GENWiki

                                                     NIC 7690

Network Working Group R. F. Borelli Request for Comments #249 University of Illinois

                                                     Center for Advanced
                                                       Computation
                                                     October 8, 1971

            Coordination of Equipment and Supplies Purchase
            -----------------------------------------------

      The purpose of this message is to pass on to all members of the
 Network an agreement reached between Messrs. Steve Crocker of ARPA and
 R. F. Borelli of the University of Illinois.  The Center for Advanced
 Computation has agreed to study the feasibility of a coordinating point
 for purchases of equipment and supplies to be used on the network.

      To this end, the Center will compile a list of common equipment and
 supplies needed by Network members and ascertain the value of contacting
 the appropriate manufacturers and distributers in order to negotiate the
 best possible group price.  Thereafter, the results of the negotiations
 will be passed on to Network members with a resulting listing of items,
 costs and supplies.

      The two biggest pitfalls with this concept are:
           1.  Insufficient demand for commonly required items.
           2.  Not satisfying each organization's administrative
               requirements for competitive bidding on items
               which are not sole-source justified.

      At this time, it appears to be premature to allow this to stop the
 idea.  After the listing of items and range of sources are collected and
 analyzed, these two points can be addressed.  In fact, this project may
 have to be abandoned; however, there are sufficient reasons to believe
 that these problems can be overcome to make the venture workable.

     We request that all members of the Network forward to the Center,
 ATTN. R. F. Borelli, a descriptive listing of equipment and supplies
 they require in this fiscal year.  Particular attention must be paid to
 listing all the acceptable alternates to increase the changes of
 commonality.  For example: TI-725 terminals could be considered a
 substitute for Teleterms 1030's, etc.  The only items excluded at this
 time are 2400 ft. Magnetic Computer Tapes, tabulating cards, and
 conventional computer printer paper.  Any added suggestions or ideas are
 both encouraged and welcomed.

      A sample format of information is attached.

                                                              [Page 1]

        Sample Format of Information Requirement is as Follows:
        ------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Current
                                                               Estimated
 Quantity      Description and Special Needs      Mfgr.           Cost
 --------      -----------------------------      -----       -----------

     3         Remote Terminals                 Texas Instr.  $4,200.00 @
               Model TI-725 with upper and            or
                lower case                      Teleterms

 100 rolls/mo  Electro Static Printer Paper      Gould        $10.00/roll

 Requested by:

                   University of Illinois
                   Center for Advanced Computation
                   Urbana, Illinois  61801
                   Telephone:  (217) 333-6375

 A listing of items not intended as all-inclusive are:

     1.  Gould Electrostatic Printers and printer paper.
     2.  Computek graphics terminals.
     3.  ARDS graphics terminals.
     4.  CRT alphanumeric terminals (Hazeltine, Datapoint, DEC, etc.).
     5.  Hard-copy portable terminals (TI-725, Teleterm 1030, NCR etc.).
     6.  Teletype (ASR and KSR-33, 35 and 37)
     7.  Plasma panels.
     8.  Plotters (CalComp, Bendix, Calma, etc.).
     9.  Digitizers and scanners.
    10.  Computers (PDP-11, PDP-10).
    11.  Computer peripherals (TU-56, TC-11, etc.).
    12.  IMLAC's.

       [ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
       [ into the online RFC archives by BBN Corp. under the   ]
       [ direction of Alex McKenzie.                   12/96   ]

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