Tech Program News for the New Year!

Technology Program Update:  New Contracts for a New Year!

Happy 2020!  Another year has passed and as always, as a new year arrives, some things must come to an end to make room for other things to begin anew! 

2020 brings about more than a few changes to our Technology purchasing program. We've got contracts that have expired as well as NEW! offerings to share! Keep reading for all the important details!

The following contracts expired on 12/31/19. These vendors did not participate in our 2020-2021 Statewide Technology Buy bid cycle OR were not selected for award.

• CDI Computer Dealers
• Coast to Coast Computers
• Innovative Office Solutions (formerly Brown & Saenger)
• NWA 3D
• Rick’s Computers
• Silicon Mountain Memory
• Tierney Brothers
• Trinity3 

*Also worth noting, Erb’s Technology Solutions has merged with Bergen KDV and is no longer an AEA Purchasing vendor partner.

Under our 2020-2021 Statewide Technology Buy solicitation, the following vendors will continue to partner with AEA Purchasing for specific items and/or a catalog discount:

• ACCO Brands, USA – awarded the GBC Discovery document camera, laminators, GBC laminating film and also 40% off their entire catalog of products.
• ByteSpeed – awarded 15% of the entire catalog of products, 15% off computers & peripheral equipment, 30% off RUCKUS and Juniper networking equipment and wireless solutions.
• Camcor – awarded 3% off their entire catalog of products.  Camcor sells many items, and offers a large variety of STEM/STEAM products.
• FireFly Computers – awarded various models of HP & Lenovo 11” and 13-14” Chromebooks.
• Lightspeed Technologies – awarded 22% off their entire catalog of products.
• Midwest Computer Products – awarded 40-50% percent off Spectrum & Dukane charging carts, Lumens DC125 document cameras, Dukane iPad Document Camera Stands, Various Epson and BenQ projectors and lamps as well as 25% off Da-Lite Screens.  Also awarded LABDISC, and Huddle Space products.
• Pyramid Paper Products – awarded batteries, laminating film (Bryce and Tamerica brands), some dry erase markers and many projector lamps.
• Scott Electric – awarded “Hop” brand laminating film, various projector lamps (some new and some with new bulbs in aftermarket cages).
• School Specialty -- Special pricing has been negotiated through this contract for many Califone products, computer accessories, headphones, Texas Instruments calculators, TechTubs, 3 ring binders, binding combs, and many dry erase markers.

New partners for the Statewide Technology Buy (under RFP/Contract number STB2020AEAPURCH) include:

• B & H Foto & Electronics – Shure wireless microphone system, 20% off cameras & equipment, 20% off Bretford furniture, video presentation cameras, 3D printers & supplies, & various video equipment.  20 to 25% off their entire catalog of products was also awarded.
• JourneyEd – awarded special pricing on various education related software.
• SHI International – awarded specific “Anywhere Charging Carts”, some computer accessories, digital storage devices, a Makerbot 3D printer, wireless network adapters, a few Epson projector lamps, and a few video related products.
• Troxell Communications – awarded Front Row classroom amplification system, various Bretford charging carts, a couple of Aver charging carts, Juice Mobile products, a few computer accessories, the VISIONU50 document camera, Dremel 3D printer, and a few Optoma projectors.  They were also awarded 1-70% off their entire catalog of products.  

Many of our awarded items can be searched through the AEA Purchasing Marketplace, added to a cart and ordered electronically.  The Marketplace can help you with shopping, saving and searching for products!  If you have not registered in this system, you are highly encouraged to do so as it will help with comparison shopping among nearly all AEA Purchasing partners.  If you are not placing orders through the AEA Purchasing Marketplace, please reference STB2020AEAPURCH on all quote requests and orders for these participating vendors.  These vendors will continue to accept orders by phone, email, fax or mail.

As a reminder, if you are ordering a large quantity of a particular product, ALWAYS contact the vendor, reference the AEA Purchasing contract number and request lower pricing via a quote! Please contact Laurie Hoing if you have any questions regarding the Technology contracts:  email laurie@aeapurchasing.org, or phone 515-270-0405 x 14024.

Welcome to 2020!

Create Future-Ready, Life-Long Learners with PITSCO

Complex challenges don’t have to have complex solutions.

It’s estimated that by 2030, 38% of jobs will be automated. By that time, there will be 500 billion connected devices in the world.

Plus, Houston…we have an engagement problem. Only 49% of U.S. public school students are engaged in school.

Coding and robotics represent an opportunity to engage students while preparing them to face the complications of the real world. And Pitsco Education is on a mission to make it easy for schools to bring these materials through our K-12 Coding and Robotics Continuum.

Our goal is to make it easy for schools to bring these materials to the classroom to create lifelong learners, successful professionals, and engaged citizens with a promise to remove barriers, to bring cutting-edge education technology into the classroom, and to help teachers find new, relevant ways to do what they do best.

Pitsco Education meets students where they are by delivering age-appropriate, hands-on solutions that enable all K-12 learners to thrive. Explore their Coding and Robotics solutions today!

Plus, AEA Purchasing members get 2% off their purchase of Pitsco products along with free shipping on orders of $100 or more, thanks to the AEA Purchasing/AEPA contract! All you need to do is enter promo code AEPA22 during checkout!

BIG Savings on Cut Paper!

Winter 2019 Statewide Paper Buy

Orders are due Jan. 10, 2020! 

Early ordering is encouraged!

Complete information and order forms for the AEA Purchasing Winter 2019 Paper Buy are now available online. Go to: "Paper Buy-AEA Purchasing".

PLEASE NOTE: Order forms are available online only! There will be no printed order forms delivered to schools via AEA van mail. Double and triple check with the person in your building who orders paper to insure they received the order form!

Bid Features Include:

·         Wide variety of paper weights, colors and sizes

·         Additional discounts for orders of 840 cartons of white or greater

·         Letter and catalog envelopes

Clients Eligible for Participation:

·         K-12 Schools, Public and Private

·         Colleges and Universities

·         Public Libraries

·         City, County, State Government

·         Nonprofit educational organizations

SLAM DUNK Deals from Partac Peat/Beam Clay

Partac Peat Corporation (BEAM CLAY®), is pleased to offer Athletic Equipment & Supplies for K-12 schools in Iowa.Thousands of products have been competitively bid saving you valuable amounts of time, money and resources!

Basketball season is upon us and Partac Peat has some SLAM DUNK deals for your favorite team!

Click here for more details.

Swish!

Classroom Select and Califone Promo!

Get it all for fall with Classroom Select and Califone, part of the School Specialty family!

Now through November 30, get aggressive contract pricing and FREE shipping on a curate selection of exclusive furniture and Califone AV technology products. No need to ask for a price quote! But there's only one way to get these savings -- by using promo code 081FE_AEPA!

Click here for more details!

*Offer ends 11/30/19.

Zoom Deal for Schools!

 AEA Purchasing is excited to announce that we now have an avenue for school districts to SAVE on Zoom licenses! Through our partnership, school districts now have access to Zoom's EDU 20 package which includes 20 Zoom licenses and other features for a low yearly cost.

For more information, contact Joni Puffett.

Celebrate National School Lunch Week!

National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is October 14 - 18!  This year's theme is "What's on your playlist?"

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) has tools and resources for a boot scootin' good time, available here: https://schoolnutrition.org/Meetings/Events/NSLW/2019/

Promotional ideas from SNA include creative menu names, such as "Chart-Topper Cheeseburgers, Rockin' Rice Bowls, & Pitch-Perfect Pizza."

If you're looking for recipe inspiration, consider checking the Iowa Department of Education website: https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/nutrition-programs/quick-links-nutrition/learning-tools-nutrition/iowa-gold-star-cycle-menus - includes a recipe for "Rockin' Ceasar Salad"

Musical theme inspiration using market basket items (tip: search keyword ((i.e. "pop")) on your market basket for ideas:

"Pop music" theme:
Novelty Bomb Pops (MB# 966440, 315690, 315700, 308410)
Jonny Pops (MB# 935700, 385360)
Popcorn options (MB# 603738, 603350, 600968)
Poptart options (MB# 414800, 414020, 416420, 415460, 415470, 414810, 414030, 410978)
Shrimp Poppers (MB# 927170, 928710)
Popcorn Chicken (MB# 971710, 978230, 359188)

Rock 'n Roll:
Cinnamon Rolls, Dinner Rolls, egg rolls, fruit roll-ups, pasta lasagna roll up

Country:
Western's Beef sticks, country sausage gravy, southern style biscuits

Rap music:
Sausage & pancake mini wrap WG CN, Sausage & Pancake Wrap WG CN, Tortilla Wrap Breakfast WG IW, Wrap Breakfast Tac-Go W/Cheese, Wraps! Cheesy Jalapeno, Chipotle, Spinach, Tomato Basil, Frudel Wrap (Apple or Cherry), MaxWrap Chili Cheese WH. GR CN

Mixed tape:
Broccoli slaw shred mix, mixed fruit, fruit snack mixed berry & mixed fruit, lettuce heritage/ spring mix, melon mixed IQF 50/50, salad fruit mixed bite size, Mixmi Brand items, and the list goes on...!

Turn up the "beet" and enjoy NSLW 2019! 🎶

Support the Fight with Quill.com

We love our vendor partners supporting a cause! Today is October 1st and the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Join Quill.com in the fight against cancer by purchasing limited-time pink products, redeeming pink gifts, and shopping their 2-day event. In turn, Quill will make a donation to City of Hope™ to support their cancer research and treatment efforts.

To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/2lwmr4O.

To see how others are banding together and showing support or to post your own pics and comments illustrating how you support cancer research and awareness, check out #QuillCares on Facebook.

All month long, Quill associates will be participating in a number of fundraising events with proceeds going to City of Hope™. We’ll be posting photos of the fun!

Purchasing Celebrates 20 Years!

Well, it's official! The 2019-20 school year is underway. The dust has started to settle and staff, faculty and students are finding their way into a new groove. As the halls are buzzing with excitement and wonder that a new school year brings, AEA Purchasing is buzzing with celebrations of our 20th year in providing procurement services to Iowa's schools!

For 20 years, Iowa’s AEAs have provided schools with the opportunity to save money on the goods and services they use every day as well as an opportunity to simplify the procurement process. What began as a single program foodservice cooperative has expanded to include an active membership in a national purchasing group and coverage of over nine different purchasing areas, from the basics (like pens, crayons, markers and paper) to more involved services like 21st century classrooms, building safety and security and video boards/message centers!

In the span of 20 years, AEA Purchasing has progressed from a handful of contracts to working with over 90 vendor partners, all accessible in an online marketplace making it even easier to increase the bottom line. With the mission of enabling administrators and educators to worry less about their procurement and focus more on student achievement, we look forward to continuing our services for many years to come!

1% Rebate from School Specialty When You Order Online!

Need further convincing that ordering online is the way to go? How about a rebate for online purchases! School Specialty and AEA Purchasing are excited to announce a new rebate program for orders placed online. Check it out!

Here's how it works:
1. Login and place an order through the School Specialty website OR AEA Purchasing Marketplace and 1% of your purchase value will come back to your school via a rebate! (The rebate is calculated on the net invoice amount of product only, less shipping and other charges.)

2. The rebate is good for the length of the AEA Purchasing/AEPA contract (through 2023).

3. District rebates go directly to the purchasing district at the end of the calendar year! It's that simple!

For more information on School Specialty's 1% online rebate program, contact:

School Specialty
Courtney Kokjohn | (515) 339-7227
Courtney.kokjohn@schoolspecialty.com

Barnes & Noble LOVES Educators!

Calling all Educators and Administrators! Barnes & Noble appreciates all that you do! 

As a value added service, AEA Purchasing wants you to discover even more ways to save. Sign up for a Barnes & Noble "Educator Discount Card" and you save 20% off books and educational toys and games that you purchase for your classroom. It is fast, easy, and free!

When you sign up you will be invited to all of the BN Educator Appreciation Events where you can spoil yourself with a 25% discount on more items throughout the store. These events will be happening every Saturday & Sunday starting July 20th through September 15th to help you prepare for the new school year!

Sign up at your local Barnes & Noble or you can click the link below to sign up online.

https://educator.barnesandnoble.com/signup/form

Discounts and offers are available in stores for PreK – Grade 12 Educators only.

*Select items only. Discount is off list price. Certain restrictions apply. Ask a bookseller for details. Educator Discount Card must be present at time of purchase. Discounts cannot be applied to or combined with any other Barnes & Noble discount programs, Nook Books or other digital content, or accessories for digital services. 

Get Excited About 'Back to School' with School Specialty!

When you think "back to school", think School Specialty! AEA Purchasing has partnered with School Specialty to offer significant savings on all your back to school essentials across a variety of catalogs.

Abilitations offers a comprehensive assortment of special education products and solutions for all children and their therapists, educators and families that support them.

Childcraft offers an extensive selection of early childhood educational products including furniture, manipulatives and games for children from birth through Grade 2.

Classroom Select encourages collaboration and promotes creativity through smart furniture design.

Projects by Design offers a turnkey solution to equip new and renovated spaces.

Education Essentials -- all the supplies, resources and materials educators need most for school and classroom.

Frey Scientific specializes in science education supplies, kits and curriculum. Their team can help you outfit your classroom or lab with safe, durable, easy-to-use equipment and supplies.

Sax offers a comprehensive line of affordable, high-quality arts and crafts supplies.

Sportime provides physical activity equipment and sporting goods that have been designed by PE teachers and are driven to motivate children of all ages and all ability levels.

SSI Guardian provides safety and security products and training.

2019 School Spirit Food Shows!

Our 2019 School Spirit food shows are drawing near. Here's what you have to look forward to. Join us, won't you?