[cryptodan]

It's the OEM that offers the contracts. When a company goes to HP or Dell they say we need 500 computers 10 servers and what can you offer us and here is our budget. The OEM comes back and says we will give you 500 computers and 10 servers for 15 million dollars and every 4 years you get refreshed with the latest hardware and operating system bundles for the desktop. For the 10 servers we have 24/7 support with on-site replacement of hardware and advanced maintenance. With in these deals we offer ms windows latest build and the latest office packages. That's how it's done. The government doesn't lobby Microsoft at all.

[netizen-936824]

Sounds to me like people are paying out the ass for things that can be managed in house with a competent dev/IT shop.

Instead let's make a one time hardware purchase, with warranty for parts, and handle the software in house with FOSS.