Private-Sector RFP Seeks Small Business Partners for IT Contracts
Private-Sector RFP Seeks Small Business Partners for IT Contracts
The Small Business Partner Consortium, established in 2003 by CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), helps small businesses win IT contracts with federal agencies by allowing the small businesses to use CDW-G’s e-commerce, service, and distribution capabilities.
“The double-digit increase in business going to the Small Business Partner Consortium members between 2005 and 2006 highlights the success of this approach to partnership in the federal IT marketplace,” says Kevin Adams, Vice President of Program Management, CDW-G. “The consortium enables our small business partners to expand their reach into the federal IT marketplace, while helping federal agencies fulfill their goals for contracting with small businesses.”
The Small Business Partner Consortium currently includes 15 federal members, which can bid for government contracts with CDW-G as a part of their team. Federal agencies including the Air Force, Centers for Disease Control, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory have taken advantage of the consortium to purchase technology products and services.
Through an RFP, the company intends to award new partnership agreements. Under the agreements, the small businesses may issue purchase orders to CDW-G to fulfill the requirements of federal contracts.
The Small Business Act has set goals for federal contracting with small businesses. In 2004, more than 23 percent of federal prime contracting dollars were awarded to small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Small businesses conducted $69.2 billion in business with the federal government as prime contractors that year.
