Western states alliance awards computer contracts
Eleven companies have won the right to compete for $3 billion in computer hardware and related services over the next three years through a Western States Contracting Alliance contract vehicle.
Eleven companies have won the right to compete for $3 billion in computer hardware and related services work over the next three years through a contract vehicle established by the Western States Contracting Alliance, the alliance confirmed today.
Under the contract, the companies will compete for sales of computer equipment, software, peripherals and related services.
Seven companies may compete for all of the services, while three are qualified to compete for just printers, and one is qualified for local area network storage services.
The Western States Contracting Alliance was formed in 1993 by the state purchasing directors from 15 western states to pool their buying power. The states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The contract becomes effective Sept. 1 for nine of the 11 companies that have completed the contract negotiations, alliance officials said. Still negotiating terms are Dell Inc. and IBM Corp.
The companies that have completed negotiations include Apple Computer Inc., Gateway Companies Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Howard Industries Inc., MPC Computers Inc., Konica Minolta Printing Solutions Inc., Kyocera Mita America Inc., Lexmark International Inc., and Xiotech Corp.
Konica, Kyocera and Lexmark can compete only for printer business, and Xiotech can only compete for LAN storage devices.
Minnesota Department of Administration is managing the contract for the alliance.