Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1976 [PAGE 34]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1974]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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professional and technical services for preparation of promotional material and for professional counseling for programs in the Assembly Hall, for the period from September 1, 1974, through August 3 1 , 1975, for a total fee of $17,649.95. Funds are available in the operating budget of the Assembly Hall. I concur. O n m o t i o n of M r . S w a i n , t h i s c o n t r a c t w a s a w a r d e d b y t h e following v o t e : Aye, M r . Forsyth, M r . H a h n , M r . H u g h e s , M r . Livingston, M r . N e a l , M r s . R a d e r , M r . S w a i n ; n o , n o n e ; a b s e n t , D r . Bakalis, M r . H o w a r d , M r . Steger, G o v e r n o r Walker.

Purchase of Random Access Audio Devices

(31) T h e Computer-based Education Research Laboratory (CERL) at the UrbanaChampaign campus has developed a mechanism known as a Random Access Audio Device, a major new accessory to the P L A T O system. The device is a unique contribution to the development of machine-oriented teaching in that the audio response to keyboard inquiries promises new approaches to the areas of teaching, foreign languages, reading to small children and mathematics, in addition to improving the already demonstrated benefits of the P L A T O system. The federal government, through the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army, has sponsored research. Sealed bids for the manufacture of the units were solicited by newspaper advertisments and direct mail, based on specifications developed by CERL. The results were as follows: Item: 150 each Random Access Audio Devices Option: 250 each Random Access Audio Devices (for delivery prior to December 30, 1975, subject to availability of funds) Bids Received: Education & Information Systems, Inc. ( E I S ) , Urbana International Electro-Magnetics, Palatine Funds are available as follows: N S F / U . S . Army Appropriated Capita] Equipment Funds Total

$

800 000 00 f.o.b. delivered 1 051 448 50 f.o.b. delivered $ 128 000 00 100 000 00 $ 228 000 00

This total is sufficient for an initial purchase of 114 units. There is reason to expect that funding for an additional 36 units will become available, and, in order to cover potential long-range additional needs through December, 1975, an option for 250 units is available. T h e purchase of all units in excess of 114 will be subject to availability of funds. EIS, Inc., Urbana, the low bidder, is considered a responsible bidder technically and monetarily. However, EIS, Inc., has three officers of its corporate board who individually have in excess of 7'A% of the bidding interest and who are also University of Illinois staff members. 1 This constitutes a conflict of interest. Regulations Governing Procurement and Bidding at the University of Illinois relating to conflicts of interest prohibit a contract to be awarded under such conditions, ". . . unless such purchase or contract is deemed essential to the Univer1 These are: Donald L. Bitzer, Director of Computer-based Education Research Laboratory (CERL), Research Professor in CERL and Professor of Electrical Engineering; Franklin M. Propst. Associate Director for Planning in CERL, Research Professor of Physics and in the Coordinated Science Laboratory; and Daniel Alpert, Director of the Center for Advanced Study, Associate Director of CERL, and Professor of Physics.