Public Computer Center Request For Information

Written by People's Production House Monday, 16 November 2009 13:34

Request For Information seeking partners for a joint proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Public Computer Center Program.

For more information:
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Project Summary

People's Production House seeks partners in the New York City area who operate computer centers and would like to expand them to serve more people and to include digital media capacity, specifically audio production. People's Production House believes digital media production is an essential skill to use the Internet for education, civic engagement, and economic development.

Based on responses to this Request for Information, we propose to collaborate on a grant application to the federal Public Computer Center program to expand your facilities, purchase new equipment, and train teachers and staff to provide digital media education. Our goal is to expand access to broadband technology for public school students, immigrants, low-income residents and other New Yorkers who have historically had limited access to such technology.

Project Scope

People’s Production House anticipates partnering with approximately 15 respondents, though the precise scope will depend on the number and quality of responses. People’s Production House is also interested to hear from existing associations of multiple schools or centers.

If we are successful in our application for federal funds, People’s Production House will provide all partners with technical assistance in the purchase and installation of new equipment and instruction in how to use and teach others to use the equipment. PPH’s Radio Rootz curriculum includes web-based research, writing for radio, interviewing, journalism 101, media literacy, basics in media policy, digital audio recording, digital audio editing, radio production, and using radio for civic engagement. We will assist teachers at partner schools in integrating digital media tools into the classroom on any subject. We will assist community organizations in integrating media production into their outreach or community organizing. We will help all partners in this project develop ongoing relationships with each other in order to share media and best practices and to develop further collaborations.

Based on our assessment of the federal Public Computer Center program, we plan to request funds for some or all of the following items in our application:

    •    Broadband-related equipment, including software and peripherals, such as printers, mice, and digital media equipment.
    •    Computer maintenance services.
    •    Digital networking equipment.
    •    "Developing and providing training, education, support, and awareness programs or web-based resources, including reasonable compensation for qualified instructors, technicians, managers, and other employees essential for these types of programs." However, the program must be sustainable beyond the two-year grant.
    •    Making public computer centers accessible to the disabled or otherwise increasing access.
    •    Installing or upgrading broadband facilities on a one-time, capital improvement, basis.
    •    "Constructing, acquiring, or leasing a new facility, provided that the applicant explains why it is necessary to construct, acquire, or lease a new facility to facilitate public access to broadband services or expand computer center capacity."
    •    Reasonable pre-application expenses, potentially including your time spent responding to this Request for Information.

Each partner should anticipate a budget of $50,000 per year for two years for such expenses as those listed above. Approximately 20% of your budget should be reserved specifically for the purchase of digital media production equipment and software. Partners seeking funds for construction, renovation or leasing of a space should anticipate a budget of $200,000 in addition to equipment and associated expenses. Respondents interested in larger requests should contact People's Production House to discuss how best to proceed.

Respondents' Qualifications

We welcome information from all potential partners, but we are especially interested in partnering with public high schools, recreation centers and other facilities serving teenage youth, and organizations that provide basic computer training or other services for immigrants and/or low-wage, underemployed or jobless workers.

Based on the requirements of the Public Computer Center program and our own project goals, the strongest partners will meet some or all of the following criteria in descending order of importance:

    •    Have a proven track record of serving immigrants, young people, and workers.
    •    Have a strong commitment to or belief in digital media production as a core component of digital literacy.
    •    Have a successful track record collaborating with other organizations and a desire to collaborate with People's Production House beyond this project.
    •    Have a plan to sustain the project beyond the grant period, for example through fees for service.
    •    Offer the most cost effective use of available funds.
    •    Are able to provide at least 20% matching funds as required by the Public Computer Center program, for example through other grants, school budgets, or in-kind contributions. (There are some restrictions on the use of federal funds for the match. Please contact us if you have any questions about whether your funds or in-kind contribution qualifies for the match.)
    •    Have methods to measure performance and impacts.

Note that, while a desire for further collaboration is an important criteria for selecting partners, participation in the collaborative application for Public Computer Center funds will not commit your organization to further projects. Responding to this Request for Information does not commit your organization to participating in a collaborative application, though it does indicate a strong desire to do so.

Interested partners should respond to People's Production House by completing the form below. Please contact us if you have any questions or need guidance in completing this request for information. Partial responses will be accepted.

Final deadline for responses is Friday, February 19, 2010, at 5:00pm. Early responses are encouraged. Selected respondents will be contacted on a rolling basis for additional information and a site visit.


Background

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, commonly known as the stimulus package, authorized the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), including $200 million for public computer centers in schools, libraries, community centers, or other anchor institutions. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a division of the Department of Commerce, is administering these funds, which are part of a larger $7.2 billion initiative to increase broadband adoption, create jobs, and enhance education, healthcare, and public safety. The remainder of the funds are for broadband infrastructure and "Sustainable Broadband Adoption." (Note: If you are interested in applying for funds in the other categories and would like to coordinate with People's Production House, please contact us for more information.)

The NTIA requested a first round of applications due August 14, 2009 and received over 2000 responses, including 365 for Public Computer Center proposals. After soliciting comments on the program, the NTIA made some modifications and issued a second request with responses due March 15, 2010. First round awards are still being announced and the precise total amount of funds available for New York City is impossible to predict, but larger, collaborative applications have a much greater chance of success. Requirements for applications are determined by statute in the Recovery Act or by policy statements included in the NTIA's Notice of Financial Availability. For more information about BTOP, see www.broadbandusa.gov.

People's Production House provides comprehensive media education to public school students, immigrants, and low-wage workers. We offer classes in media literacy, digital audio production, radio journalism, and the use of media for civic engagement. Currently a project of the Fund for the City of New York, we have served New York City residents for nearly a decade, collaborating with dozens of schools, youth organizations, community organizations, and media outlets. As part of our own staff development and with our public school partners, we train experienced educators and young people to teach the Radio Rootz curriculum. For more information about People's Production House, see www.peoplesproductionhouse.org.

People's Production House has significant experience with the current Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. We participated in a collaborative application for the first round of funding through ZeroDivide Foundation and responded to the pre-application request for information from the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. In partnership with  the office of Council Member Gale Brewer, PPH hosted a public forum in July 2009 for entities in New York City interested in applying for BTOP funds. PPH co-published a primer on the program with the Open Technology Initiative (OTI) of New America Foundation. OTI will provide technical assistance on our application. For more information about OTI, including guides to the program and how to apply, see www.newamerica.net/broadbandstimulus.

Preparation of this RFI was made possible through the support of the Media Democracy Fund, to whom we express our deep appreciation.
 

Deadline for responses is 5:00pm February 19, 2010, but please complete this form as soon as possible. Selected respondents will be contacted on a rolling basis for additional information and a site visit.

Disclaimer

PPH will use the information gathered through this RFI to inform its application to the Public Computer Program and future opportunities, including local community organizing. We will not share your contact information or responses with anyone, except for partners or consultants assisting in the review of responses. PPH will not include any respondent or the information provided in response to this RFI in any application without a signed contract or memorandum of understanding. People's Production House pledges to approach all interactions with an attitude of trust and optimism and looks forward to the same from all respondents and partners.

People's Production House reserves the right to not submit a proposal to NTIA or to submit an entirely different proposal, as a lead applicant or in partnership with another entity or other entities.  A response to this RFI does not obligate People's Production House to enter into a partnership with the respondent. This Request for Information  (RFI) has no affiliation with the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or any government agency. The City of New York has also indicated it will issue an RFP for services similar to the NTIA’s Public Computer Center program; People’s Production House anticipates submitting a response to that RFP, as well, but again will only include partners with their express permission.