Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aka drones, increase in popularity and utility every day. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects the number of commercial drones to increase tenfold by 2021 – and two and a half million of them were sold last year alone, reports Governing.
Their uses for county work can range from traffic monitoring and security surveillance to defibrillator delivery and tracking animals. They can conduct safety inspections, and can aid in weather research for emergency management purposes.
But, how should county procurement officers start with procuring drones? Fortunately, the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is to the rescue.
From Governing:
For government, UAVs present not only an opportunity but also a procurement challenge. Given the rapid evolution of both the technology and the regulatory environment, purchasing a drone is a far cry from buying police cruisers, desktop computers or office furniture. With these complexities in mind, the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) recently published guidance for its members as they move into the new world of UAV procurement.
Learn about how drones, self-driving cars and robots can transform county work at the MACo Summer Conference session, Will Your Next County Employee be…a Robot?
The MACo summer conference is August 16-19, 2017 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City Maryland. This year’s theme is “You’re Hired!”
Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:
- Attendee Registration Brochure (with full schedule & session descriptions)
- Attendee Online Registration
- Exhibitor Brochure
- Tech Expo Brochure
- Sponsorship Brochure
- Golf Tournament Registration
- Discounted Hotel Room Rates
- Questions? vwhite@mdcounties.org
