Computers available at reduced prices Published Sept. 14, 2004 By Master Sgt. Darlene M. Foote Standard Systems Group Public Affairs GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. (AFPN) -- Air Force technology officials have taken much of the work out of negotiating prices and picking vendors for organizations that will buy mainstream computers, especially those bought with end-of-year funds. Representatives from the Air Force’s major commands, as part of the Air Force Information Technology Commodity Council, worked together to select the winning vendors for the Air Force’s mainstream desktop and notebook computers. Air Force organizations are permitted to buy computers only from the selected vendors, or directly from small businesses through Sept. 30. Waivers to purchase computers from either the selected sources or small business vendors must be approved at the command level, officials said.When using these vendors, further competition and bidding is not necessary, officials said. “Because the Air Force was able to leverage the buying power of (the commands) and (more than) 50 bases, we could ask for a bid on over 16,000 computers as a single buyer and get great prices.” said Mr. Ken Heitkamp, assistant Air Force chief information officer for lifecycle management. “These prices are 25 to 35 percent less than the current (government) prices many Air Force organizations were paying on their own.” This is important, he said, because many commanders are trying to replace a large number of older computers and need to buy as many systems as they can within their limited budgets. “Commanders also want to ensure they are buying systems that will be compatible with Air Force IT architecture for the next three to four years. (These computers) will help commanders ensure we meet those goals,” he said.