The government has awarded a £4bn framework for IT hardware across the public sector.
The framework for "standard and non-standard IT desktop / infrastructure hardware and commoditised services" includes desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, printers and most commonly used peripherals.
The framework consists of 12 lots, ten of which are for the provision of standardised products. It will be let for two years with the option of extending it for up to a maximum of four years.
Some 17 suppliers were awarded the framework, which include: Academia, Akhter, Centerprise International Ltd, Computacenter, Dell, Ergo Computing, Fujitsu, HP, Insight Direct, Kelway International, Lenovo, Misco, Softcat, Specialist Computer Centre, Stone Computers, Viglen and XMA.
But the Cabinet Office was keen to stress that the £4bn figure was the maximum value under the contract and not a spending commitment. The department said it expects the contract to save taxpayers £6.5m this financial year.
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said the award would enable the public sector to have greater access to a competitive range of products.
David Shields, managing director of Government Procurement Service, said: "We're pleased to have worked closely with [local government procurement partner Pro5] in developing this framework to ensure the benefits of standardisation, aggregation and price transparency are shared across the whole of the UK public sector."
The use of online procurement site E-Auctions for the bidding process drove costs down by around 22%, said the department.
