Taking the Words Out of Your Mouth
Unified Communications category takes phone technology to a new level
Communication still happens a lot by voice. But it also needs to be integrated into all types of connection, including email and text. These contracts are the solution to maximizing communication efforts to fit a variety of needs.
As technology continues to amplify at a dizzying pace, IT professionals must expand and integrate the many options their organizations need every day.
Sourcewell recently expanded its telecom solutions into a ‘Unified Communications, Contact Center, and Related Services, Equipment, and Applications’ category. Sourcewell Contract Administration Supervisor Dave Duhn describes this enhanced category as an integration of voice and data, taking phone systems to the next level.
“Communication still happens a lot by voice,” Duhn explains. “But it also needs to be integrated into all types of connection, including email and text. These contracts are the solution to maximizing communication efforts to fit a variety of needs.”
Sourcewell (formerly NJPA), a cooperative purchasing organization, awarded these contracts following a competitive solicitation process:
Konica Minolta Business Solutions: VoIP, Hosted PBX, SIP trunking, session border controllers, application integrations, advanced feature set, Polycom and Yealink business class IP phones, Broadsoft platform, project management, in-house engineers and support.
Mitel Business Systems: Unified communication solutions, UCaaS (cloud), contact centers, collaboration tools, phones and accessories, mass notification, professional services.
Newcastle Communications: VoIP telephone systems, unified messaging, contact and call centers, speech recognition, IVR applications, call recording, facial recognition, network software applications, fault tolerant servers, fax servers.
PCMG, Inc.: Cisco and Microsoft unified communication solutions, in-house solution architects, professional and support services.
“This category provides a complete array of offerings from the simplest, to the most advanced cloud-based solutions,” Duhn says. “All of which are scalable to any organization and budget. As technology changes, members can grow this aspect, as well, and continue to integrate advancements into their organization.”
Effective February 27, 2019, these contracts are available to all Sourcewell members throughout the United States and Canada. Purchasers from public entities save time and money by streamlining the procurement process with cooperative purchasing.
| Re-Awarded Vendor | Contract |
| Mitel Business Systems | *022719-MBS |
| Newly Awarded Vendors | Contract |
| Konica Minolta Business Solutions | 022719-KON |
| Newcastle Communications | 022719-NEW |
| PCMG, Inc. | 022719-PCM |
*New contract number
Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota's nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with more than 325 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.