Mobility

The Army Leverages Bulk Buying for IT Purchases

The Army's Common Hardware Systems program helps the military branch gain efficiencies through large-scale hardware procurements.

Alan Joch

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Alan Joch has been an independent business and technology writer for more than a decade. His expertise includes server and desktop virtualization, cloud computing, emerging mobile applications, and cybersecurity.

Echoing similar durability and reliability requirements at other defense agencies, the Army can offer an additional lesson that procurement professionals have learned after purchasing thousands of notebooks per year, including the Getac X500.

The Army leverages the buying power of consolidated purchases to get the most from its IT budget.

Its Common Hardware Systems (CHS) program serves as a clearinghouse for Army project offices to procure tactical network commercial hardware.

CHS gains efficiencies through large-scale hardware procurements for more than 16 Army programs, as well as Defense Department program offices and the Marine Corps, according to Paul D. Mehney, director of public communications for the Army Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical.

On average, Army and DOD program offices together purchase more than 3,400 rugged notebooks per year, he says.

For more on how the armed forces are deploying ruggedized devices, check out, "The Army, Air Force and Marines Call Up Rugged Mobile Solutions for the Battlefield."