'IT Superstore' Makes the Grade.

• Author: Kutner, Joshua A.
• Position: U.S. Air Force uses online "IT Superstore" - Brief Article

U.S. Air Force officials claim they will save millions of dollars through the use of an online "IT Superstore," an electronic commerce exchange where service members can purchase computer products.

The so-called "Superstore"--located at www.itsuperstore.af.mil--is opetated by the Air Force Standard Systems Group's Commercial IT, Product Area Directorate (CIT-PAD), at Maxwell Air Force Base, in Alabama. The directorate is the Air Force's lone computer-purchasing agent.

The CIT-PAD site generates annual sales of $500 million, officials said. Most of its sales come from existing information-technology contracts or blanket-purchase agreements. Vendors looking for business opportunities with CIT-PAD can click on the "BIZOPS" link at the Web site.

Air Force officials claim that they save money by buying systems in bulk. In other words, as the Air Force's single computer buyer, CIT-PAD guarantees multiple sales to its vendors. This allows them to negotiate prices that are significantly lower than those on the General Services Administration schedule, officials said. In fact, officials said the Air Force saved more than $200 million last year.

One of the site's newest features allows users to view side-by-side comparisons of products. This can be achieved through the use of--Version 3.0 e-procurement software--offered by NIC Commerce.

"We are please to provide [the Standard Systems Group] with our solution to support their move to online government purchasing," said Rob Main, president of NIC Commerce. "This partnership is a good example of how government and industry can work together with a proven product and enhance the functionality of it to meet the new demands that buyers are looking for. With NIC Commerce solutions driving the Superstore, Air Force buyers will now have the tools they need to simplify the purchasing process and streamline costs."

In the past, buyers would have to visit individual company Web sites to search for purchasing opportunities. For example, they may have visited Dell or Gateway's Web sites to inquire about computer prices and features. At the Air Forces new store, they can do all of their research in one place, and they have the option of linking directly to company sites as well.

At the site's main page, users will find links to features such as Product Search, Order Status, Contracts, Product Compare and Cart History. Web navigators can search for a product by part number of vendor by clicking on Product Search...