Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1972 [PAGE 312]

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302

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 19

Funds required for June 1971 are available in state appropriations to the University for the fiscal year 1970-71. Funds required thereafter will be requested on an annual basis in the budget of the Department of Plant and Services. O n m o t i o n of M r . N e a l , t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w a s a p p r o v e d b y t h e following vote: Aye, M r . Forsyth, M r . Grimes, M r . H a h n , M r . H o w a r d , Mr. Hughes, M r . Neal, Mr. Pogue, Mr. Steger, M r . S w a i n ; no, none; absent, Dr. Bakalis, Governor Ogilvie. PURCHASE OF PLASMA DISPLAY PANELS FOR THE PLATO IV SYSTEM,URBANA (19) T h e Computer-based Education Research Laboratory of Urbana ( C E R L ) has been instrumental in the development of computer-based instructional equipment. Plasma display panels were developed in the C E R L laboratory and patented through the University Patents, Inc. T h e University Patents, Inc., and the University of Illinois Foundation have granted Owens-Illinois, Inc., an exclusive license for the development and sale of the visual display panel unit known as the D I G I V U E display memory unit. As part of the C E R L progTam and the further development and use of the P L A T O I V system, 250 plasma display panels are required. Owens-Illinois, Inc., Electro/Optical Display Development Division, is the only source for the D I G I V U E panels. The D I G I V U E has the specific characteristics which the University requires for this technical research application and no other existing display system can provide these characteristics. Negotiations have been conducted to acquire 250 plasma display panels at a unit price of $2,650 or a total of $662,500. Owens-Illinois, Inc. has developed a market plan for the D I G I V U E panels based on a marketing formula of $15,000 for one unit, $7,500 each for two to ten units, and a negotiated price for more than ten units. The University of Illinois negotiated unit price of $2,650 is less than the most comparable commercially available cathode ray terminal system. This determination and comparison was made with published prices from commercial organizations for the most similar type of equipment based upon capacity and random access memory cost per bit (as unit measure of computer memory). Federal funding for the purchase of 250 D I G I V U E units is anticipated, based upon an approval in principle from the federal agency, which plans to provide continuous support for development of the P L A T O systems. Although the funds have not been made available to the University, Owens-Illinois, Inc. has indicated that in order for the company to begin to schedule production and delivery of the plasma panels, they must have assurance of the University's intent to acquire 250 units subject only to funds being available. With the concurrence of the appropriate administrative officers, I recommend that the Vice President and Comptroller and the Secretary be authorized to execute such agreements as are necessary to enter into a purchase agreement with Owens-Illinois, Inc., as outlined above, subject to the availability of funds.

On motion of Mr. Neal, authority was given as recommended by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Neal, Mr. Pogue, Mr. Steger, Mr. Swain; no, none; absent, Dr. Bakalis, Governor Ogilvie.

PURCHASES (20) T h e President submitted, with his concurrence, a list of purchases recommended by the Directors of Purchases and the Vice President and Comptroller; also purchases authorized by the President. The list of purchases was presented in two categories: purchases from appropriated funds (i.e., from state appropriations to the University) and purchases from institutional funds. The latter term designates funds received by the University under contracts with the United States government, contracts wih private corporations and other organizations, funds from foundation grants, and grants from corporations and other donors, and University revolving funds authorized by law.