Approve Renewal of Agreements for Technical Services Provided to Visually Impaired Grant - (Curriculum and Instruction Division, Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired – FIMC-VI)

We request approval of renewal of Agreements for Technical Services for the following services provided to FIMC-VI annually:

• SyLNX, Inc., will provide continuing support for FIMC-VI’s existing online textbook ordering and student registration system which uses the specially designed DataLNX-IRC database management software, a proprietary product of SyLNX, Inc., in order to evaluate the circulation timelines and report outcome data on instructional materials distributed to blind and visually impaired students. Services have been provided since 1999. ($60,000)
• SyLNX, Inc., will beta test and assist with the implementation of the newly designed proprietary database management software to track orders and delivery of materials for eligible students with physical limitations and/or print disabilities as defined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). An IDEA component known as the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS), requires states to convert electronic publisher files into an accessible format and distribute to districts in a timely manner. The consultant will also provide continuing support, evaluate the circulation timelines, and report outcome data for this broader population of students. NIMAS/Florida database activities, including initial system development, have been provided since 2008. ($54,000)
• Lucinda Collins will continue to transcribe state-adopted textbooks, workbooks, and supplemental instructional materials for students requiring braille. Services have been provided for the past six years. ($23,000)
• Micro-Enabling Resources, Inc., will continue to provide specialized computer hardware and networking support which includes monitoring new equipment acquisitions and/or hardware updates, new software compatibility, staff training needs, and assistive technology evaluations of blind and visually impaired students. Services have been provided since March 2003. ($68,640)

Continued on attachment.

* Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum

Funds of $263,640 are included in divisional special revenue/federal programs budget (Project 1717) FIMC-VI.