Let's make a Dell: Ga. picks company for software resell

Georgia has tapped Dell Inc. to furnish software to all state agencies through a three-year contract valued at $50 million.

The agreement, arranged by the Georgia Administrative Services Department and the Georgia Technology Authority, is intended to let the state better manage procurement costs and more closely track what software individual departments and agencies are using, the company said.

The company will build a portal for agencies so they may purchase the latest software from companies such as Adobe Systems Inc, Citrix Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp., Novell Inc., Symantec Corp., Trend Micro Inc., and McAfee Inc.

The exclusive purchasing deal is an outgrowth of the "Commission for a New Georgia" initiative, started by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R). Its aim is to use strategic sourcing methods commonly found in the private sector, the company said. Perdue was elected to a second term Nov. 7.

Dell of Round Rock, Texas, ranks No. 10 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list the largest federal IT contractors.