Selling to the government is not always an easy endeavor. The government relies on its portfolio of contracts to get the best pricing and services.
A manufacturer or distributor generally cannot sell to a government entity without access to one of these prized contracts. CME Corp has been working with the government for over 20 years and has negotiated numerous contracts including the recently signed $49.5 million Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Department of Defense ECAT contract. The contract includes over 6,800 products from 11 manufacturers including Metro, a strategic vendor partner of CME.
Working Together to Bring Value
In addition to needing a contract, getting access to Veteran’s Administration customers can be a problematic endeavor. One way to get direct access is through the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) shows which take place across the country every year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, CME and the local Metro sales representative agreed to co-sponsor a table at a Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) Rural Consultants show in Salem, VA. The show brought dozens of federal government customers together with contracted, small, and veteran-owned distributors and manufacturers to show new products and discuss solutions, a critical step for these end-users.
Successful Solutions for the VA Facilities
From the Salem show, CME and Metro were able to outfit one facility with 60 Metro Lifeline carts, customized exactly to the needs of the facility. Carts can be outfitted with many accessories, depending on the requirements. CME and Metro worked together with the customer to identify those requirements, choose the right accessories, and deliver that perfect solution. The carts were assembled and delivered on time, direct-to-site, and ready for immediate use.
Another success from the show resulted in sales of 31 Metro Starsys carts for nine different departments, each having specific requisites. The customer worked in conjunction with both the Metro representative and the government team at CME to get the right carts ordered and delivered, all with department-designated customized accessories. All were sold through a key SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) partner of CME. Working with reputable SDVOSB cohorts helps support an important government initiative while closing the sales loop.
CME – Manufacturer Government Solutions
CME Corp partners with manufacturers like Metro to provide government sales solutions for their products. CME can act as a master distributor for manufacturers in the government marketplace to ensure their products are properly represented on government contracts, and to guarantee ease of acquisition for government customers. CME fully supports manufacturers, not only through contracts, but also through sales, service, and marketing to provide a comprehensive strategy when looking for strong government sales solutions.
CME Corp is a distributor that focuses on medical equipment only. Our mission at CME is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the total cost of the equipment they purchase and make their equipment specification, installation, maintenance, and disposition processes more efficient. CME carries over 2M items from more than 2,000 manufacturers and offers customized services that include direct-to-site delivery, biomedical, technical, and disposition services.
For over 80 years, Metro has been the world's leading manufacturer of storage and transport equipment. From our innovative wire and polymer shelving lines to the revolutionary Starsys product line, and a broad range of healthcare cart solutions including the Lifeline emergency cart, Flexline procedure carts, and Lionville series medication carts, Metro puts space to work in healthcare facilities of all sizes.