NITAAC is pleased to announce that we have been designated as an OMB mandatory source for its new policy on workstation acquisitions. The memo, M-16-02, was issued on October 16, 2015 and is titled, "Category Management Policy 15-1: Improving the Acquisition and Management of Common Information Technology: Laptops and Desktops." 

The memo effectively prohibits agencies from issuing new solicitations for laptops and desktops, and instructs agencies to leverage the following existing vehicles: NITAAC Chief Information Officer-Commodities and Solutions, GSA IT Schedule 70, or NASA SEWP.  The purpose of this policy is to assure that federal buyers take advantage of category management principles so that government has access to the best prices, and can reduce the inefficient duplication of IT contracts.

NITAAC will be offering its lowest priced laptops and desktops in the standard configurations referred to in the memo, which have been designed to meet the demands of at least 80% of the government market. Customers can buy these commodities through our NITAAC Government-Wide Strategic Solutions program, which features CIO-CS contractors who have agreed to lower their prices even more for this initiative. The same low price will apply whether you are buying one or one thousand laptops and desktops, and you'll enjoy "pick it and click it" shopping ease. Simply log into our Electronic Government Ordering System (e-GOS) to see the products and buy them at our lowest prices – no paperwork necessary!

Agencies with mandatory-use vehicles can continue using them through the end of the current base or option period, as applicable. At that time, they can either buy from one of the new mandatory sources, or apply for an exemption. We look forward to serving the new customers this policy will bring to NITAAC, and to offering them the excellent customer service our current clients already enjoy.

You can read the full text of the memo here.