Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s ambitious project for distribution of laptops has got a boost with Hewlett Packard (HP) quoting the lowest bid for supplying 15 lakh laptops to Class 12 passout students.

Four companies had bid for the contract, which were opened on Monday. According to sources, the HP has quoted a price of Rs. 16,247 per laptop and agreed to supply the full quantity of 15 lakh laptops.

This price will be Rs.19,058 after taking into account duty and taxes.

Sources said the HCL on the other hand quoted a price of Rs. 19,051 per laptop ( Rs.21,983.25 with duty and taxes) for supplying 4 lakh laptops.

The Lenovo had quoted Rs.20,302 per laptop ( Rs.23,919 with duty and taxes) for supplying 5 lakh laptops.

The fourth bidder - the Acer on the other hand quoted Rs. 23,999 per laptop (Rs.25,199 with duty and taxes) for supplying 25,199 laptops.

A senior officer said the UP Electronics Corporation (UPEC) would forward the quoted prices to the state government.

If all goes well then the company with the lowest bid would be awarded the contract for supplying laptops, said the officer. He said the four bidders had qualified in the technical round.

The state government had appointed UPEC as the procurement agency for procurement of 15 lakh laptops. UPEC had floated global tenders and received four bids for supplying laptops.