ACUP in the Sunshine State
The RFP can also become a part of the final agreement, which can offset many of the boilerplate terms of some vendor agreements. Further, the RFP provides a format for the institution to specify required performance factors.
Chambers identified seven areas that need to be addressed to maximize the effectiveness of an RFP:
- Instructions and vendor responsibilities
- Background, problem description and expectations
- Schedule
- Evaluation process
- Award and implementation
- Institutional terms and conditions
- Specifications (including device specifications, service/maintenance, administrative, technology, cost-per-copy and billing)
On the last full day of ACUP, attendees rode buses to Sunken Gardens, a botanical garden in St. Petersburg. In this green setting, Vic Barkin spoke about sustainability issues and urged in-plants to be more environmentally responsible. He listed 10 things in-plants can do to make an impact:
- Be/get in compliance with all regulatory agencies.
- Promote high recycled content paper and two-sided printing.
- Promote certified paper; get FSC certified.
- Recycle everything (paper, packaging, PCs, supplies, food).
- Let your vendors and subcontractors know you want “green.”
- Investigate, test and implement low VOC/HAP products.
- Discuss “green” options with your clients.
- Get an energy audit; calculate your carbon footprint.
- Adopt a cause (charities, adopt-a-highway, plant-a-tree, etc.).
- Track, report, market, promote and publicize your efforts.
The conference wrapped up with a tour of the St. Petersburg Times printing facility, followed by a dinner at the hotel.
- Companies:
- BÖWE BELL + HOWELL
- Eastman Kodak Co.
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
