FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2005
Contact:  Erin K. Kelly
(717) 846-2828
ekelly@pasen.gov
Back

Waugh Announces Opportunity For Small Businesses

Bidding period open for state contracts to sell information technology hardware 

HARRISBURG – On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York) announces the bidding process is now open for small businesses to apply to get on state contracts for the purpose of selling information technology hardware to local governments, schools, authorities, and non-profits. 

Legislation supported by the Legislature, Governor Rendell, and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) was passed and signed into law last year, which amended the Procurement Act and provided small businesses the opportunity to be listed on a state contract, from which they could sell goods or services to local public procurement units, such as local governments and schools. 

"This change in law opens the door for expanded opportunities for our local small businesses, as well as more direct contracting by local managers, who will be able to buy from small business contractors through the state contract, rather than go through the administrative burden of a procurement process locally," said Waugh. 

 Interested businesses should visit www.dgs.state.pa.us/COSTARS to download the Invitation for Bid (IFB) for information technology hardware (e.g., personal computers, servers, printers, monitors, etc.).  All bids are due to the Department of General Services by May 24, 2005. 

IFB's for additional goods and service categories are still being developed but will be published in the near future.