example is data related to the growth and expansion of U.S. ports. The movement of freight in the U.S. is growing at a staggering rate. But, the more riveting data stems from...

Looking for parking facility construction projects? Probably not! That’s because most construction firms are interested in larger projects. But, things are changing, and it may be wise to begin looking for parking garage projects. Here’s why. There is an abundance of...

Clean and adequate water resources are essential components of human existence. For many years, government leaders had few problems providing this precious resource. That’s no longer the case, and companies interested in contracting with government to fix water...

Over the next few months 33 state legislatures will approve funding for new budgets. The remaining states already have a budget for 2020. A quick look at funding requests indicates an extremely positive marketplace for companies that contract with government. The...

Looking for a massive funding document that describes hundreds of upcoming opportunities? Look no further than the new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) document that President Trump signed on December 21. For 59 years there has been a NDAA appropriations...

Renovate or replace - these are the options government entities must decide between constantly. The tools, systems, facilities, programs, and technology necessary for efficient operations in cities, counties, schools, and state agencies are high priorities. Aging...

By all accounts, 2020 is shaping up to be a banner year for government contracting. Following years of growth since the last recession, the year has begun with gusto. Earlier fears that the marketplace might be fragile because of government uncertainty seem to have...

Public school campuses are always busy places, but in about five months many of them will experience a different kind of activity. That’s because numerous school districts will launch major construction projects in the few summer months when students are not on...

Most citizens find planning documents a little boring. That’s not the case, however, for government contractors. For them, such documents are extremely interesting. In fact, savvy contracting firms know there’s gold to be found in planning documents. Almost every...

When public entities commission a study, it’s safe to assume that one or more, usually large, projects will follow. For some companies, following government studies is how they manage to get ahead of their competitors. Most large government projects require a study of...

Most citizens appreciate parks, and many are regular visitors. However, the public at large rarely contemplates the economic impact of parks. And, too many companies overlook hundreds of contracting opportunities associated with parks. Parks are responsible for...

Government funding continues to shrink for public colleges and universities. At the same time, there is a public outcry for lower tuition, on-line courses, and easy access to education. Education officials seek relief and many are finding it through collaborative...

Technology has altered our lives. It consumes us as individuals and impacts almost everything in the world around us on a daily basis. Emails, texts, instant news, apps of every kind, GPS, Google searches, and Siri are part of everyday life. Technology also has become...

It’s difficult and costly to deliver broadband or high-speed internet to rural communities. And, there’s no way to generate enough revenue to make it worth the effort for private sector companies. Yet, broadband is a critical component of education, economic...

How frightening is it to imagine a day without adequate water? Or, a time when drinking water is no longer safe? Although adequate water is not an immediate threat in the U.S., water resources are becoming scarce in too many regions. The luxury of clean, safe drinking...

Transportation congestion is surging. Demand for roadway access exceeds capacity, and something must be done. Time is lost, air quality is compromised, and motorists are frustrated to the point of exhaustion. Messages delivered by public officials in the past have...

When bond elections are as abundant as they are this year, there’s no doubt    thousands of new opportunities will be available for companies to interact with governmental entities. The demand for services of all types will be huge. Government leaders at every...

Strange as it sounds, budget documents are always interesting reading. That’s especially true when they come from public entities. Government officials, at every jurisdictional level of government, are required to prepare and approve budgets. That’s not an easy or...

Changes are occurring at warp speed, and it’s extremely difficult for busy individuals to stay abreast of what is happening in every area of business. But, it is important to know about government changes because lifestyles and business practices are being impacted in...

Looking for a diverse and lucrative public-sector marketplace? If so, don’t overlook upcoming opportunities related to natural disaster recovery in regions that were ravaged by floods, fires, and other weather-related disasters. Demand for private-sector firms to...

Student enrollment in colleges and universities throughout the U.S. continues to grow. Data tells us that no matter what the economy does, young men and women realize the importance of getting a degree. Statistics from the Institute of Education Services point to the...

Significant changes are taking place in local communities at the various jurisdictional levels of government. And, a majority of the changes are related to revenue generation efforts by public officials. That’s because public funding, although stretched to the limit...

We live in a world of smartphones, computers, and 24-hour news cycles. We can obtain information and data on almost anything with a few clicks on a computer. Not much is hidden, or difficult to obtain, or out of reach – except occasionally public information. In a...

Some seasoned government contracting firms have spent decades studying ‘best practices’ associated with winning new business. They know exactly what it takes, and because of that, they incur less risk when pursuing projects. These firms also win lots of government...

Municipal leaders have stressful and difficult jobs. Elected officials and tenured public servants struggle to provide more citizen services with less funding and fewer municipal resources. Public leaders at the local levels of government are guided by mandates that...

Transportation infrastructure will stimulate the U.S. economy significantly over the next few years. Hundreds of large projects have been announced; so many in fact, it should be possible for almost every type of contracting firm to find attractive opportunities....

Very often the SPI Team receives inquiries from public officials about an upcoming project. Their questions are almost always about alternative funding sources or public-private partnerships (P3s). These officials usually are trying to determine whether a particular...

Civic outreach plans are critical components of success for large public projects. In spite of data that proves it, public officials often neglect to develop or implement these types of plans. And, experienced contractors often fail to insist on them. Why is that?...

Occasionally, change occurs so rapidly it seems the world is spinning faster than ever. Technology changes occurring in roadways and bridges today are amazing, to say the least. Motorists will soon experience roadway technology never imagined in the past. The...

City leaders throughout the U.S. have made commitments to renewable energy. Most have aggressive goals and plans to rely completely on renewable power sources by a specific year. Community leaders who are not pushing for clean energy sources are out of step with their...

Throughout America, there is a robust effort underway to find the best way(s) to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and administrators. Yet, there is no agreement on how to accomplish that goal. Ensuring school safety has become a very difficult and complex...