OAK PARK, MI - The Transit Connect Electric, the result of a collaborative effort between Azure Dynamics Corp. and Ford Motor Co., has received a General Services Administration (GSA) contract award. This allows U.S. government agencies, affiliated companies and military installations to purchase the all-electric van, Azure Dynamics announced.

The “indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity” (IDIQ) award is a four-year contract consisting of a base year ending Aug. 31, 2011. There are three one-year options, exercisable by the government, that extend the contract through August 31, 2014. The GSA estimates the value of the contract over the four-year period to be more than $112 million. The contract is administered through Brasada Ford in San Antonio, Texas.

"We are extremely pleased that the Transit Connect Electric has received the GSA contract award, which 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."

GSA is an important instrument in support of the Obama administration's initiative requiring that, starting in 2015, all new cars and trucks purchased by the federal government be hybrids, electric vehicles or other alternative-fuel vehicles. The government operates a fleet of more than 600,000 vehicles, purchasing approximately 60,000 to 70,000 new vehicles annually.

GSA stressed that the estimated $112 million contract value over the four-year period is neither an indication of future sales, nor a guarantee of actual sales. This GSA award serves as a channel for potential future government orders. Transit Connect Electric will be available through GSA beginning this month for immediate ordering. Northside Ford will administer the sales and fulfillment activities associated with the GSA award. Northside Ford 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."

For more information on purchasing Transit Connect Electric via the GSA Award, contact Don Cote, government and fleet director at Northside Ford, at (210) 477-3435. The GSA contract number for the Transit Connect Electric program is GS-30F- X0073.