As part of the fall bid process, the REMC Bid Project invites educators (that’s you) from around the state to evaluate equipment that was bid for the following REMC bid year.  Participants provide feedback that the Project uses when making award recommendations.

Please share this information with anyone at your ISDs and local districts who might be interested in participating.  Lunch is provided, and it’s always fun to see next year’s new and exciting products. You  won’t want to miss this year’s event! 

IWB’s that will be evaluated in Round One, November 9^th:

Dukane
Numonics
Polyvision (eno and TS series)
Qomo
TeamBoard

Multimedia Projector manufacturers to be evaluated include:

3M
Canon
Dell
Dukane
Epson
Hitachi
Infocus
Mitsubishi
NEC
Optoma
Sanyo

Interested?  Register by clicking on the following link by November 2nd:  http://www.solutionwhere.com/inghamisd/cw/showcourse.asp?1626

Round Two will consist of the Top two IWB’s  from Round One along with the current REMC IWB contracted product which are eInstruction, Hitachi, Promethean, and SMART.

From Round Two only a few manufacturers will be recommended for award for the 2010 contract term.

See link: Epson PowerLite 6110i \”Buy 3, Get 1 Free Lamp\” Promo

For more information, please contact:

Susan Jakobic
Data Image Systems, Inc.
3070 Old Farm Lane
Walled Lake, MI  48390
800-555-1085
susanj@dataimage.com

1. Open Enrollment Period until August 24th – Districts must have their Participation Form and Purchase Order to Wanda Kitzmiller at Educational Resources by August 24th to take advantage of the REMC Consortium School Agreement pricing

2. School Agreement offers tremendous savings over Select and Open License pricing

3. REMC Reseller Contact, School Agreement Information, and Recorded Overview Webcasts below

The REMC Statewide $AVE Consortium School Agreement program is now offered through reseller Educational Resources.  Please contact Wanda Kitzmiller directly for pricing.

Wanda Kitzmiller,  Microsoft Account Manager
Educational Resources
FAX: 847.717.6233
TEL: 888.665.8305 x3382
E-MAIL:WKitzmiller@edresources.com

REMC Website for Microsoft Software:  http://www.remcbids.org/catalog/catalog.php?b=4&ic=408&isc=0&i=0&sf=itemNumber&sd=ASC

What is the Microsoft School Agreement Program? Microsoft School Agreement is a subscription licensing program specifically created to address the unique needs of primary and secondary schools and districts. With the simplicity of counting computers just once per year, School Agreement makes it easy for you to license all of your computers, whether in a single school or throughout the entire district.  http://www.microsoft.com/Education/SA3Overview.mspx

The Microsoft School Agreement program can:

•	Save you money
•	Make your annual budget predictable
•	Keep your software current
•	Reduce administrative headaches
•	Simplify license tracking and help to ensure compliance

School Agreement benefits:

•	Easy compliance. Because all of your school’s computers and users are covered throughout the subscription term, it’s easy to ensure that your school is fully licensed for use of the products you’ve selected.
•	Low administration. Subscription licensing eliminates the need to track licenses for individual School Agreement licensed products on every computer. This is especially helpful for managing software assets in a decentralized environment.
•	Current technology. With subscription licensing programs, your users can run the most current version of the software products included in your agreement, and your institution automatically receives media for products that upgrade during your agreement term.
•	Simple budgeting and purchasing. One annual payment covers all of the School Agreement products you’ve selected for the year.
•	Excellent value. By standardizing on a platform of products, you reduce your total cost of ownership while helping to increase productivity and access to current technology. You also get the benefits of Software Assurance membership and one complimentary MSDN Academic Alliance High School membership.

School Agreement Desktop Packages
If you prefer to license your computers and users for a standard set of desktop products, Microsoft provides the following “Desktop” packages, which offer a discounted price over the cost of licensing the products individually.  School Agreements can also license Office Enterprise 2007 only.

The School Desktop package includes:

•	Windows Vista Enterprise Upgrade (includes Windows 7 when available)
•	Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 Professional Edition
•	Microsoft Core CAL Suite

The School Desktop with Enterprise CAL includes:

•	Windows Vista Enterprise Upgrade (includes Windows 7 when available)
•	Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 Professional Edition
•	Microsoft Enterprise CAL Suite

Other helpful information and recorded webcasts on School Agreement: http://cid-2685cf3048dd5331.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/K12%20Education%20West%20Central%20Region%20-%20Dennis%20Simmons%20K12%20Account%20Manager/Microsoft%20School%20Agreement%20K12%20Program

FREE webcasts, podcasts, and additional resources check out:

Microsoft in Education

If so, the window is closing July 31, 2009 to extend these benefits.  Microsoft SA is a maintenance program that allows organizations who use Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and other server and desktop applications. upgrade rights to newer versions in that time period as they become available.  For software information, link to:

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/default.aspx

MORE SAVINGS

With one place to go for ALL of your Software and Technology needs, the REMC Statewide S.A.V.E. Bid Project, provides you with confidence knowing that you will get more for your budget dollars than ever before with the customer service and expertise that will save you an immeasurable amount of time and money!

HOW IT WORKS

Review pricing online at remcbid.org and contact the listed vendor with your product needs.  REMC $AVE Awarded Vendor Partners will provide you all product and pricing information regarding software…at pricing lower than anything that you will find online or in any catalog – Guaranteed! 

REMC takes pride in managing all the work and worry first so you can select product with partners you know will help you $AVE! 

Vendor Partner & Product Summary to follow: http://www.remcbids.org/bidcenter/document.php

Watch for REMC “Build-a-Bundle” for Interactive Classroom Technology using products on REMC Bid.  Buying guides are being developed and updated for Digital & Video Cameras, Document Cameras, Multimedia Projectors, Podcasting, Printers and Scanners, Computer & Network Electronics as well as Interactive Technologies.

2009 Supplies and Equipment Bid Highlights
New Vendors
Audio Visual Innovations, Inc. – Extron Pole Vault, Senteo Classroom Response Systems, TV Converter
Audio Enhancement – Soundfield Systems
Bob Brooks Computer Sales –  Okidata Printers
IKON – Scanners
Smart Ed Services – SMART Boards & Accessories, Podcasting Bundle

New Items
- A/V Room Control System: Pole Vault by Extron
- AV Rover and accessories
- Hewlett Packard Updated Printer Models and Multifunction Printers
- Catalog discounts for Hewlett Packard, Okidata, Ricoh and Xerox Printers
- TINspire Handheld Calculator, TINspire CAS (Computer Algebra System)
- RM Education Tuff Cam Digital Camera for Kids
- Neo 1 and Neo 2 SmartOption Mobile Lab
- High capacity, Mini, and Micro secure digital cards (SDHC), various storage sizes
- USB Flash Drive Duplicator – 15 Flash Drive
- USB Flash Drives – New Storage Sizes
- USB Turntable/Record Player – Ion Audio TT
- DVD Blu-Ray Drive, DVD Player, Recordable Disks
- Podcasting: Studio Condenser Microphone Bundle with K-12 publishing software
- Pop Filter for Studio Condenser Microphone
- Optical Air Mouse and Compact or Full-Size Keyboard
- Web Cam with microphone for notebook
- Retrofit kit(s) for Bretford television carts
- Notebook computer storage cabinets
- Single and Multipacks Headphones, Monaural, Stereo, Wireless, Infrared/USB
- Stop watch, split timer, and audio monitoring devices
- Multicultural art supplies including chenille stems, construction paper, crayons, markers, and pencils
- Portable digital recorder for podcasting/field recording
- Television digital converter box
- Widescreen format projection screens

Other Bid News
Watch for REMC “Build-a-Bundle” for Interactive Classroom Technology using products on REMC Bid.  Buying guides are being developed and updated for Digital & Video Cameras, Document Cameras, Multimedia Projectors, Podcasting, Printers & Scanners, Computer & Network Electronics as well as Interactive Technologies.  Varitronics supplies will no longer be on the bid in 2009 as no bids were received.

REMC has new paper pricing with a 6-month contract term effective December 1, 2008 through May 31, 2009.  Due to the volatile nature of paper pricing, awarded vendors are permitted one price increase during the contract term, subject to REMC’s approval. For this contract term please notice some new options for case and skid pricing through vendors Central Michigan Paper (CMP)and Xerox Corporation. 

Central Michigan Paper: Awarded Laser Printer (case pricing), Assorted colors in multiple sizes and weights (case pricing), white multi-purpose xerographic paper (case/skid pricing), and vellum bristol cover stock, and a 10% catalog discount or those paper prodcuts not itemized on the Bid. 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) in a variety of sizes.  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 Eric Deason by phone at 1-800-822-2200 followed by Pressing Prompt #1, #4, Ext.6902, Fax: 1-877.260.0703, or by E-mail at Eric.deason@xerox.com.

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”)