ETSC: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) -
NOTE: This contract has expired and is available for archival purposes only. For current contracts see http://www.esd112.org/edtech/bids/
Contents of this page:
Selection of Products | Eligibility | Purchasing | Other Questions
Selection of Products
Q: How were these products selected?
A: The ESD 112 Educational Technology Support Center sponsored a multimedia shootout in early winter of 2004, and several district technology directors from Washington school districts volunteered to serve on the evaluation and selection team. They put several like products up against each other, and put them through a rigorous comparison process, evaluating key features, ease of use and cost. They rated each product, and came to consensus on their top choice of products in each category.
Q: Why were three projectors selected to go to bid?
A: The multimedia evaluation team felt that one model would not sufficiently meet the needs of some school districts in the eligible states.
- The Sharp Notevision PB10S was the entry-level projector recommended for classrooms. This projector would meet the needs of districts whose funds were very limited.
- The Hitachi ED-S317A was the recommend projector for most classrooms.
- The Hitachi CP-X430W was selected for higher end presentations, such as for staff development, school board presentations and other large audiences. However, some districts may choose to put the higher end projectors into classrooms, and visa versa.
Q: What's the main difference between the two document cameras?
A: The AverVision 110 is an analog document camera, and can only be used with video monitors and projectors. The AverVision digital document camera produces a much clearer image, but can only be used with a data projector or a computer monitor with a VGA input.
Eligibility
Q: How do I know if my school district is eligible to purchase off these contracts?
A: If your school is a public or private K-12 school in the states of Washington, Oregon or Alaska, you are eligible to purchase off these contracts.
Q: Can colleges and universities order off of these contracts?
A: Yes, if they are in the states of Washington, Oregon or Alaska.
Q: Can I make a personal purchase off these contracts?
A: These contracts are intended to be used by non-profit schools and universities only. However, please check with each reseller to get their final answer.
Q: Can county, state and federal agencies purchase off these contracts?
A: Unfortunately, no.
Q: Was my school named in the Call for Bids?
A: The call for bids was written on behalf of all K-12 schools, colleges and universities in the states of Washington, Oregon and Alaska. According to the Washington's Attorney General's office, they do not need to be listed individually.
Q: We cannot purchase off this bid unless the Call for Bids was advertised in a publication that is circulated in my local community. In what publications did the Call for Bids appear?
A: The Call for Bids appeared in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, which is circulated in the entire state of Washington, and in the Portland Daily Journal of Commerce, which is circulated in the entire state of Oregon.
Q: What does my school or district have to do to prepare to order off these contracts?
A: Make sure your district has downloaded the Interlocal Agreement, sign it and send it to ESD 112 as per the instructions on the sheet. This must be completed before ordering off of these contracts.
Q: What if our district signed an Interlocal Agreement when we took advantage of the multimedia bid last year?
A: This is a new contract, and your district must sign a new Interlocal Agreement.
Q: What if I didn't tell ESD 112 beforehand that my school wanted to purchase off this bid -- can we still order?
A: Absolutely!
Purchasing
Q: Since the ESD 112 Educational Technology Support Center sponsored this bid, do I order the desired items from ESD 112?
A: No. Order the products directly from the vendors, as per the instructions on the bids Web page.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of items that we can purchase?
A: Purchase as many units of each item that you need.
Q: Do we have to reference the contract numbers on the purchase orders we send to the vendors?
A: That is the only way you are guaranteed the contract pricing.
Q: Will I be able to track the progress of my orders?
A: Yes, all resellers participating in this bid will have ways for you to track your orders. See the bids Web page for more information.
Other Questions
Q: What if I am unhappy with my product?
A: If your product is damaged or is malfunctioning when you receive it, call the reseller from which you purchased it and ask about the warranty.
Q: In order to get these contract prices, when does my order have to be in?
A: These contract prices are effective from March 15, 2004 to August 31, 2004. You can order anytime during this time period.
Q: Will these contracts continue past August 31 or be repeated after August 31?
A: This depends on what happens to the pricing of these products in the normal markets. If prices begin coming down on or before August 31, these products will go back out to bid in September of 2004. If pricing remains stable during this bid period, the vendor and manufacturers may choose to extend the duration of these contracts beyond August 31.