Viglen, the UK PC maker, has won a Office of Government Commerce contract worth up to £30m to supply public sector organisations with 70,000 PCs. Its chairman, Sir Alan Sugar, is very pleased indeed.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this contract on an equitable basis”, he says. Does this suggest to you that he thinks some contracts are awarded on less equitable terms?

Viglen emerged triumphant from a tender process which is described as a "reverse online auction". Its prize is a 24-month gig to supply 45-plus central government, councils, and NHS trusts with Energy Star compliant desktop PC, notebooks and TFT screens.

By teaming up for procurement, the organisations collectively save more than £10m, Viglen estimates.

The contract has a 12-month extension period and is open to other public sector bodies and charities to jump on board. ®

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