Doyle says new contracts saving state more than $16 million annually

Madison, Wis. -- Gov. Jim Doyle says taxpayers will save more than $16 million a year -- a total of nearly $80 million over the lifetime of new state procurement contracts on seven categories of goods and services, including a number of technology areas.

The new contracts are the result of Doyle's Accountability, Consolidation, and Efficiency (ACE) Initiative to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Beyond procurement, the ACE Initiative is also generating savings by standardizing human resources staffing levels, improving state facility management, and strengthening the state's information technology infrastructure. All together, Doyle says the changes will save Wisconsin taxpayers up to $200 million over the next four years.

Awarded through a competitive bidding process, Doyle said the new contracts will provide the state with lower costs on a variety of goods and services including janitorial supplies, software, computer equipment, IT service suppliers, printers, copiers and faxes, and office supplies. All of the contracts already have, or will take effect in about a month.

Under the new contracts, Wisconsin will save 20 percent on janitorial supplies, 10 percent on software, 25 percent on computer equipment, 17 percent on IT services suppliers, 27 percent on printers, 14 percent on copiers and faxes and 33 percent on office supplies.