Azure Dynamics Corp. announced today that its Transit Connect Electric has received a GSA contract award allowing U.S. government agencies, affiliated companies and military installations to purchase the electric-drive compact van over the next four years.


The GSA contract "is the first and most important step for government-related vehicle fleets to purchase this innovative EV van," said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO.

"As fuel prices continue to rise to near-record levels, the federal government's leadership in advancing alternative powered vehicles like Transit Connect Electric will be critical to helping the government meet its goal of 1 million EV vehicles on the road by 2015," he said.

The Government Services Agency is an important instrument in support of the Obama Administration's initiative that all new cars and trucks purchased by the federal government starting in 2015 will be hybrids, electric vehicles or other alternative-fuel vehicles, Harrison said.

The federal government operates a fleet of more than 600,000 vehicles and purchases approximately 60,000 to 70,000 new vehicles annually.

The 'Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity' (IDIQ) award is a four-year contract consisting of a base year ending August 31, 2011 and three one-year options, exercisable by the government, that extend the contract through August 31, 2014.

GSA estimates the value of the contract over the four years at more than $112 million, but points out that the contract does not guarantee any sales, but is a channel for potential government orders.

Brasada Ford Ltd., doing business as Northside Ford in San Antonio, Tex., will administer the contract. It has 18 years of experience selling vehicles to the government.

"The government is aggressively supporting electric vehicles like the Transit Connect Electric," said Don Cote, Northside's government sales director. "The Ford Transit Connect Electric, offering low operating costs and zero tailpipe emissions, is a versatile product that can serve a myriad of government fleet needs in urban, suburban or campus environments.

"It has great potential as a non-tactical van for work within the Armed Services."

The contract number for the Transit Connect Electric program is GS-30F- X0073.

More info on the program is available here.

Cote can be reached at (210) 477-3435. Information about the Transit Connect Electric and other products is at www.azuredynamics.com.