Saturday, March 23, 2013

FAQs responses regarding SPOT and the purchasing pilot:


FAQs responses regarding SPOT and the purchasing pilot:
  • Each district will have only 1 SPOT user.
  • The SPOT user is for both forecasting, and later for purchasing devices.
  • Each email address can only be associated with 1 district (can't do forecasting for multiple districts with a single login).
  • The SPOT survey (user creation) is open until 3/27.
  • The forecasting window is open until 3/29.
  • The forecast is NON BINDING, simply measuring district interest levels.
  • The device minimum specifications are inside the SPOT tool, as is estimated LIST pricing.
  • We expect final pricing to be lower than list once vendors bid (based on forecasted volume).
  • Device purchasing will be June 1-July 31.
  • All districts are eligible to purchase from this project - public, private, and PSAs; whether they are participating in TRIG or not.
  • Districts may use any funds to purchase from this pilot, not limited to 22i Category 1 funds.
  • There will be incentive payments for those public schools and PSAs that participate in TRIG.  The incentive amount will be determined based on the number of units purchased, but will not exceed $100.
  • This is the first SPOT purchasing cycle, and this pilot included mobile devices only.
  • Future SPOT cycles could potentially include other devices.
Questions and problems regarding SPOT can be sent to SPOThelp@remc.org<mailto:SPOThelp@remc.org>.

22i Device Forecast REMC Bid SPOT


22i Device Forecast

As of March 23, 2013


Timeline

Forecast Volume
03-19-2013 8:00 AM to 04-03-2013 11:00 PM
Purchase Window
06-01-2013 12:00 AM to 07-31-2013 12:00 AM
Item Received Window
06-01-2013 12:00 AM to 09-30-2013 12:00 AM


Bid Specification #6405
Bid Specification Description
Netbook computer, dual core processor scoring 554 or higher at http//www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html (Atom N570 1.66 GHz); 2 GB RAM; 120 GB hard drive; 10"-13.9" screen, 1280x800 resolution; 1 USB 2.0 port; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; ANSI standard keyboard layout; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); four-hour battery. Includes webcam and Windows 7 Pro operating system, upgradable to Windows 8. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $399.00

Bid Specification #6430

Bid Specification Description
Netbook computer, 1.7 GHz i5 Intel processor; 4 GB RAM; 64 GB flash internal storage; 11" screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution; 1 USB 2.0 port; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; ANSI standard keyboard layout; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); four-hour battery. Includes webcam and Mac OS X 10.8 operating system. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $999.00

Bid Specification #6455

Bid Specification Description
Netbook computer, dual core processor scoring 554 or higher at http//www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html (Atom N570 1.66 GHz); 2GB RAM; 16GB internal storage; 10" screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; ANSI standard keyboard layout; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); four-hour battery. Includes webcam and Chrome OS (v19) operating system. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $249.00

Bid Specification #6750

Bid Specification Description
Notebook computer, processor above 3554 on this benchmark http//www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html (Intel Core i5 2450M 2.50GHz); 4 GB RAM; 120 GB hard drive; 14" screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution; 2 USB 2.0 ports; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; ANSI standard keyboard layout; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); four-hour battery. Includes webcam and Windows 7 Pro operating system, upgradable to Windows 8. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $799.00

Bid Specification #6775

Bid Specification Description
Notebook computer, 1.7 GHz i5 Intel processor; 4 GB RAM; 120 GB hard drive; 13" screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution; 2 USB 2.0 ports; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; ANSI standard keyboard layout; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); four-hour battery. Includes webcam and Mac OS X 10.8 operating system. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $1199.00

Bid Specification #6800

Bid Specification Description
Notebook computer, processor above 3540 on this benchmark http//www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html (Intel Core i5 2450M 2.50GHz); 4 GB RAM; 120 GB hard drive; 14" screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution; 2 USB 2.0 ports; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; ANSI standard keyboard layout; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); four-hour battery. Includes webcam and Ubuntu 12 or Fedora 16 operating system. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $799.00

 

Bid Specification #6825

Bid Specification Description
Tablet computer, 16GB internal storage; 10" touch screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution, retina display; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); six-hour battery. Includes webcam and iOS 6 operating system. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $499.00

 



Bid Specification #6850

Bid Specification Description
Tablet computer, dual core processor; 16 GB internal storage; 10" capacitive touch screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); six-hour battery. Includes webcam and Android 4.4+ operating system. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.
Estimated Price $349.00

Bid Specification #6875

Bid Specification Description
Tablet computer, dual core processor; 64 GB internal storage; 10" capacitive touch screen, 1280x800 pixel resolution; 3.5mm audio input and output ports; wifi 802.11n (both 2.4 and 5 gHz); six-hour battery. Includes webcam and Windows 8 or Windows RT Pro (excludes Windows RT) operating system. One-year advance replace or on-site parts/labor warranty.

Monday, March 18, 2013

REACH-3MC Project

REACH-3MC Project


Merit announced today that a webcast will take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. The webcast will provide an update on the completion of Round I and progress reporting on Round II of Merit's implementation of the REACH-3MC project.

To watch the webcast, please register at:www.merit.edu/webcast 

Merit is in the process of building over 2,200 mile fiber-optic backbone network throughout the state of Michigan as well as spurs in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This network is being constructed with the assistance of two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants in the amount of $102 million along with a 20 percent match in funds from Merit and its seven sub-recipients. The REACH-3MC project is one of the largest BTOP projects in the country and is expected to serve 52 counties in both the Upper and Lower Peninsula's.

The webcast on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, will provide a comprehensive update on Merit's progress on the REACH-3MC project, including information about project RFPs, community outreach, and completed and upcoming construction work. The audience will be able to submit questions by email during the webcast, which will be answered on air.






Merit Announces REACH-3MC Webcast Update on March 27, 2013




Merit Announces REACH-3MC Webcast Update on March 27, 2013

Merit announced today that a webcast will take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. The webcast will provide an update on the completion of Round I and progress reporting on Round II of Merit's implementation of the REACH-3MC project.

To watch the webcast, please register at:www.merit.edu/webcast 

Merit is in the process of building over 2,200 mile fiber-optic backbone network throughout the state of Michigan as well as spurs in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This network is being constructed with the assistance of two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants in the amount of $102 million along with a 20 percent match in funds from Merit and its seven sub-recipients. The REACH-3MC project is one of the largest BTOP projects in the country and is expected to serve 52 counties in both the Upper and Lower Peninsula's.

The webcast on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, will provide a comprehensive update on Merit's progress on the REACH-3MC project, including information about project RFPs, community outreach, and completed and upcoming construction work. The audience will be able to submit questions by email during the webcast, which will be answered on air.

Video on what will be need to create the SEN Network

This video is from 2010 but is very timely with every thing that is going on in the state with the 22.i program. It would seem that they have had a crystal ball as it speak to what is going on today. This video is 55 Min. I think you will find it addresses many of the issues that we will be facing as we try to build the State Education Network (SEN). This network will be a model for the rest of the country. There are many political issues to work through and dealing with multiple personality and politics. Building trust relationships within the state is something that we need to work on before and during and after the building of this network.

Statewide educational networks aren't new - but school districts are devising innovative ways to use these private networks to provide exceptional educational experiences while reducing their costs. School districts across the country are discovering the benefits of coming together for network services. In this presentation, we will first cover the differences between the commodity Internet and networks dedicated to education. We will then present examples of how schools, both inside and outside of Michigan, leverage their education network to lower costs and/or improve education. We will conclude by talking about the future direction of education networking and the potential that schools will have to accomplish even more with less.


Note: To view On Demand events on MI Streamnet, you will need the newest version of the free Adobe Flash Player. Apple iOS support is coming soon with the new 2012 version of MI Streamnet.

Video link
http://www.mistreamnet.com/vidflv.php?who=macul031210n03

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Position for a Network Integration – Project Manager Opening

GMEC Job Posting

Click here
job posting

We have posted a position for a Network Integration – Project Manager. This position will be the project manager for Activity One – Network Integration (SEN). Please share this posting. Thanks, Luke Wittum Executive Director Technology and Media Services Genesee Intermediate School District

Note: Link was broke to the job so I fixed it.... :-)
3/18/2013 - 2:30 pm

Thursday, March 7, 2013

22.i Consortium Contacts

1. Greater Michigan Educational Consortium, led by Genesee ISD Luke Wittum, (810) 591-4436 or lwittum@geneseeisd.org 

2. Intra-Michigan Technology Readiness Leadership Consortium, led by Wexford-Missaukee ISD Tom Johnson, (231) 383-2668 or tjohnson@wsesd.org 

 3. Kent ISD Consortium, led by Kent ISD Glen Finkel, (616) 301-6192 or glenfinkel@kentisd.org 

 4. Southwest Michigan Consortium, led by Kalamazoo RESA Brian Schupbach, (269) 250-9255 or bschupbach@kresa.org 

 5. Rural Northern Michigan Consortium, led by Copper Country ISD Mike Richardson, (906) 482-4520 or mike@remc1.org


1. Greater Michigan Educational Consortium Blue
2. Intra-Michigan Technology Readiness Leadership Consortium Orange
3. Kent ISD Consortium Green
4. Southwest Michigan Consortium Red
5. Rural Northern Michigan Consortium Purple