ci: Updated CI process for releases

[svetlanabrennan]

Updated the prep release workflow, pr template and added dependabot file.

Also set the actions USE_NEW_RELEASE variable to true

Fixes issue #241

[codecov]

Codecov Report

All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests ✅

Project coverage is 97.81%. Comparing base (d7c339a) to head (b381195).
Report is 1 commits behind head on main.

Additional details and impacted files

@@           Coverage Diff           @@
##             main     #242   +/-   ##
=======================================
  Coverage   97.81%   97.81%           
=======================================
  Files           1        1           
  Lines         183      183           
=======================================
  Hits          179      179           
  Misses          4        4           

Flag	Coverage Δ
integration-tests-16-macos-14-arm64	?
integration-tests-16-ubuntu-latest-x64	85.24% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-16-windows-latest-x64	85.24% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-16-windows-latest-x86	85.24% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-18-macos-14-arm64	?
integration-tests-18-ubuntu-latest-x64	84.15% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-18-windows-latest-x64	84.15% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-18-windows-latest-x86	84.15% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-20-macos-14-arm64	?
integration-tests-20-ubuntu-latest-x64	84.15% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-20-windows-latest-x64	84.15% <ø> (ø)
integration-tests-20-windows-latest-x86	84.15% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-16-macos-14-arm64	93.44% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-16-ubuntu-latest-x64	93.44% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-16-windows-latest-x64	93.44% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-16-windows-latest-x86	93.44% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-18-macos-14-arm64	92.34% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-18-ubuntu-latest-x64	92.34% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-18-windows-latest-x64	92.34% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-18-windows-latest-x86	92.34% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-20-macos-14-arm64	92.34% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-20-ubuntu-latest-x64	92.34% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-20-windows-latest-x64	92.34% <ø> (ø)
unit-tests-20-windows-latest-x86	92.34% <ø> (ø)

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