U.S. Digital Response
LightNews LightNews
usdigitalresponse.org
U.S. Digital Response
@usdigitalresponse.org
350 followers 14 following 33 posts
Building capacity to build good government.

https://www.usdigitalresponse.org/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
usdigitalresponse.org
U.S. Digital Response @usdigitalresponse.org · Aug 27
See how government teams across America are modernizing the way they serve their communities through digital services 🏛️✨

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtz...
How communities and government partners are building a better future together | 5 Years of USDR
YouTube video by US Digital Response
www.youtube.com
usdigitalresponse.org
🏆 Join us Dec 2 for the Digital Service Champions Awards!
Celebrating government teams & civic tech champions transforming how digital services meet community needs. Free virtual event, 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET

RSVP: usdigitalresponse-org.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
#CivicTech #GovTech #DigitalGovernment
November 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
waldo.net
Periodic reminder: I hold weekly open office hours at @usdigitalresponse.org. If you're a government employee in the U.S. with questions about procurement, budgeting, or oversight of custom software, I'm available to talk—there's no catch. That's every Wednesday from 3–4 PM ET (12–1 PT).
U.S. Digital Response’s Custom Software Procurement Office Hours
If you have questions about procuring custom software in government, U.S. Digital Response is available to answer them. I hold weekly office hours for any employee of any level of government in the Un...
docs.google.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
statescoop.bsky.social
42 million Americans, including low-income families, seniors and children are at risk of going hungry as SNAP benefits set to expire November 1. 🥫

As we approach this lapse in funding, state IT offices are already struggling. Learn more 📹⬇️

📰 ➡️ statescoop.com/snap-benefit...
October 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
fedscoop.bsky.social
The Recoding America Fund, led in part by Jennifer Pahlka, is looking to build government “radically better — not incrementally better." via @madialder.bsky.social + @colinwood.me fedscoop.com/in-the-age-o...
In the age of DOGE, new venture aims war chest at government efficacy
The Recoding America Fund, led in part by Jennifer Pahlka, is looking to build government “radically better — not incrementally better.”
fedscoop.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
alt18f.bsky.social
Our friends at @usdigitalresponse.org are hosting the 2025 Digital Service Champions Awards to recognize folks doing great work in #civictech. Nominations close this Friday, October 10. ⏳

Government awards: usdr.link/champions-government
Individual awards: usdr.link/champions-individual
October 8, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
waldo.net
Sure! I led this project earlier this year, which was based on a great user research effort led by three @usdigitalresponse.org volunteers last summer and fall. Those findings are a good example of how to improve the user experience of reading RFPs.
Improving RFPs with User Research" How “Summary Sheets” Can Improve Solicitations - NASCIO
State government technology RFPs often suffer from inefficiency due to outdated templates and inconsistent structure, making it difficult for vendors to quickly identify relevant information. Based on...
www.nascio.org
September 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
usdigitalresponse.org
🏆 The 2025 Digital Service Champions Awards are accepting nominations!

We're celebrating government teams & civic tech individuals modernizing digital services. Know someone who:
Built solutions helping multiple jurisdictions?
Delivered impact at lightning speed?
Innovated despite constraints?
September 9, 2025 at 2:22 AM
usdigitalresponse.org
See how government teams across America are modernizing the way they serve their communities through digital services 🏛️✨

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtz...
How communities and government partners are building a better future together | 5 Years of USDR
YouTube video by US Digital Response
www.youtube.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
🚀 State governments: Applications open for Data & Impact State Action & Innovation Lab!

Funding + training to build solutions that integrate health, human services & workforce programs

📆 Info webinar THIS Thursday

Register: aphsa.zoom.us/meeting/register/KIuSIRP5Shy3L048FVbwPQ
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Data SAIL Request for Proposal Webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Learn more about APHSA's Data & Impact State Action & Innovation Lab - "Data SAIL" - Request for Proposal. Attendance is limited to only current state-level public agency employees. Webinar recording...
aphsa.zoom.us
August 20, 2025 at 8:16 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
During the Eaton Fire, Pasadena became the regional hub for emergency response. Their website needed to serve thousands of panicked residents.

See how USDR volunteers helped transform their emergency communications and created a template for future crises. www.usdigitalresponse.org/resources/wh...
Discover new tools and services to improve your election administration
www.usdigitalresponse.org
July 22, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
waldo.net
If you’re with a state agency or legislature who needs help figuring out how you’re going to modify your benefits systems to deal with federally mandated changes (e.g. employment verification), contact us at @usdigitalresponse.org. We can help for free, thanks to grant funding. There’s no catch.
Contact Us - U.S. Digital Response
Reach out to us with requests for government support, volunteer sign-ups, funding proposals, media inquiries, and more.
www.usdigitalresponse.org
July 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
statescoop.bsky.social
PDFs aren’t usually an exciting topic—but state and local governments have just 10 months to review every PDF on their websites.

For GA, that's 50,000 PDFs on *one* website, and @codeforamerica.org says AI can help.

Learn more from @colinwood.me 📽️ ⬇️

📰 statescoop.com/code-for-ame...
June 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
waldo.net
In March, @usdigitalresponse.org and @nascio.bsky.social recommended that govt include a page at the front of their IT services RFPs, listing the info our UXR found vendors most need. This week, the NY Higher Education Services Corporation published an RFP using that! www.hesc.ny.gov/RFP2025-01
Summary Sheet Issue Date: 6/12/2025 Deadline for Questions: 6/25/2025 Proposal Deadline: 8/6/2025 Period of Performance: One year, with up to two optional one-year periods. Executive Summary: HESC is seeking Proposals from responsible bidders to develop a web-based portal that will provide HESC staff with a consolidated view of financial aid applications, to make application processing more efficient. This includes reviewing, updating, and verifying information using supporting documentation and data from multiple data sources; where possible the portal will streamline and automate processes to help make eligibility determination and reporting easier. The proposed application environment should be either a cloud-native .NET environment or a low-code development platform (LCDP). Contacts: New York State Finance Law §139-j and §139-k impose certain restrictions on communication between the Agency and Bidders during a procurement. Bidders should email all RFP inquiries, questions, or comments to RFP@hesc.ny.gov. Minimum Qualifications: The bidder must have completed at least two (2) successful implementations of comparable size and scope within the last five (5) years, one (1) of which must be a public-sector implementation. The system implementations of comparable size/scope must have met the following: • managed various file transmissions daily; • implemented an application lifecycle inclusive of user roles and permissions for workflow management and had the ability to ingest a data set of approximately 100-150 fields per program, not submitted simultaneously. The customers for these projects must be verifiable. Budget: Up to $2 million for the one-year period of performance and up to $2 million for each optional one-year periods upon successful performance of the vendor and available funding.
June 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
civilladetroit.bsky.social
Join our next Civilla Chats with our CEO @thejuliadale.bsky.social and @usdigitalresponse.org's CEO Tina Walha on leading boldly in a shifting government.

Register below!
CEO to CEO: Leading Boldly in a Shifting Government
In this 60-minute virtual session, Julia Dale and Tina Walha share candid reflections on what it takes to lead boldly in this moment.
www.eventbrite.com
June 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
waldo.net
Maybe the most important part of my job at @usdigitalresponse.org is teaching leadership in government agencies how software is built, so they can understand a) what's a fair price to pay and b) how long it should take to create.

It's such a simple intervention, but wow it does a lot of good.
June 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
mkinthehouse.bsky.social
@usdigitalresponse.org has a new blog post: Raised hands, changed lives: five years of USDR volunteer impact. I started as a volunteer in 2020, and now I'm staff and still working on projects that spark joy while helping partners. Glad our volunteer program is still strong and many others can, too.
Discover new tools and services to improve your election administration
www.usdigitalresponse.org
May 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
We're thrilled to announce that Tina J. Walha has been appointed as U.S. Digital Response's new CEO! As we celebrate our 5th anniversary of building government capacity, we're excited for this next chapter of impact under Tina's leadership. 🎉
May 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
USDR has officially transferred our federal grants tools to Nava🎉

After helping 530+ government agencies w/ grant discovery and reporting, we're thrilled these tools have found their perfect home

More on this milestone and what it means for public servants www.usdigitalresponse.org/resources/tr...
Transforming federal grants access: USDR's tools find a new home with Nava PBC
USDR officially transfers its federal grants tools to Nava, celebrating the impact of serving 530+ government agencies while ensuring these valuable resources continue to simplify grant discovery and ...
www.usdigitalresponse.org
April 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
kristallakis.bsky.social
Hi! @usdigitalresponse.org just published a blog post on language access in unemployment insurance systems featuring the personal experience of a former colleague helping her Spanish-speaking mother navigate UI benefits during the pandemic. www.usdigitalresponse.org/resources/th...
Discover new tools and services to improve your election administration
www.usdigitalresponse.org
April 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
New research by USDR & Service Design Collective explores how technologists navigate the transition to civic tech and government roles.

If you're hiring for civic tech or considering a career shift to public service, this is worth your time!
www.usdigitalresponse.org/resources/un...
Understanding public sector job seeker's motivations & experiences
New research brings to light what's keeping talented technologists from entering government service and how we might fix it
www.usdigitalresponse.org
March 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
marysbutler.bsky.social
Proud 2 be part of @usdigitalresponse.org as we celebrate 5 years! As tech becomes more critical 2 public services, USDR remains committed to helping governments deliver for all.

Happy 2 have worked on a service resource hub 4 a large metro area last year + now on election admin platform #CivicTech
How one organization has helped governments respond to the urgent needs of the public
USDR is turning five years old, here's a look back at how they've evolved.
www.usdigitalresponse.org
March 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
This week marks 5 yrs since USDR's founding. What began as an urgent response to COVID-19 has evolved into a sustainable model for strengthening government digital capacity

Through nearly 600 projects nationwide, we've seen firsthand the dedication of public servants and their impact on communities
March 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
🚨 Tech professionals: Local + state government agencies need your skills, but their hiring process is... different.

USDR's new blog shares expert advice on navigating public sector applications.

Ready to make an impact? www.usdigitalresponse.org/resources/bu...
How to write a government resume if you're in tech
Writing a government resume takes an understanding of how the hiring process works. Check out this blog for more.
www.usdigitalresponse.org
March 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
usdigitalresponse.org
📣 NEW RESEARCH: USDR + NASCIO found a simple fix for complex gov tech RFPs

Our "summary sheet" puts critical info up front, helping vendors quickly evaluate opportunities & agencies get better responses.

"This would be a dream," said one vendor.
Read more: www.usdigitalresponse.org/resources/im...
Discover new tools and services to improve your election administration
www.usdigitalresponse.org
March 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by U.S. Digital Response
waldo.net
PA's Gov. Shapiro just signed an executive order directing agencies to prioritize the recruitment of federal employees, notably presenting all state positions in federal terms. Saying that an IT position is the equivalent of a GS-13 Supervisory IT Specialist is really helpful! pa.gov/content/dam/...
Executive Order Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor’s Office Executive Order 2025-01 – Filling Critical Public Service Vacancies by Recruiting Federal Government Talent and Expertise Date: March 5, 2025 By Direction of: WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, Josh Shapiro, Governor the Commonwealth recognizes that a workforce of dedicated and talented public servants is the backbone of a responsive government that can ensure the efficient and effective delivery of services for Pennsylvanians; and it is imperative that the Commonwealth attract and retain qualified employees who are drawn to a career in public service to fill its existing vacancies; and approximately 103,700 Pennsylvanians were employed with the Federal Government in 2024, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry; and individuals with experience working in the Federal Government may possess valuable knowledge, skills, and expertise that could significantly benefit the Commonwealth; and due to recent events many experienced and talented public servants within the Executive Branch of the Government of the United States (hereinafter “Federal Government”) may be unemployed or seeking new employment; and many of the job titles within the Federal Government’s classification plan perform the same or a similar function as job titles within the Commonwealth’s Classification Plan; and increasing awareness of Commonwealth employment opportunities for individuals with unique skills and specialized experience who have worked in the Federal Government may help fill critical vacancies and strengthen the Commonwealth’s workforce.
March 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM