Agenda Item
b. EqualLevel License and Implementation (from January 17, 2024 through January 16, 2025 (Not to exceed $97,600) Updated 2.12.2024
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the entry into a contract with EqualLevel to provide an eMarketplace for procurement for a period of one year effective from January 17, 2024 through January 16, 2025 for an amount not to exceed $97,600.
Why: This request will establish an eProcurement Marketplace wherein all district vendors will be listed as available for use. Users within the district will be able to choose from this menu of services, request services, and each request will link to a new requisition within the district’s already established Munis requisition process.
Details: Pursuant to Board Policy DJE C3(b), Exceptions to Competitive Selection, the use of competitive selections measures are not required if the required goods or services are available from only one source and the appropriate information has been obtained to determine the vendor’s single source status.
Financial impact: The contract amount of $97,600.00 will be paid from the general fund GL Code: 100.2500.530000.7200.9990.8010.00.0000 and Capital Outlay fund GL Code: 300.4000.530000.7520.9990.8013.050.0000
$21,000 to be paid for implementation services.
$76,600 to be paid for the annual subscription fee.
Contact: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance, 678.676.0270
Status: Approved by General Counsel
February 9, 2024
Dekalb County School District
Attn: Carla Smith
Subject: EqualLevel Sole Source Affidavit
Dear Ms. Smith:
The EqualLevel Marketplace is the only machine-learning real-time solution that enables organizations to access
100% of the product and service information they require from suppliers from a single search box, without having to
host static product information or meta-data (level 2 punchout). EqualLevel Marketplace utilizes an internally
developed search solution, EqualLevel Swift (“Swift”), to provide the functionality required to access real-time
information across the range of IT commerce capabilities found in every organizations supply community. Swift is
the only platform that can deliver real-time search of existing punch-out sites (via meta-search), combined with
direct API synchronization to the Swift Commerce platform. The EqualLevel proprietary machine-learning feature
named EqualLevel Savings Advisor analyzes search and punchout items and suggests lower priced exact match and
substitute items.
Using this proprietary approach, Swift addresses the challenge of obtaining real-time aggregated product and
contract information from suppliers with and without existing punch-out enabled commerce sites. Swift’s
proprietary direct synchronization API to the Swift Commerce platform combined with meta-search connectors to
existing punch-out sites ensures the most up to date product and price information is returned to shoppers. As a
result, EqualLevel is the only provider that can deliver real-time comparison-shopping across supplier contracts
regardless of their Internet commerce capability.
All components of EqualLevel’s software solution are, developed, enhanced, and maintained by EqualLevel and no
other third party vendor, company or entity is authorized by EqualLevel to develop new features, provide services,
or provide maintenance. EqualLevel is the Sole Source provider for any implementation services, enhancements,
upgrades and warranties for the EqualLevel software. EqualLevel implementation and support services are provided
solely by EqualLevel employees and are not outsourced to any third party vendors.
EqualLevel is pleased to have this opportunity to present the Dekalb County School District with information
describing our sole source justification. Please do not hesitate to contact me, at 240.505.3671 should you have any
questions or require additional information.
Sincerely,
Orville A Bailey
Founder, EqualLevel Inc.
obailey@equallevel.com
Attachment
EqualLevel Demo Marketplace
Cart Information
Type: PunchOut Cart
Name: 1st Grade Supplies - 4
Status: Checked Out
Created By: April Smith
Last Modified: 10/27/2023 08:30 AM CDT
EqualLevel Savings Advisor Report
Purchased Item Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Notes
e
Bostitch® $37.33 / EA Bostitch Impulse $47.11 / EA Bostitch Impulse $77.99 / EA
Impulse™ 30 Sheet Qty: 2 30 Electric Stapler, 25 Electric Stapler,
l
Electric Stapler, 30 Sheet Capacity, + $19.56 Black + $81.32
Black Saved: $19.56 Black (2210) (21%) - School Specialty (109%)
(21%)
p
- Office Depot - Staples (790113) (010387)
(549014) - ABC - ABC
- ABC - AMAX INC (02210) - BOSTITCH (02210)
- STANLEY- Original Item
BOSTITCH (2210)
m
Suggested Item
a
Just Basics® Basic $2.00 / EA Staples Economy $3.58 / EA School Smart $4.09 / EA
View 3-Ring Binder, Qty: 60 1" 3-Ring View Polypropylene
S
1" Round Rings, Binder, White + $94.80 Round Ring Binder, + $125.40
White Saved: $94.80 (ST23735-CC) (44%) 1 Inch, White (105%)
- Office Depot (44%) - Staples (374815) - School Specialty
(396291) - ABC (086363)
- ABC - STAPLES BRANDS - ABC
- OFFICE DEPOT GROUP (ST23735CC) - SCHOOL SMART
(BSDOR10) Original Item
Suggested Item
Rubbermaid® $29.11 / EA Rubbermaid Brute $50.18 / EA Rubbermaid $107.57 /
Round Brute® Qty: 2 Plastic Trash Can Commercial EA
Container, 32 Container, 32 + $42.14 BRUTE Garbage
Gallons, Gray Saved: $42.14 Gallons, Grey (42%) Can, Round, + $156.92
- Office Depot (42%) (270%)
(FG263200GRAY) Plastic, 32 Gallon,
(209031) - Staples (432463) Gray
- ABC - ABC - School Specialty
- RUBBERMAID - RUBBERMAID (1569628)
(FG263200GRAY) COMMERCIAL - ABC
Suggested Item PRODUCTS 187151 - RUBBERMAID
(FG263200GRAY)
Original Item
Original Total: $409.38
Replacement Savings: -$156.50
Total: $252.88
You saved: 38%
*Please note, this report is for illustration purposes only and does not reflect actual
vendor pricing. Your report will vary based on your contractual relationship with your
suppliers. Page 1 of 1