CDW-G to Expand Small Business Partner Consortium
Company Issues RFP Seeking Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Firms
Vernon Hills, IL - April 11, 2005 - CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G) - a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation (NASDAQ: CDWC) and leading source of information technology (IT) solutions to governments and educators - announced the immediate availability of a request for proposals (RFP) soliciting small business partners, including veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, to partner with CDW-G on Federal business opportunities.
Successful small businesses will join CDW-G's Small Business Partner Consortium, which was established in 2003 to help small businesses win IT contracts with Federal, state and local government agencies by allowing the small businesses to use CDW-G's e-commerce, service and distribution capabilities.
"Through the Small Business Partner Consortium, CDW-G helps Federal agencies fulfill their goals for contracting with small businesses, and helps small firms expand their reach into the Federal Information Technology (IT) marketplace," said Jim Shanks, president of CDW-G. "At the same time, CDW-G builds relationships with a group of outstanding IT services companies and expands its Federal contracts base."
The Small Business Partner Consortium currently includes 17 Federal members, which can bid for government contracts with CDW-G as a part of their team. Federal agencies including the Air Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have taken advantage of the consortium to purchase technology products and services.
CDW-G intends to award new partnership agreements to several small businesses. Under those agreements, the small businesses may issue purchase orders to CDW-G to fulfill the requirements of Federal contracts.
The Small Business Act set goals for Federal contracting with small businesses. For example, 3 percent of prime contract dollars are supposed to go to companies owned by veterans who were disabled in the course of their military service. Overall, 23 percent of prime contract dollars are supposed to go to small businesses, including veteran-owned small businesses.
In fiscal year 2003, more than 25 percent of Federal prime contracting dollars were awarded to small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Small businesses did $62.7 billion in business with the Federal government as prime contractors that year, an increase of $9.7 billion over fiscal year 2002, according to SBA data.
CDW-G's RFP and any amendments to the RFP are posted online for download at www.cdwg.com/smallbizrfp. Small businesses are encouraged to monitor this Web site to ensure that their proposals meet the requirements of the RFP and any amendments. Responses are due by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on April 29, 2005.
About CDW-G
A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation (NASDAQ: CDWC), a FORTUNE 500 company, CDW Government (CDW-G) is a trusted technology advisor to federal, state and local government agencies, as well as to educational institutions at all levels. CDW-G offers best-in-class technology products and services from top-name brands such as APC, Apple, Cisco, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Sony, Symantec, Toshiba and ViewSonic. For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, service and solutions, call 1.800.863.4239, or visit the CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com.
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