OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Central Purchasing Division of the Department of Central Services (DCS) awarded the Statewide Vehicle Contract, effective December 14, 2009, to eleven companies across the state.

The contract was awarded through the $pend$mart Oklahoma Program, an initiative designed to achieve savings and efficiencies in state government procurement. DCS anticipates the contract will result in an annual savings of approximately 5 percent or $1,029,000 based on historical spend.

The scope of the State Vehicle Contract includes compact and mid-size cars; pickup, cab and chassis trucks; SUVs and vans; and police vehicles (cars, trucks, and SUVs). Individual contracts established with each company are published on the Department of Central Services Web site.

The contract was competitively bid using a comprehensive Request for Proposal developed by a Commodity Council consisting of six state agencies. Strategies used to leverage cost savings included a reduction of available high cost options, incorporation of high use options to be factory-installed in the standard package, and utilization of Target Pricing to establish the best pricing possible. Flex fuel options were also added to the contract this year.