GovConnection, a subsidiary of PC Connection, is MIT's new vendor partner for computer purchases.
GovConnection's ECAT catalog is now available to the MIT comunity. GovConnection replaces NECX, which has been MIT's vendor partner since 1997. NECX's contract terminates on March 31.
Through its online catalog, GovConnection offers a larger selection of products than NECX, with more products at academic pricing. The prices shown in the catalog are those for MIT purchases and for personal purchases by members of the MIT community. MIT web certificates are required to access the GovConnection catalog. GovConnection's landing page for MIT users will contain links to recommended products and other product information of particular interest to MIT purchasers.
At this time not all products available from NECX are available through GovConnection. Orders for Apple Macintosh equipment, Dell equipment and Microsoft Select software should be placed with NECX until March 31. Announcements about the transition of Apple and Microsoft Select products to GovConnection, as well as Dell's ECAT catalog for computer equipment and peripherals, will be made soon.
MIT's gateway page to GovConnection contains detailed information about using the new catalog and purchasing procedures. For additional help with GovConnection, send e-mail to mcc-cpo@mit.edu.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on March 6, 2002.
