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Volume 2 Issue 3March 1998

Cooperative Purchase Initiatives

Larry Toy, Ph.D.
Director of System Advancement and Resource Development, CCCCO

The System Advancement and Resource Development Unit has been very busy securing some agreements, and the following is a status report regarding the cooperative purchases that have been negotiated by the Chancellor’s Office. Currently, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has completed two of three cooperative purchase initiatives, with one in progress. All initiatives are voluntary, but provide extremely good value for the colleges.

NETg Computer Based Training Software
First, we are very proud to announce an arrangement with NETg Computer Based Training Software. This initiative provides a one year license for approximately 450 computer based training courses in such topics as Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Word 97, etc, including many technical courses. All faculty and staff are included for the price of 27 cents per Full Time Equivalent Student (FTES) (approximately $3.50 per full and part time staff member). This represents a savings of 90% over the normal commercial price and 80% over the educational price. This means that a district with 10,000 FTES can provide this package of training to all staff for $2700 per year. This fully qualifies for expenditure under our new staff development for technology funds which were recently released.

NETg was chosen as the best combination of quality and value by a committee of 7, including 2 MIS directors, 2 Staff Development Officers, 1 Business Educator from the community colleges and 2 members of the Chancelor's Office staff. The one year license allows unlimited duplication rights for CD-ROM distribution and installation on the college or district Local Area Network (LAN). The software will be updated on a regular basis during the year and will be installed on the CCC 4CNet for distribution also.

We want to thank Eleanor Gajewski of the California Community Colleges Council for Staff Development and Golden West College, Dale Pittman of Chief Information Systems Officers Association (CISOA) and Pasadena City College, and Joyce Arntson of the Business Education Vocational Education Advisory Committee and Irvine Valley College for their assistance.
For further information call Dan Estrada at 916-324-8901 or email at destrada@cc1.cccco.edu.

Sun Microsystems
Second, an agreement with Sun Microsystems will provide a 40% discount on equipment. Through an arrangement with California State University (CSU), we have obtained a 40% discount on Sun Microsystems computers. This is greater than our previous 30% educational discount from Sun. Contact Rose Avila of Sun/Hi-Soft, the educational representatives at 619-222-5615.

PC Desktop and Laptop Computers
And finally, we are currently in the bid stage of an initiative for the cooperative purchase of PC desktop and laptop computers, which is being coordinated through Yuba College. A detailed specification package is being sent to all purchasing directors in the state. A full range of options will be available for the winning bidder. The bidders are limited to the top tier vendors of PC's (including Dell, Compac, Gateway, IBM, HP, NEC, AST, etc) who qualify as Gartner Group Tier 1/Tier 2 vendors.

We have included both desktops and laptops and have also included optional on-site service contracts and extended warranties for as long as five years. We have also included optional financing including both straight lease and lease purchase. In addition we have included a provision to allow faculty, staff, and students to purchase on this offer using a credit card (with a possible small surcharge) for drop shipment directly to their residences for their personal use.

Bid packages were sent during the week of February 23, with bids due on March 18. A review period will take place, including technical inspection of sample computers coordinated at Cerritos College, with final approval scheduled for April 22. Purchase can then be made from the "piggyback" clause in the bid specifications.

Currently we estimate that the winning bid should provide a discount of 15 to 25% from the price that districts pay buying quantities of 200 or more computers. This is equivalent to the price that the largest distributors in the country pay for their computers for resale to computer retailers. We have included penalty clauses for late delivery (including installation) and price protection for the life of the offer - until June 30, 1999. We estimate that there will be approximately $50 million to $100 million in computers that will be purchased through this initiative.

A committee of 3 college purchasing directors and 2 MIS directors helped draft the specifications and determine the terms and conditions in the bid package. We want to especially thank Carol Thompson of Yuba College and Donna Jones of Cerritos College who have worked to make this possible.

For further information please contact Dan Estrada at the number and email listed above.

We are looking for further ideas for cooperative purchases and want to provide as much value-added to your colleges through these and similar initiatives.