TestMart^® Launches DoD-Sponsored Marketplace Featuring Deeply Discounted Electronic Instruments

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - September 19, 2001
TestMart announced today that the e-commerce marketplace at www.navicpmart.com, is now live and electronically processing General Purpose Electronic Test Equipment (GPETE) orders for the Department of Defense Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP). Authorized buyers are now able to purchase from a catalog of high-demand products from more than 30 key test and measurement suppliers such as Agilent, Tektronix, and Fluke at savings of up to 70% off of list price. All products in the catalog have been negotiated under contract by NAVICP and comply with the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA).

By reducing both the cost of equipment purchased and the time required to complete the order, NAVICP expects the new marketplace to drive new efficiencies and return significant savings to the Navy and the entire DoD, during the five-year agreement with TestMart.

NAVICPmart integrates powerful Web tools to find, research, compare, and configure products in the catalog, enabling authorized users to purchase the most appropriate test and measurement equipment quickly and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs). Authorized purchasers include personnel in the armed services, employees of government agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and government contractors performing to authorized contracts. By using www.navicpmart.com these users can order equipment, and track purchases against a set of substantially discounted products under contracts pre-negotiated for federal government and Department of Defense customers. Authorized users have a choice of payment methods including government purchase cards, government or commercial checks, commercial credit cards and online electronic versions of the more traditional MILSTRIP (Military Standard Requisition and Issue Procedures) forms.

"This site provides further proof of the Navy's technological advances," said Shekar Gopalan, Director of Consulting, with Frost and Sullivan. " By partnering with TestMart, a company with domain expertise in test and measurement equipment and a proven track record in electronic marketplaces, NAVICP is able to offer the best products at the best prices using a Web-based platform that saves money and time. This test equipment marketplace paves the way for increased and improved outside procurement and more efficient supply chain management within the Department of Defense."

"The e-marketplace allows us to be more customer responsive by giving our users 24x7 access to the catalog of products we offer at substantial discount while simplifying the purchasing processes" said Neil Hanniford, Program Manager for NAVICP. "By deploying this Web site, we expect to improve our supply-chain management while reducing overall costs to the taxpayers."

"NAVICP challenged TestMart to deploy the e-marketplace in thirty days, and we met that challenge. Now, NAVICP is challenging us to grow their business considerably," said Peter Ostrow, President and CEO of TestMart. "When you combine the great prices that NAVICP has negotiated on behalf of its customers with our strengths in site development and marketing, TestMart has no doubt that www.navicpmart.com will set the standard for all government sanctioned e-commerce marketplaces."

About NAVICP

The Mission of the Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP) is to provide program and supply support for the weapons systems that keep our Naval forces mission ready. This mission is carried out by a single command organization operating as a tenant activity of the Naval Support Activities in Philadelphia and Mechanicsburg, PA. The activity UIC for NAVICP Mechanicsburg is N00104 and the activity UIC for NAVICP Philadelphia is N00383.

About TestMart

TestMart provides Web-based marketplaces for organizations that buy test equipment and other precision instruments. TestMart's database-driven solutions are designed to streamline a buying organization's entire procurement process. TestMart's public and private marketplace offerings leverage the proprietary content and software technology developed in the creation of www.testmart.com, the leading independent Web site for the test and measurement industry. Headquartered in San Bruno, California, TestMart is a privately funded company. For more information, please visit us at https:\\www.testmart.com.

About Frost and Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan is a global leader in strategic market consulting and training. Frost & Sullivan also offers custom consulting to a variety of national and international companies. To learn more please visit www.frost.com.