March 16, 2006                                     Contact:         Dick Florey

Purchasing Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    (218) 726- 2663

NEWS RELEASE

ST. LOUIS COUNTY PURCHASING AND SHERIFF’S OFFICE

SAVE A BUNDLE ON EQUIPMENT THROUGH E-BAY

     The St. Louis County Purchasing Department and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office have successfully purchased hi-tech equipment at a savings of over a hundred thousand dollars, by using the auction website E-Bay.

     Among the equipment was:

40 Modular data modems       New: $2600        E-bay price: $180

6   Modems                                      $1100                            $ 29

24 Mounts for computers                    $850                            $ 60

4  Radios                                          $1400                            $ 70

     This was a highly successful pilot project.  The approximate savings for all of the items was $128,000.

     For more information about St. Louis County Purchasing, please call St. Louis County Purchasing Director Dick Florey at (218) 726-2663.

###