Project News

New REMC contracts for Discovery Education video streaming and Blackboard learning management system products took effect in mid-April. Michigan schools can use the REMC contracts to subscribe to Discovery Education streaming and Blackboard at deeply discounted, competitively bid prices. Both contracts will run through June 30, 2013.

The new xerographic paper contract began June 1. Prices for white paper have decreased, and Central Michigan Paper is the only awarded vendor this time. New products, including offset paper have been added. The contract expires November 30, 2009, and the minimum order is only $100, so it’s not necessary to warehouse paper. Discounts are available for ordering paper by the pallet or truckload. Check with Central Michigan Paper for details.

The $AVE Bid Project has launched our annual customer survey. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The data is very important for helping the Project assess how well it is meeting its goals. We use the responses to continue to improve our services to Michigan schools.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know how we’re doing!

Once again, the REMC $AVE Bid Project’s booth at MACUL was a big hit. With the latest classroom technology, two mini theaters in the booth, great giveaways, Wii and balloons, it’s no wonder that conference attendees said, “The REMC booth is fun!”

Thanks to all that attended REMC Statewide $AVE Booth @ MACUL ‘09 and may have attended our Sessions on Interactive Classroom Technology “Build-A-Bundle, Podcasting & Vodcasting (Carolyn McCarthy), Interactive Whitebards (Melissa White), and Document Cameras (Andy Mann).  Product Buying Guides were released at MACUL ‘09 and are now available online at http://www.remcbids.org/customer/document.php?webdoccategoryID=11

Thanks to all of the REMC directors who volunteered to work in the booth.

 Booth Raffle Drawing Winners:

Stefanie Halliday, VanBuren Public Schools
Colleen Hoholik, Manistique Public Schools
Vicky Leatherman, Kalamazoo Public Schools
Debra Meeks, Riverview Community SD
James Schlage, Kalamazoo Public Schools
Mary Waterhouse, Stockbridge Community Schools

All prizes that were not picked up at the conference were mailed on March 23.

When you are in Detroit for MACUL, visit the REMC $AVE Bid Project in booth 427 between the Model Classroom and the Internet Kiosk. We’ll have two mini-theaters in the booth, with presentations on digital cameras, document cameras, podcasting, and MiStreamNet throughout the conference.  Presenters will include Andy Mann, Carolyn McCarthy, and Melissa White. Products available through the bid will be on display, including interactive whiteboards, document cameras, digital cameras and much more!

On Thursday, March 19 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in room O2-35 Cobo Center, REMC will host a session on using the REMC $AVE Bid to “Build-a-Bundle” of interactive classroom technology. See and learn how to work with REMC vendors to put together a classroom that includes interactive whiteboards, document cameras, multimedia projectors and classroom amplification systems.

Drawings for great prizes will be held in the booth and at the session, so stop by to get your name in.

We hope to see you in Detroit!

The REMC Face Off 2009 will be held Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at the Lansing Center. New to the Face Off this year are interactive whiteboards. All Michigan educators are invited to evaluate the interactive whiteboards and multimedia projectors that were bid for 2009. Participants’ evaluations will be used to determine which products are awarded for the 2009 REMC $AVE bid. Lunch will be provided.

The Face Off Invitation contains additional details. Please register online at http://www.solutionwhere.com/inghamisd/cw/showcourse.asp?1400 by November 4, 2008.

Your input helps the REMC $AVE Bid meet your needs. We hope to see you in Lansing!

The new paper contract is in place September 1 through November 30, 2008 and features some new options for case and skid pricing.

Central Michigan Paper (CMP)and Xerox Corporation were both awarded. CMP has changed its brand of xerographic white from Domtar Husky to Boise X-9 with Xerox providing Xerox 4200 Business/Commercial brand both No. 1 listed. White paper increased about 5% over the last quarter which was expected due increased fuel and freight pricing and demand.

Central Michigan Paper: Awarded Laser Printer (case pricing), Assorted colors in multiple sizes and weights (case pricing), multi-purpose xerographic paper (case/skid pricing), and vellum bristol cover stock, 10% catalog discount. Note to Buyers: Inside delivery is charged up to $3.00 per case with no lift gate available to locations in Upper Peninsula. Truckload delivery requires districts to unload and depending on area may offer optional driver unloading, call for pricing.

Xerox Corporation: Award recommendation for Laser Printer paper (skid pricing), multi-purpose xerographic paper (skid/truckload pricing). Inside delivery is included with optional lift gate or no lift gate assistance. Truckload delivery is direct from the mill to the dock and requires districts to unload from the dock. Xerox offers additional truckload delivery options available to Upper and Lower Michigan locations: Lift gate service $110.00, Driver assisted delivery $275.00, Lift Gate + Driver assisted delivery $385.00+, multiple location delivery are quoted, please contact Cindy Fowler @ 248-827-3581.

Did you know? Paper on REMC is bid with specifications in accordance with Competitive Grade Finder: Paper Buyers’ Guide to North American Paper and Printing Industry. Paper is typically listed by grades in competitive classifications. All papers having similar brightness and opacity ratings are grouped into their proper categories, such as No. 1 Xerographic, No. 1 Offset, etc. In addition, other information is included, such as target brightness, whiteness, alkaline properties, target gloss, target roughness/smoothness, weight range, caliper range, opacity range, color, size, finish, recycled content, and certification.

Paper Brands are Mill Brands, Private Label Brands, and Business Equipment Brands. The “Mill Brands” are grades listed by the mill manufacturers. The “Private Label Brands” are grades listed merchants and converted under their own “private label” name (i.e., Boise, Office Depot, etc.). The “Business Equipment Brands” are grades listed by equipment manufacturers, such as HP and Xerox.

The higher the brightness the greater the paper reflects light and the more expensive it has been to manufacturer which results in a higher the grade of paper. Brightness can impact the scan capability of optical scanning equipment. No. 1 brightness rating is 91-93.9. with No. 4 Bond rating has the lowest brightness rating of 75-81.9. REMC bid specifications for white xerographic paper accepts 86 opacity with a 92 target brightness which is generally a No.1 grade of paper.

Important Ordering Information Quantities for Paper which can impact pricing:

1 Ream = 500 sheets/paper (wrapped)

1 Case = 10 reams/5000 sheets/paper (8.5”x11”)

= 5 reams/2500 sheets /paper (8.5”x14”)

= 5 reams/2500 sheets/paper (11”x17”)

1 Skid/Pallet = 40 cases of paper (8.5”x11”, 11”x17) or 30 cases (8.5”x14”)

1 Truckload = 21 skid/pallets or 840 cases of paper (8.5”x11”)

Stay Tuned? The REMC Statewide $AVE Bid Project Advisory Committee approved a recommendation to move the next paper bid to a 6-month bid with one opportunity to revise prices. Therefore, the next paper contract period will run from December 1, 2008 – May 31, 2009.

Educational Resources has informed us of the release of a new version 4.0 of Type to Learn. This is a very popular software product for schools.

Version 3.0 will continue to be available at the current REMC price through June 9.

Also available from now through August 31 is a promotion where schools can purchase a version 3.0 and 4.0 bundle, but the price will be higher than the current REMC price.

Beginning September 1, version 3.0 will no longer be available, and the price for version 4.0 will increase again.

We have posted a document on our Promotions page outlining these changes.

What does this mean for schools?

Schools who are considering purchasing Type to Learn and are not concerned about whether they buy version 3.0 or 4.0 should have their orders to Educational Resources by June 9 to take advantage of the current pricing.

Schools who are planning to buy version 4.0 should order it by August 31 to take advantage of the promotional pricing.

The current xerographic paper contract expires May 31. Some prices will change for the new contract that is expected to begin on June 1. Take a look at the cross-tabulation to see that products and pricing that were bid for the next contract. The cross-tabulation is posted on the REMC SAVE Bid web site on the Bid Documents and Forms page. To view it, click the check mark next to “Bid Documents – Cross-Tabulations,” then click on “Paper – Term 3 Cross-Tab.”

Please note that the next contract is not official until the Ingham ISD Board of Education approves the award, currently scheduled for their May 20 meeting. Also, the new pricing is not in effect until June 1.

To help with your end of the year ordering, the next paper contract will run from June 1 through August 31. This keeps the price of paper constant through the fiscal year change, elminating the need to know whether to order paper using this year’s or next year’s money.

Your local REMC is available to help if you have any questions!

The $AVE Bid Project has launched our annual customer survey. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The data is very important for helping the Project assess how well it is meeting its goals. We use the responses to continue to improve our services to Michigan schools.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know how we’re doing!