Electronic Commerce Initiative

FSU is part of a new and exciting program, the Electronic Commerce Initiative, that offers discounted computer purchases to students, faculty, staff & alumni. For more information on the program, read on.

Goals:

• Lower barriers for students to acquire computers to use for their education.
• Address the "digital divide."

Target Market:

• Students, first and foremost
• Faculty
• Staff
• Alumni
• MEEC and other Maryland markets by mutual agreement.

Best Value
The systems offered must be less than the cost of a vendor’s traditional commercial site, corporate prices, state contract, and sources from which students might otherwise purchase. Prices should reflect any specials or incentives offered to the general public. Best value is paramount. In the proposals, manufacturers are expected to document their discount categories and relate their proposed USM discounts to those categories in terms of percentage off the lowest discount category.

Price Protection
It is required that the manufacture provide a 30 day price protection program to ensure the best possible price for any personal computer or service purchased guaranteeing to refund the entire amount.

Quality of Product
The quality of the personal computers offered through the marketing partnership between the University System of Maryland and the manufacturer is also paramount, therefore, participating vendors must provide proof that their products are designed and tested through a rigorous process to ensure reliability and standardization of their product.

Warranty
New, reconditioned, and specials on personal computers sales, must have, at a minimum, three years warranty, with the first year being onsite.

If you have further questions on this program, visit the Discount Computer Purchases page, the Recommended Configuration for New Computer Purchases page (for students only), or call the Office of Academic Computing at 301-687-7090. Thank you and happy computing!