States start slow with Schedule 70

<FONT SIZE=2>The use of the General Services Administration Schedule 70 by state and local governments will drastically alter government procurement, but usage is expected to be light in the early years of the program, according to a report by market research firm Input Inc., Chantilly, Va. </FONT>

The use of the General Services Administration Schedule 70 by state and local governments will drastically alter government procurement, but usage is expected to be light in the early years of the program, according to a report by market research firm Input Inc., Chantilly, Va.

"Similar to the trend we've seen with federal agencies, we anticipate state and local government adoption of the Schedule 70 vehicle to be slow initially, but steadily rise as current legal and accounting barriers are overcome," said Marcus Fedeli, Input's assistant manager of state and local market development services.

Schedule 70 is the primary GSA schedule used by agencies to buy information technology products and services. The schedule was opened to state and local governments as a result of the E-Government Act of 2002. The provision becomes effective April 17.

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