1. Improving the Ed Tech RFP: What Works and What Doesn’t SIIA Webcast January 19, 2005

2. SIIA Announcements FETC –Member Breakfast on Thurs, Jan 27 –SIIA-sponsored panel on RFP’s Thurs, Jan 27 RFP Guidelines –Available Feb 1, at no charge to SIIA members DC Fly-In –March 2-3 in DC Ed Tech Industry Summit –May 24-25 in Los Angeles –Codie Awards & Gala May 25 Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

3. SIIA Announcements Participate in SIIA Ed Working Groups Current and on-going: –Trends in technology, learning, and funding –Improving the RFP and competitive bidding process –Technical and development issues New for this year: –Industry advocacy –Promising practices –Cost of compliance –Key business metrics –Textbook adoption reform Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

4. Panel: Improving the Ed Tech RFP Moderator: Don Rawitsch, Vice President, Product Development, Siboney Learning Group Panelists: Deb deVries, Vice President, Pearson Education Bruce Wilcox, CEO, Project Inkwell Ed Zaiontz, Executive Director of Information Services, Round Rock ISD, TX Sheryl Abshire, District Administrative Coordinator of Technology, Calcasieu Parrish Schools, LA Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

5. How do Districts Develop an RFP? Roles: –Technology staff –Curriculum & Instruction staff –Business staff Needs Analysis Specifications RFP Publication Vendor Meeting(s) Bid Evaluation & Award Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

6. How do Companies Respond to an RFP? Research the Customer Form a Proposal Team Examine RFP Develop Solution Attend Customer Meeting(s) Specify Work Required and Cost Check Proposal Against Requirements Produce & Deliver Proposal Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

7. Top 6 RFP Challenges for Vendors Time Allowed for Responses Clarity of Specifications Practicality & Scope of Specifications Lack of Q&A Opportunity Ambiguity in Evaluation Process/Rules Lack of Customer Requirements for Implementation Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

8. Top 6 Proposal Issues for Customers Failure to Understand Customer’s Needs Failure to Meet Specifications Failure to Adhere to Timeline Failure to Adhere to Process Disjointed Proposals Forgetting to Take a Partnership Attitude Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

9. Dear Customer: Why can’t you... Provide more lead time for vendors? Limit the scope of RFPs to something doable, with additions to come in phases? Demand commitments of yourself for product implementation? Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

10. Dear Vendor: Why can’t you... Take more time to get to customers’ needs prior to RFP release? Appoint a single editor to insure the internal consistency of your proposals? Submit your proposals on time (or ahead) without resorting to private jet delivery? Please send questions to Karen Billings at kbillings@siia.net orkbillings@siia.net Don Rawitsch at drawitsch@siboneylg.comdrawitsch@siboneylg.com

11. Further Information Feedback Form (3-minute) will be sent to today’s participants. We appreciate the input. SIIA Staff Karen Billings, VP Education Division, kbillings@siia.netkbillings@siia.net Jane Rogers, Coordinator, Education Division, jrogers@siia.netjrogers@siia.net Mark Schneiderman, Director, Education Policy, marks@siia.netmarks@siia.net Go to www.siia.net to download SIIA documents, register for new events, and subscribe to the Ed Tech Daily.www.siia.net Enter your email address for both User ID and Password SIIA 1090 Vermont Ave NW Sixth Floor Washington, DC 20005-4095 +1.202.289.7442