Board approves purchase of 3,000 Dell Chromebooks after RFP amid volatile pricing
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Summary
The Barrow County Board of Education approved purchasing 3,000 Dell Chromebooks, awarding the low bid and authorizing a second vendor as backup, citing rapidly changing market pricing and the district's five‑year refresh cycle. Voted 7–1.
The Barrow County Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of 3,000 Dell Chromebooks as part of the district's five‑year technology refresh. The low responsive bid from Data Center Warehouse (Laguna Hills, California) would provide the devices at $458.60 each for a total of $1,375,800; the board authorized using VirtuCom of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, at $469.75 per unit ($1,409,250 total) if the low bidder is unable to fulfill the order.
John St. Clair presented the RFP results, saying 17 vendors responded and two low bidders met the RFP terms. St. Clair emphasized an unstable market for technology pricing, telling trustees vendors had rescinded or changed prices within days and that Dell ended its quoted pricing cycle at the end of January. That volatility informed the recommendation to approve the low responsive bidder and to authorize the second‑low bid as a fallback.
The superintendent recommended awarding the purchase to the low bidder and authorizing the alternate vendor if needed. A motion to approve the purchase was made and carried 7–1. The transcript does not record individual roll‑call votes in the text; the board recorded a 7–1 tally.
The board placed other technology items (a network switch RFP for the PDC server room) on the regular agenda for the Feb. 3 meeting; that item includes an anticipated E‑Rate reimbursement and may return for approval if the district's out‑of‑pocket share exceeds an established threshold.
The board will fund the Chromebook purchase from ITS and technology refresh funds as presented. The district noted that acting sooner increased the likelihood of securing the quoted pricing.