School awards computer contract to Dell
By Dolly A. Butz Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Sioux City Board of Education voted 4-1 Monday to award the district's computer contract to Dell.
The board rejected all computer bids last month because of a technical error found in the processor part of the computer specifications.
After receiving new bids with revised specifications from Dell, HP and Gateway, the finance committee recommended that Dell, the low bidder, receive the contract for $476,826.
Board member Doug Batcheller said the finance committee's recommendation "doesn't come easy."
"Dollars are dollars," he said. "We look forward to the time when (Gateway) can step forward and be competitive."
Representatives from both Gateway and Dell were on hand for Monday's vote.
Tom Chytka, Gateway accounts manager Iowa education & government, said the company gave the district its best offer.
"It's important to look at all things directly linked to the district's success long term," he said.
Gateway was awarded the computer bid last time even though it didn't submit the lowest bid. Chytka urged the board to look at the "bigger picture" and to take into consideration the 458 Gateway employees who live in the Sioux City Community School District and directly contribute to the building of the school district, and also the direct contributions the company makes to local organizations and after school programs.
Judith Peterson described her vote to award the contract to Dell instead of Gateway as "turning your back on an old friend."
"It's such a great difference in the bids," she said. "It wasn't this large of a difference at that (the previous) time."
The difference between Dell's bid and Gateway's bid was nearly $120,000 this time around.
Board member Jim Daane said he would vote against awarding to Dell based on inventories he had requested earlier in the year.
Daane noted the Waitt (Ted Waitt was a co-founder of Gateway computers) family's generosity to the community, but also noted the board's responsibility to the taxpayer.
"We have a responsibility to the taxpayer," Daane said. "When it is a 23 percent gap, I don't think we can" (award it to Gateway)."
Board member Nancy Mounts said she would vote to award the contact to Dell because of the "significant difference" in the bids.
"We are a district who has very few resources compared to other districts around us," she said.
In other action, the board:
-- Approved the purchase of LightSpeed antivirus software in the amount of $44,452.
-- Approved the demolition of 17 houses recently purchased by the district.
-- Approved Superintendent Larry William's recommendation to use architects Neumann Monson Wictor for the new Smith Elementary School; FEH Associates for a new elementary school at the old East Middle School site; and civil engineers DGR to work on both locations.
-- Approved Change Order No. 12, Leeds Elementary School, to change the cast iron roof drain piping in the Multi-purpose Room No. 172 to PVC piping in the amount of $823 (deduct).
-- Approved Change Order No. 8, Unity Elementary School, to change the cast iron roof drain piping in Gym No. 338 to PVC piping in the amount of $2,755 (deduct).
-- Approved Change Order No. 9, Unity Elementary School, to remove mounting angle, relocate and re-weld the angle flush at the end of each of the tubes on the pre-cast panels at 11 locations in the amount of $1,159.
-- Approved Change Order No. 10, Unity Elementary School, to eliminate the built-in combination locks on the metal lockers for a total of $3,277 (deduct).
The board rejected all computer bids last month because of a technical error found in the processor part of the computer specifications.
After receiving new bids with revised specifications from Dell, HP and Gateway, the finance committee recommended that Dell, the low bidder, receive the contract for $476,826.
Board member Doug Batcheller said the finance committee's recommendation "doesn't come easy."
"Dollars are dollars," he said. "We look forward to the time when (Gateway) can step forward and be competitive."
Representatives from both Gateway and Dell were on hand for Monday's vote.
Tom Chytka, Gateway accounts manager Iowa education & government, said the company gave the district its best offer.
"It's important to look at all things directly linked to the district's success long term," he said.
Gateway was awarded the computer bid last time even though it didn't submit the lowest bid. Chytka urged the board to look at the "bigger picture" and to take into consideration the 458 Gateway employees who live in the Sioux City Community School District and directly contribute to the building of the school district, and also the direct contributions the company makes to local organizations and after school programs.
Judith Peterson described her vote to award the contract to Dell instead of Gateway as "turning your back on an old friend."
"It's such a great difference in the bids," she said. "It wasn't this large of a difference at that (the previous) time."
The difference between Dell's bid and Gateway's bid was nearly $120,000 this time around.
Board member Jim Daane said he would vote against awarding to Dell based on inventories he had requested earlier in the year.
Daane noted the Waitt (Ted Waitt was a co-founder of Gateway computers) family's generosity to the community, but also noted the board's responsibility to the taxpayer.
"We have a responsibility to the taxpayer," Daane said. "When it is a 23 percent gap, I don't think we can" (award it to Gateway)."
Board member Nancy Mounts said she would vote to award the contact to Dell because of the "significant difference" in the bids.
"We are a district who has very few resources compared to other districts around us," she said.
In other action, the board:
-- Approved the purchase of LightSpeed antivirus software in the amount of $44,452.
-- Approved the demolition of 17 houses recently purchased by the district.
-- Approved Superintendent Larry William's recommendation to use architects Neumann Monson Wictor for the new Smith Elementary School; FEH Associates for a new elementary school at the old East Middle School site; and civil engineers DGR to work on both locations.
-- Approved Change Order No. 12, Leeds Elementary School, to change the cast iron roof drain piping in the Multi-purpose Room No. 172 to PVC piping in the amount of $823 (deduct).
-- Approved Change Order No. 8, Unity Elementary School, to change the cast iron roof drain piping in Gym No. 338 to PVC piping in the amount of $2,755 (deduct).
-- Approved Change Order No. 9, Unity Elementary School, to remove mounting angle, relocate and re-weld the angle flush at the end of each of the tubes on the pre-cast panels at 11 locations in the amount of $1,159.
-- Approved Change Order No. 10, Unity Elementary School, to eliminate the built-in combination locks on the metal lockers for a total of $3,277 (deduct).
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Chuck Miller wrote on Feb 5, 2008 4:10 PM:
Plain and Simple wrote on Nov 20, 2007 7:15 PM:
To To Gateway wrote on Nov 20, 2007 1:29 PM:
To Gateway: wrote on Nov 20, 2007 12:57 PM:
Patriot wrote on Nov 20, 2007 12:10 PM: