U.S. Army’s mammoth semiannual computer buy begins

The Army’s tenth semiannual Consolidated Buy (CB10), its mammoth IT buy, is underway.

The CB10 ordering period, held under the auspices of Fort Monmouth, NJ-based Army Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS), the Army's primary source for enterprise hardware and software solutions for information technology (IT) requirements, opened  on January 11 and closes on March 31.

The CB period provides the Army with a window  to leverage its buying power for desktop and notebook computers.  

During the CB, CHESS' Army Desktop and Mobile Computing-2 (ADMC-2) vendors provide CB discounts on top of the already low pre-negotiated prices for state-of-the-art, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products.

According to the Army, CB discounts “generate significant cost avoidance” for the service. The cost avoidance for the previous nine CBs totals approximately $230 million, according to the Army’s statement.

New for this CB is a category for a workstation and a 64 bit OS AGM.  Four desktop and four notebook configurations are offered with available options and upgrades from multiple leading technology vendors (original equipment manufacturers or resellers) including CDW-G, Dell, EMTEC, HP, ITG, NCS Technologies, Telos, and Transource.  All desktops and notebooks are pre-loaded with the latest version of the Army Golden Master (AGM) and meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the latest Army Network Enterprise Technology Command / 9th Signal Command (Army) Technical Authority Implementation Memorandum, which established the Army Enterprise Desktop Standardization.

"The CB is a win-win for customers and contracting officers," Michelina LaForgia, CHESS project director, said in a statement. "The Information Technology, E-Commerce, and Commercial Contracting Center (ITEC4) solicits the requirement, and contracting officers worldwide need only access the CHESS Web site ("it e-mart" at https://chess.army.mil) to view a side-by-side comparison of specs and prices, evaluate [them] in accordance with their local procedures and place an order."

With more than 623,000 users accessing 36,500 hardware and software products, and services under 30 indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts and 23 software agreements, the "it e-mart" is the Army's designated e-commerce site for IT products and services.