Cities can now purchase computers and related technology directly from the world's largest and best known computer manufacturers through the joint USCM-NACo U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance (GPA). Dell, Gateway, IBM and MicronPC have been awarded national contracts through the USCM-sponsored U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance by Fairfax County, Virginia. Fairfax also awarded contracts to Software Spectrum, the nationally-recognized software reseller in addition to Comark and CompUSA, the value-added computer resellers. All city, municipal and other local governments in the United States are qualified to use the contracts. Wareforce Inc. continues to offer both computer products and value-added services such as system design, consulting and training through the GPA's Los Angeles County contract.

VENDOR	PHONE	FAX	WEB SITE
Dell	888-895-3471	800-433-9527	www.dell.com/slg/uscommunities
Gateway	877-887-4710	605-232-2715	www.esource.gateway.com/uscommunities
IBM	800-426-2255 (code: USCOM)	800-242-6329 (code: USCOM)	www.ibm.com/gold/uscommunities
MicronPC	800-952-6198	888-262-1305	www.micronpc.com/gpa
Comark	800-925-1910	703-227-2901	www.comark.com
CompUSA	800-834-7328	888-238-5210	www.compusa.com/gov/uscommunities
Software Spectrum	800-741-4394	509-744-8344	www.softwarespectrum.com/uscommunities
Wareforce	888-442-6226	800-742-2211	www.wareforce.com

The USCM and NACo-sponsored GPA procurement program competitively bids contracts on behalf of all local and state governments, always using a large local government and a competitive public bid process. U.S. Communities is sponsored jointly by The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Counties and the program is endorsed by the National Institute for Governmental Purchasing, NIGP. The U.S. Communities GPA Advisory Board and steering committee is composed of 12 city and county purchasing officials from across the country including the cities of Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; Fort Wayne, IN, Baltimore, MD and the counties of Los Angeles, CA; Hennepin, MN; Metro-Dade, FL; Dallas, TX; Santa Clara, CA and Fairfax, VA.

"The pricing offered by these contracts is the best pricing available in the governmental marketplace today," notes Armand Malo, Director of Procurement for Fairfax County. "The direct manufacturers have committed themselves to providing the very best equipment for the very best prices to our nation's local governments."

The USCM-NACo U.S. Communities GPA also provides competitively bid contracts for office supplies, office and systems furniture as well as electrical, communications and data supplies. In 1999, local governments saved more than $37 million using the GPA's cooperative purchasing agreement contracts.

To use the contracts, cities only need to contact their preferred vendors directly. The key contact information necessary for cities to use the technology purchase program is provided below. Each city or municipal government signs a participation agreement that validates their use of the contracts and since all GPA contracts are non-exclusive, use is discretionary and cities buy as little or as much as they desire via the GPA. Each of the companies has committed to provide their most competitive local government pricing through the US Communities GPA program. The program has no membership fees, so any city or local government may participate.

The USCM-NACo computer technology purchase program provides web-based ordering and information access, in addition to telephone and fax access for all ordering. Catalogs for each company are provided online, as are pricing and delivery options. Additional discounts are provided for large orders, so cities are encouraged to aggregate their purchases to gain the largest volume discounts.

Since the Fairfax County award includes multiple vendors, cities are also encouraged to get quotes from more than one source. The GPA's value-added resellers provide access to many additional manufacturers and service providers, as well as software, installation and training options. City purchasing and Information Technology officials should feel comfortable contacting any of the manufacturers, resellers or software providers for information and quotes.

The bid documents and final contracts can be viewed and downloaded at the Conference website at usmayors.org/GPA and at each of the vendor websites. For more information on the GPA program and contracts, contact Justin O'Brien at the Conference at 1-888-828-8763. Email: jobrien@usmayors.org.