Recommended Changes to the Hewlett Packard (HP) Partnership Contract Being Considered

The School District is proposing changes to several portions of the HP Partnership contract as well as in the manner in which mobile devices are accounted for and identified. These changes are on the agenda for the July HP Quarterly Review Committee meeting. Recommendations from that meeting will be brought to the School Board in September.

• The laser engraving of the case on laptop computers and other mobile devices is effective as both a theft deterrent and a better means of asset tracking. Since the District already owns laser engraving devices, a process for having mobile computing assets permanently etched with logo identifier, asset number, bar coded asset number, and a warning of prosecution for theft is being recommended for implementation. This process will include, where deemed appropriate, existing mobile computer equipment as well as newly purchased laptop and tablet computers. An additional benefit to the mission of the District is that this process can include instruction, practice, and possibly employment opportunities for students in the career centers or high school programs where the laser equipment is located.
• "Computrac" programming is included within the system on laptop computers and tablets purchased by the District. HCPS will seek to activate this tracking software on a portion of the newly purchased laptop computers, however only at the District’s option.
• Hillsborough County Public Schools is also interested in changing the section of the HP contract dealing with the marketing funds provided annually. This annual program makes $20,000.00 available directly from HP to the District. The new proposed use for these funds moves $18,000.00 of that funding to the Education Foundation for use in the District’s technology matching grant program and $2,000.00 annually to support scholarships with the NAACP program named ACT-SO.

As stated in the OPPAGA report, "Efficient purchasing and warehousing requires that management processes be in place to ensure that supplies, equipment, and services vital to the school's education mission are purchased from a competitive source, in the right quantity, delivered in a timely manner to the current location, and stored in a secure location."

The quarterly review ensures the District is receiving maximum value on products and services during the term of the original contract signed by the School Board in May 2006.

The report to the board provides accountability for monitoring the contract and negotiated benefits.