Category: Featured

Statewide "Stay-at-home" order for all of Pennsylvania

Statewide “Stay-at-home” order for all of Pennsylvania

Posted on by DNS Admin

Governor Wolf has issued a statewide “stay-at-home” order for all counties in Pennsylvania in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

State residents are directed to stay home unless they are involved in certain essential activities, such as collecting food and groceries, picking up prescriptions or medical supplies, going to or from work in life-sustaining businesses, caring for a family member or pet in another household, or other essential travel.

Thirty-three counties were already under these restrictions; the order now covers all counties and will remain in effect until April 30.

People who need to leave home for life-sustaining activities are encouraged to practice social distancing by maintaining at least six feet of separation from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water frequently, covering coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or elbow and regularly cleaning high-contact surface areas.

More guidance on activities that are allowed during the stay-at-home order are available here.

National Census day is April 1, 2020

National Census day is April 1, 2020

Posted on by DNS Admin

Many Pennsylvanians may wonder why the 2020 Census matters. There are three simple reasons. First, it’s in the Constitution that every resident must be counted every ten years. Second, it’s important to participate to make sure we have fair representation in Congress. And lastly, our census count will affect the next decade of federal spending, policy, and decision-making.

It’s about fair representation. The census is used to decide how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives. Pennsylvania has 18 Congressional representatives. We used to have 19 but lost a seat after the 2010 Census.

Census data are used to decide how $675 billion in federal public funding is spent every year. Federal spending on programs like highway planning and construction, transit formula grants, and transit capital investment grants. Pennsylvania gets $26.8 billion annually from just our 16 largest federally-funded programs. That’s about $2,000 per Pennsylvanian each year.
Everyone counts. Be a good neighbor and spread awareness in your community. Information and outreach resources are available at pa.gov/census.

“SAVING MONEY WITH COSTARS” COSTARS FOR BUYERS/MEMBERS

“SAVING MONEY WITH COSTARS” COSTARS FOR BUYERS/MEMBERS

Posted on by DNS Admin

Date: POSTPONED – Due to COVID-19 state recommendations
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

The seminar cost is $30 per person. Registration is required. Reserve your seat now!

DO YOU WANT TO:

  • • Learn how to save money with volume purchasing?
  • • Negotiate with sellers for the lowest price?
  • • Choose from multiple sellers based on price, geography, quality, brand, etc.?
  • • Make your purchase quickly without lengthy, formal bidding process.
  • • Get greater discounts on purchases.
  • • Spend less time purchasing supplies.
  • • Benefit from competitive pricing negotiated by the Commonwealth of PA.

THEN THIS SEMINAR IS FOR YOU!

SEDA COG and the PA Department of General Services are collaborating on this training and is sponsored by SEDA COG. Kim Bullivant, Marketing Manager of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services COSTARS program will present the program. She will present the following information:

  • Program Background Member Benefits
  • Information on the COSTARS Website How to Become a COSTARS Buyer
  • State Contracts & COSTARS Contracts How to Search for COSTARS Contracts & Statewide Contracts
  • How to Purchase through COSTARS How to Save Money with Surplus Property

For more information or registration questions contact Cylinda Reichard at SEDA-COG at (570) 524-4491 or via e-mail creichard@seda-cog.org

Workshop in Chambersburg to help businesses tap government marketplace

Workshop in Chambersburg to help businesses tap government marketplace

Posted on by DNS Admin

Businesses will have the opportunity to gain basic principles they need to do business with local, state, and federal governments in a free workshop conducted by SEDA-Council of Governments’ Procurement Technical Assistance Center staff.

The Selling to the Government: The First Steps workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon February 20 at the Franklin County Area Development Corporation, 1900 Wayne Road, Chambersburg. Kelly Rhodes, Small Business Specialist from Letterkenny Army Depot will be the featured guest.

Topics include:

  • • How the government buys goods and services
  • • Certifications and registrations necessary to sell to local, state and federal governments
  • • How government agencies advertise their opportunities
  • • Locating subcontracting opportunities with government “prime” contractors
  • • Understanding the sales process
  • • How Letterkenny Army Depot procures products and services

Registration is required and can be completed online at https://bit.ly/30YYy6j. For more information, contact SEDA-COG’s Robert Brown at 570-522-7224 or rbrown@seda-cog.org.

Cosponsors are Franklin County Area Development Corporation and the Small Business Development Center at Shippensburg University.

SEDA-COG’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center helps companies explore and compete in the local, state, and federal government marketplace. For more information about the SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/ptac/