The Commerce Department expects to save 40% on computer purchases over the next five years as a result of a new contract with Intelligent Decisions Inc., a small IT reseller.

“The contract leverages the large volume of computers that Commerce purchases each year and standardizes specifications to achieve significant cost reductions,” Acting Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank wrote in a blog post. Intelligent Decisions sells Dell hardware.

She said the contract will enable the department to reduce the thousands of employee hours required to award hundreds of separate contracts for computers; reduce IT complexity and support and maintenance costs by standardizing PC specifications; and streamline the computer ordering process. She estimates five-year savings will add up to at least $20 million.

Commerce has been emphasizing cost-cutting efforts through negotiating reduced prices with vendors and reducing the size of contracts. Blank said the department is achieving savings in fleet, travel, printing and other areas including shutting down unused wireless devices and reducing the use of desktop printers.

She estimated the department will reduce its overhead and administrative costs by $143 million this year.

The Intelligent Decisions contract was awarded by the Census Bureau’s acquisition team.