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Library <br />www.santa-ana.org/library <br />Item # 12 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />October 19, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Early Literacy Station Tablets <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Approve a Sole Source Purchase Order to AWE Acquisition, Inc. for the Purchase of Early <br />Literacy Station Tablets (Revive Santa Ana Program) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Approve a sole source purchase order to AWE Acquisition, Inc. for the purchase of 15 <br />Early Literacy Station tablets and a two-year warranty for a total amount of $59,806.25, <br />subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />A Revive Santa Ana-funded program, the Play and Learn, Early Childhood Initiative <br />addresses the critical need to improve digital literacy and build technology skills in <br />underserved Santa Ana youth. <br />In alignment with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding guidelines (which is the <br />source of funding for Revive Santa Ana), the Library Services Department proposes to <br />purchase 15 AWE Early Literacy Station (ELS) tablet computers to offer structured digital <br />learning solutions and educational assistance to young children in specific U.S. <br />Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-qualifying census tracts and <br />throughout the city. This initiative will increase equitable access to specialized technology <br />that will help children with school readiness, early education, skill-building, and social and <br />emotional development. Unlike other educational tablets designed for children, the AWE <br />ELS tablets are specially designed to allow libraries to tailor and add on additional <br />software packages to support their users. The devices are pre-loaded with award-winning <br />educational software titles that span all STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, <br />Engineering, Art and Music, and Math) subject areas. <br />The Library will offer these mobile tablets for in-house use to increase children’s familiarity <br />with technology on an educational and child-friendly platform, enhance the development <br />of literacy skills at an early age, and help support children to succeed later in their <br />academic and professional careers.