Telephone Connection is proud to be a certified HUB dealer and an approved State of Texas DIR (Department of Information Resources) vendor, which allows us to specialize in state and local government, government support agencies and school districts, providing a direct avenue to bypass the bid process and gaining access to the most competitive pricing.

Q: Why buy telecommunications services from DIR?

A: Buying telecommunications services from DIR will save you time and money. DIR goes through the same process that Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC) requires for Catalog Information Systems Vendor (CISV) purchases. That process includes posting the request on the Texas Marketplace, gathering and reviewing the vendors` responses to the posting, negotiating with selected vendors and managing the vendor contracts. This means that you don`t need to go through that whole process. Once the contracts are in place you can select the vendor and product or service needed and place your order.

Q: Who can buy telecommunications services and products from DIR?

A: Of course state agencies and legislative offices are eligible, as well as any organization that is tax supported. For a definitive description and legal citations, please visit our Customer Eligibility Web page.

Q: Do I have to go through the competitive bid process when I buy telecommunications services from DIR?

A: Per Texas Government Code, Section 791.025, DIR has met the competitive bid requirements, eliminating the need for customers to follow this process.

Q: Do the telecommunications services that I purchase from DIR qualify for E-Rate?

A: Yes, all of the products and services available through DIR contracts are competitively bid and qualify for E-Rate.

Q: Are the prices on DIR`s contracts competitive?

A: Prices are competitive because vendors offer the state large discounts from their price list via the DIR contracts. These discounts are based on the state`s anticipated volume of purchases. Discounts must apply to all DIR customers, regardless of the size of the entity or its order. Entities that are buying large quantities are generally able to negotiate larger discounts through the DIR contracts.

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