ETSC: Frequently Asked Questions About the 2006 Instructional Technology Bid -
How were these products selected?
Upon opening the bid proposals, the ESD 112 Educational Technology Support Center sponsored a shootout of instructional technology products in fall of 2005. Several technology directors from Washington school districts volunteered to serve on the evaluation and selection teams. They put several like products up against each other, and put them through a rigorous comparison process, evaluating key features, ease of use, durability, expandability, warranties, and cost. They rated each product, and came to consensus on the top choice of products in each category, based on the best value for the dollar.
The instructional technology evaluation teams felt that one model would not sufficiently meet the needs of Washington's school districts. Therefore, various levels of products were selected to meet the varying needs and budget capacities of school districts:
- Entry-level solutions:
- These solutions are the most cost-affordable solutions to purchase, and the intent in including them on the bid is to assist districts with limited budget capacity to purchase technology for their learning environments. They are not "low end" or "cheap" products, but rather, are quality products with the most basic features.
- Recommended solutions:
- These are quality technologies that will meet the needs of most classrooms, and are based on certain standards and useful features. They represent a nice balance between quality and cost-affordability.
- Higher-end solutions:
- These are more expensive solutions that have additional features that will take the technology further into the future. If the district can afford them, the long-term investment is worth the extra money spent.
Why are there now two manufacturers of projectors on the 2006, when in years past, there have only been one?
When the Instructional Technology bids were first executed, the intent was to help a small group of districts take advantage of better pricing by putting a single item out to bid. However, this bid is used by districts all over the state of Washington now, and not all districts purchase the same solutions. The bid evaluation and selection committee felt it was time to change the question from "Which solution do we choose?" to "Is the solution that we're evaluating worthy of being on the 2006 Instructional Technology Bid?" When they looked at it through this new lens, they determined that it was time to broaden the selection a bit. Now, in the projector category, you'll see Hitachi and Epson solutions. In the whiteboard category, you'll see Mimio, InterWrite, SMARTTech, Hitachi and Promethean. For wireless response systems, you'll find InterWrite's Personal Response System as well as Qwizdom's solution.
How do I know which technology solution to purchase for my schools?
If possible, it is recommended that you at least choose the recommended solution for a product line. But when that still leaves you with questions, it is wise to consider the following steps:
- Budget Considerations:
- Sometimes, the technology budget will drive this decision. Some solutions are more expensive than others, but offer different features and options. Some are more expandable than others, and can be converted into a wireless or a networkable solution. More options equal more dollars, but often result in a better solution.
- Specific Technology Solutions:
- Size of room...kind of lighting...size and make-up of audience...type of presenter... These are all things that need to be considered when choosing a technology solution for its intended purpose. You might want to consider talking to other organizations that have deployed instructional technologies and get their input. In addition, feel free to call the resellers who can assist you, too.
- Call for a Demonstration:
- All of the resellers that have been awarded contracts for the 2006 Instructional Technology Bids are ready and willing to come out and do a demonstration of their products.
How do I know which whiteboard technology to purchase for my schools?
- Existing Whiteboard Technology:
- If your district is ramping up with interactive whiteboard technology, you should probably consider which solution already exists in your district. Do you already have a number of boards in your district? If so, what are they? Are they being used successfully? Why or why not? If they are, would it make sense to standardize with that solution?
- Budget Considerations:
- Sometimes, the technology budget will drive this decision. Some boards are more expensive than others, but offer different features and options. Some are more expandable than others, and can be converted into wireless solutions. More options equal more dollars, but often result in a better solution.
- Specific Technology Solutions:
- Wall mounted vs. mobile boards...boards vs. wireless slates...boards vs. panels...size of room...type of presenter... These are all things that need to be considered when choosing interactive presentation technology. Again, the best thing to do is to talk to other organizations that have deployed interactive whiteboard technology and get their input. In addition, feel free to call the resellers who can assist you, too.
- Call for a Demonstration:
- All of the resellers that have been awarded contracts for the interactive whiteboard technologies are ready and willing to come out and do a demonstration of their products.
How do I select the videoconference solution that is best for my school or district?
After determining the most common audience it will serve, its intended purpose, and the size of room, then you can call video ITU at your regional Educational Service District, or you can call Shawn Fernandez at Solutionz Videoconferencing at 503-625-0810 (Direct) or 503-476-5407 (Cell).
Is there an advantage to ordering bundles?
If you are going to order several things to "go together" or "work together," there may be an additional discount by ordering a bundle. We have put some of the more popular bundles together for you, such as:
- Projectors and lamps
- Projectors and document cameras
- Projectors, lamps and document cameras
- Videoconference bundles
While we don't have a bundle for everything, it is worth checking out the bundles that are on this bid.
Eligibility
How do I know if my school district is eligible to purchase off these contracts?
If your educational organization is in the state of Washington and is a public or private K-12 school, college or university, state school, educational service district or OSPI, you are eligible to purchase off these contracts.
Can county, state and federal agencies purchase off these contracts?
At this time, other governmental agencies and organizations are not eligible, nor are educational organizations outside the state of Washington; however, we anticipate that they will be in the 2007 bid.
Can I make a personal purchase off these contracts?
These contracts are intended to be used by non-profit educational institutions only. However, please check with each reseller to get their final answer.
Was my school named in the Call for Bids?
The call for bids was written on behalf of all K-20 schools, colleges and universities, state schools, educational service districts and OSPI in the state of Washington. According to the Washington's Attorney General's office, they do not need to be listed individually.
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?
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. In addition, the Call for bids was published on the ESD 112 web site at http://edtech.esd112.org/bids. This meets the requirements of Washington bid law.
What does my school or district have to do to prepare to order off these contracts?
Your school district must sign a new InterLocal Agreement with ESD 112, even if you have ordered off of previous bids. Contact Nellie McCullough-Witt at (360) 750-7505 or e-mail her at nellie.mccullough-witt@esd112.org to get this process started. The InterLocal Agreement must be filed with your County Auditor's Office.
What if our district signed an Interlocal Agreement when we took advantage of the multimedia bid last year?
This is a new contract, and your district must sign a new Interlocal Agreement with ESD 112.
What if I didn't tell ESD 112 beforehand that my school wanted to purchase off this bid -- can we still order?
Absolutely!
Purchasing
Since the ESD 112 Educational Technology Support Center administrates this bid, do I order the desired items from ESD 112?
No. Order the products directly from the vendors, as per the instructions on the Bids web page.
Is there a limit to the number of items that we can purchase?
Purchase as many units of each item that you need.
Do we have to reference the contract numbers on the purchase orders we send to the vendors?
That is the only way you are guaranteed the contract pricing. Again, see the Bids web page.
Will I be able to track the progress of my orders?
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
What if I am unhappy with my product?
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.
In order to get these contract prices, when does my order have to be in?
These contract prices are effective from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. You can order anytime during this time period. However, if products or pricing levels have changed significantly before December 31, then a new Call for Proposals will be enacted in August of 2006.
Does ESD 112 or the Washington Educational Technology Support Centers require my organization to purchase products off this bid?
Absolutely not. The products on this bid have been through a selection process by an evaluation committee of district technology directors, and have been determined to meet specific criteria for most classrooms. However, ESD 112 and the Washington Educational Technology Support Centers also recognize that districts make their own purchasing decisions, based on their specific criteria. While the hard work of comparing and selecting quality products has already been completed for this bid, districts should feel free to purchase products of their choice, from the resellers that they choose.