Public Higher Education Bulletin

for audio/visual equipment for NIU smart classrooms (Bid # 111901BML). This bid is for miscellaneous audio/visual equipment for NIU smart classrooms. The individual products/items in this bid should only be quoted as specified and should be the only products quoted. No substitutions will be accepted. However, this is in no way meant to be exclusionary. The justification for requesting vendors to bid only as specified (with no alternates) is because of the following reasons: standardization of equipment, specific product features, serviceability, interchangeability, and future concerns.

Specifically, the University currently has approximately 35 "smart classrooms" on campus already outfitted with this merchandise (or predecessor machines/equipment), and plans for approximately 45 or more rooms to be upgraded within the next few years. Therefore, standardization of machines and equipment in these classrooms is of key importance to the University, and allows for direct replacement of equipment/projectors and other components within as short a time as between class periods.

In addition, the University requires that vendors bidding on projectors shall be located within a 200-mile radius of DeKalb, IL 60115. For vendors bidding on projectors, the University also requests the availability of a service representative, as needed, in the event of required service/support. In the event of need for a piece of loaner equipment to be delivered, or picked up, this geographic location requirement for projector vendors is considered to be necessary and in the best interest of the university. Vendors bidding on items other than projectors are to be located within the continental United States.

(Submitted by Kathe Shinham, State Purchasing Officer.)