The Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet) has teamed with VMware and Carahsoft to establish a distribution program. This value-added service diversifies how OARnet members can access an aggregate purchasing agreement between OARnet, the Ohio Board of Regents and VMware that provides significant discounts for software virtualization licenses.
“For more than six years, the Ohio Board of Regents, Ohio Department of Administrative Services, Ohio Department of Education, and Management Council of the Ohio Educational Computer Network have driven virtualization efforts in Ohio’s higher education, K-12, government and health care communities through aggregate agreements,” said Denis Walsh, chief relationship officer for OARnet. “By working with VMware and Carahsoft, we can expand the outreach efforts of this successful virtualization program without increasing costs.”
As part of the latest agreement, Carahsoft--which serves as VMware’s Master Public Sector Aggregator and largest Public Sector Distribution Partner--is enabling an elite class of VMware Solutions Providers to leverage OARnet pricing and offer OARnet members a focused, dedicated source for configuration assistance, licensing, service and support.
As a result, procurement proceeds more quickly and additional resources are available to support members throughout the deployment and implementation phases to help ensure that projects are under budget and ahead of schedule. Moreover, by simplifying the process, more members will have the opportunity to try technology that drives cost down and expands efficiency across the community.
“The State of Ohio and its agencies, departments, and institutions of higher education have been embracing virtualization and cloud technology at an incredible pace and continue to realize the benefits of these technologies,” said Will Jones, vice president of VMware Solutions at Carahsoft. “Our goal with this new program is to enable OARnet and its members to acquire the best-of-breed technologies and services from a new variety of sources: trusted, knowledgeable, and technology providers who are focused on developing innovative solutions to address a variety of complicated challenges.”
OARnet member institutions interested in learning more are encouraged to contact one of the participating partners:
For more information on the ELA Aggregation Program, contact:
Alfredo Marina
Program Manager
Carahsoft Technology Corporation
703.889.9739
Alfredo.Marina@Carahsoft.com
http://www.carahsoft.com/buy/education-contracts/oarnet
ABOUT OARNET
The Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet), a member of the Ohio Board of Regents’ Ohio Technology Consortium and located at The Ohio State University, provides technology solutions for Ohio's education, public broadcasting, health care and government communities. Since 1987, OARnet has identified and deployed shared services that reduce costs, deliver quality programs, increase productivity and improve customer service. Communities voluntarily participate in the OARnet consortium because they value these benefits and services. Ultimately, OARnet promotes community and economic development by expanding access to affordable technology. For more: www.oar.net.
ABOUT CARAHSOFT
Carahsoft Technology Corp. is the trusted Government IT solutions provider. As a top-ranked GSA Schedule Contract holder, Carahsoft serves as the master government aggregator for many of its best-of-breed technology vendors, supporting an extensive ecosystem of software manufacturers, value-added resellers, system integrators, and consulting partners committed to helping government agencies select and implement the best solution at the best possible value.
The company’s dedicated Solutions Divisions proactively market, sell and deliver VMware, Symantec, EMC, Adobe, F5 Networks, Open Source, HP, SAP, and Innovative and Intelligence products and services, among others. Carahsoft is consistently recognized by its partners as a top revenue producer, and is listed annually among the industry's fastest growing firms by CRN, Inc., Washington Technology, The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, and SmartCEO. Visit us at www.carahsoft.com.
