GSA Seeks Centralized IT Commodity Purchasing GSA will try to consolidate the government’s IT hardware procurement in several blanket purchase agreements. In its latest move toward strategic sourcing, the agency plans to create 10 or more multiple award BPAs for laptops, desktops, notebooks, netbooks and warranties. A draft request for quotes was posted on FedBizOpps on Aug. 19. The BPAs would be competed among GSA Schedule 70 contractors. GSA said the suite of BPAs “is to be viewed as the leading source and first choice for providing IT commodity end-to-end solutions for federal customers.” It estimates the BPAs’ sales will reach more than $275 million within three years. The agency’s high hopes for the new BPAs run up against a crowded field. Federal IT purchasers already have a wide array of choices. In addition to Schedule 70, GSA operates several governmentwide acquisition contracts for IT, some of them set-asides. Some of the largest agencies have established their own contract vehicles, such as Homeland Security’s First Source, and other managed by the Army and Navy. GSA said the governmentwide BPAs will improve IT commodity buying in several ways, including “uniform prices and measurable total cost savings while maintaining or improving current service capability levels.” “All contractors responding to this RFQ are strongly encouraged to offer BPA pricing that are lower than pricing offered to any other commercial, local, state, or federal customer,” the notice said. According to the draft RFQ, “The overall goal is to allow the Government a fast and effective way to order IT commodities and products at sharply discounted prices with prompt, cost-effective delivery and effective customer service, while capturing economies of scale, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, fostering markets for sustainable technologies and environmentally preferable products, and simplifying data collection.” Establishment of the IT BPAs follows strategic sourcing initiatives for office supplies, delivery services and mobile phone services. GSA’s National Information Technology Commodity Program in Atlanta is managing the BPAs. The solicitation number is RFQ605380.