CDW-G scouts for small business partners

CDW Government Inc. has issued a request for proposals soliciting small businesses to partner with CDW-G on federal business opportunities.

The amount of business going to members of CDW-G's Small Business Partner Consortium nearly doubled from 2005 to 2006, said Andy Lausch, director of federal sales for CDW-G. "The consortium enables our small business partners to expand their reach into the federal IT marketplace, while helping federal agencies fulfill their goals for contracting with small businesses."

The Small Business Partner Consortium currently includes 14 companies that can bid for federal government contracts with CDW-G as a part of their team. The Air Force, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Renewable Energy Laboratory are among the agencies that have taken advantage of the consortium to purchase technology products and services, CDW-G said.

Companies that successfully meet the RFP will join the consortium, which was established in 2003 to help small businesses win federal IT contracts by using CDW-G's e-commerce, service and distribution capabilities. Under the agreements, these partners may issue purchase orders to CDW-G to fulfill the requirements of federal contracts.

In fiscal year 2005, more than 25 percent of federal prime contracting dollars were awarded to small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration. Small businesses did about $80 billion in business with the federal government as prime contractors that year, CDW-G said.

CDW-G's RFP requirements are posted on the company's Web site. Responses are due May 18.

CDW-G is a unit of CDW Corp., which ranks No. 38 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list of the largest federal IT contractors. The 2007 Top 100 list is due out May 14.