Office of Enterprise Technology Services

HONOLULU — The State Procurement Office (SPO), in partnership with the Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS), recently announced that Hawaii state and local government agencies now have access to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Program for procuring information technology (IT) services, under GSA Schedule 70.

“SPO and ETS worked collaboratively to determine a process by which GSA Schedule 70, which covers general purpose commercial IT services, may be used by local and state government agencies for IT services,” said SPO Administrator Sarah Allen, emphasizing that the schedule shall be used for IT services only. “Processes and procedures are in place to ensure that the use of the GSA Schedule is cost-effective and in the best interest of the state, and the price is fair and reasonable after conducting an analysis of price, quality and other relevant factors.

“We are always looking at what options our specialists have in their procurement toolbox. The GSA Schedule 70 is another tool available to the Hawaii procurement workforce. It is allowable as a cooperative under our Procurement Law and we encourage vendors to consider responding to the GSA Open Solicitation for these services.”

The GSA Schedules Program was developed to assist federal employees in purchasing. GSA Schedule contracts contain pre-negotiated prices, delivery terms, warranties, and other terms and conditions which streamline the buying process. GSA established the Cooperative Purchasing Program, which allows state and local governments access to GSA Schedule 70 contracts containing IT Special Item Numbers (SINs).

“For the first time, Hawaii joins other states in using the GSA Schedules Program to leverage the buying power of the federal government in the procurement of IT services,” said state Chief Information Officer (CIO) Todd Nacapuy, who leads ETS. “This provides streamlined access to additional, cost-effective services in support of modernization projects as well as ongoing operations and maintenance.”

Use of GSA Schedule 70 by Hawaii state and local agencies requires the approval of each jurisdiction’s CIO or designee. ETS has issued specific procedural instructions for executive branch departments/agencies (excluding the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation) on the use of the GSA Schedule 70.

Federal, state and local government customers alike may use GSA Advantage!, GSA’s e-commerce website listing GSA contract holder products and services, to research product information and make online purchases (if authorized). GSA Advantage! is also a valuable market research tool.

About SPO
The mission of the State Procurement Office is to promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness and impartiality in procurement for state and county governments; and efficiency, effectiveness and stewardship in inventory management and surplus property management in an open, fair and transparent process. The office is made up of four segments: administration, procurement, inventory management and surplus property management. For more information, visit spo.hawaii.gov.

About ETS
Led by the state CIO, the Office of Enterprise Technology Services provides governance for executive branch IT projects and seeks to identify, prioritize and advance innovative initiatives with the greatest potential to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve transparency and accountability in state government. The office also supports the management and operation of state agencies by providing effective, efficient, coordinated and cost-beneficial computer and telecommunication services such that state program objectives may be achieved. For more information, visit ets.hawaii.gov.

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COMPLIANCE PURSUANT TO HRS §103D-310(c): Use of GSA Schedule 70 is for the solicitation process only. Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes section 103D-310(c) and Hawaii Administrative Rules section 3-122-112, the procuring officer shall verify compliance (i.e. vendor is required to provide proof of compliance and may use the Hawaii Compliance Express) for all contracts awarded, and award is required to be posted on the Awards Reporting System. Copies of the Hawaii Compliance Express certificates of vendor compliance (or paper documents) and awards posting are required to be documented in the procurement/contract file.

Media Contact:
Keith DeMello
Senior Communications Manager
Office of Enterprise Technology Services
Phone: (808) 586-1866
[email protected]
ets.hawaii.gov