How California revolutionized the procurement process
The California bushfire crisis of 2019/20 gave state agencies an opportunity to rethink their technology procurement practices. In January 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order number 30 which instructed all government entities within the Golden State on how they should develop new methods for acquiring innovative solutions while also focusing heavily towards procuring help with fighting fires during those tough times.
The order instructed state agencies to develop a new technology procurement approach called "Innovation Procurement Sprints." The order specifically instructed them not only identify solutions for bushfires, but also explore ways that could be used in future crises. Some see this as an opportunity rethink how we purchase technologies across all areas of government operations and even outside our its borders.
The goal for this process - which was executed in tandem with wildfire relief efforts - is to identify solutions across all areas of government operations impacted by fires including information technologies (IT), cybersecurity and communications infrastructure repair/rebuilding efforts as well other needs such housing rehabilitation or economic revitalization post-fire loot recycle strategy planning among others mentioned within the document itself . While there's no denying these are crucial topics worth considering , many view them also being at least partially applicable outside the narrow focus of disaster recovery.
Attempts to implement new technology programs in California have been an ongoing struggle for decades. The state's lack of success is evidenced by its checkered history with these projects, which often fail due both excessive spending on unproven systems as well inefficiently using taxpayer dollars
It’s no secret that California has had a difficult time implementing effective technologies at all levels-from policy making and regulating down through services provided by local governments like education or health departments. For example , efforts toward adopting homelessness prevention strategies utilizing data analytics software occurred throughout 2018 but were met with mixed results; some cities saw increases while others maintained steady numbers (Source: LA Times).
At the state level there are areas where California has had some success with implementing programs that use tax dollars wisely while providing better services for residents but there are others that have failed on local levels because policies vary from city-town or county department which makes them less effective overall across all areas affected by these types of improvements.
In 2020 the an award was made to two providers for satellite tracking of the bush fires and ground communication network to coordinate best allocation of resources to control and extinguish bushfires.
Currently, California ICT & Digital Procurement is having great success with the new Procurement Sprint, having completed a number of projects in a matter of weeks and some in a matter of days. Work is ongoing with large IT companies and Silicon Valley.