The future of federal procurement for laptops and desktop computers will be for federal agencies to act as one. According to the Office of Management and Budget, federal agencies spent about $1.1 billion on laptop and desktop computers during the 12 months ending September 30, 2014. Computer orders were distributed across more than 2,400 individual contracts with prices ranging by nearly 300%. This screams of unnecessary inefficiency.
The Office of Management and Budget and Tony Scott, the federal CIO, have drafted strategies to ensure that the efficiencies and cost savings that come from consolidating purchasing contracts, potentially into IT Schedule 70, are realized. Federal CIO’s and other stakeholders have consistently complained about acquisition policies. This is a policy that everyone should happily adopt.