PACAF picks Dell for PC deal

The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) has awarded a PC replacement contract to Dell Computer Corp. that will include a three-phase rollout of more than 22,000 desktop and notebook computers.

The phases will be carried out in March 2003, September 2003 and March 2004, with the goal of replacing all of the command's PCs within a one-year period, said Col. Ronnie Hawkins, director of communications and information at PACAF headquarters, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

PACAF awarded Dell the contract Dec. 4 and the first phase is worth almost $7 million, said Joel Coombs, Defense Department regional manager at Dell.

A pilot implementation phase is set to begin Jan. 1, 2003, Coombs said, adding that the contract calls for "state-of-the-art" Dell computer configurations, which will be customized for different users and bases during the pilot.

PACAF has bought a large number of PCs in the past two years and was working from the concept that refreshment would be needed every three to five years, which is why the new computers will be rolled out in phases, Hawkins told Federal Computer Week last month at Air Force Information Technology Day, which was sponsored by the Northern Virginia chapter of AFCEA International.

In the past, DOD PC installation and migration contracts were awarded to systems integrators, but Dell has years of experience in those areas in the commercial sector and the company is excited to be serving PACAF in the same way, Coombs said.