The HESS Consortium is not a GPO so we partner with the Coalition for College Cost Savings on master service agreements (MSA) for our collective members. Standards for selection are jointly established between the organizations in partnership. It is a costly process to create MSAs for our members so we want to make sure that companies meet a high level of excellence and national coverage. Before they are submitted as candidates to the Coalition for a master service agreement, HESS leadership uses the follow rubric to evaluate new business partners for both the business affiliate level and the business contract partner level.
Does the company reach all or a large portion of our member institutions nationally?
It is important for our partner companies to have the capacity to work with our national membership and provide the best services and/or products to the majority of our member institutions. What is your past and current commitment to the U.S. higher education market and what are your resources here? The criteria for this is usually associated with the number of sales and technology staffing within the company and, based on the type of services offered, the location and number of field offices in the U.S. With this, smaller local and regional businesses are normally disqualified.
(20 points)
Has the company been referred to HESS by two or more member institution as a reputable company. If a company is recommended by member institutions as a viable and reputable company who provided (or is providing) good services/products, HESS will take this into account when reviewing potential business affiliates and partners. (30 points)
Our HESS / Coalition master service agreement (MSA) has many items that are meant to protect our member institutions, their data and their operations. While the MSA is a short and broad guide for standards that we require from our business partners, many companies may be unable to adhere to the requirements that we ask of our business partner candidates. (standard requirement)
HESS / Coalition Contract Business Partners are requested to engage with our HESS member institutions on a quarterly basis and be active in our national conferences and periodic regional gatherings. These quarterly engagements include 1.) quarterly webinars on various topics related to higher education technology operations, products and services and 2.) quarterly entries in our HESS Consortium Business Partners Quarterly e-blast. Some companies do not have the resources to provide content necessary to engage with our members on a regular basis. (20 points)
As the HESS Consortium grows in numbers, the value of the consortium grows in terms of buying power, marketing and engagement with c-suite leadership. With this, we have set up a two-tiered partner program where companies support the HESS Consortium monetarily for its communication services and events for its members on behalf of our business partners. Many companies are unable to afford even the low costs that are involved with the programs.
HESS / Coalition Business Affiliates ($2,500 annually) are given 1-2 webinars annually, a microsite on the HESS Online Leadership Community closed social media site and invited to our annual national conference.
HESS / Coalition Contract Business Partners (low negotiated revenue share) are offered quarterly webinar engagements, quarterly articles in our HESS Consortium Business Partners Quarterly e-blast, a microsite on the HESS Online Leadership Community closed social media site and invited to our annual national conference to be sponsoring companies.
(standard requirement)
Our HESS Business Affiliates and our Contract Business Partners should be of high report, a national leader in their service/product areas and be able to perform at the highest levels in sales, support and pricing for our national membership. HESS leadership evaluate the need of companies’ products and services from member communications and sometimes polling of the membership. This is also weighed heavily against current contract MSAs HESS currently has in its portfolio of contracts to avoid duplication of services. (30 points)
If a potential business partner meets the standard requirements and scores at least 80 points (out of 100 possible) within the rubric, the company is recommended to the Coalition by HESS as either a business contract partner or business affiliate. Please view current HESS Business Partners and Affiliates below.
Current Approved HESS / Coalition Contract Business Partners and Business Affiliates
Website: www.apogee.us
Contact Information:
Jonathan Lucia, Business Development, jlucia@apogee.us
About Apogee
As the leading managed services provider to higher education, Apogee, a Boldyn Networks company, blends higher education expertise and processes with advanced technology and insights to keep your IT environment operating at peak performance.
We call this unique blend the Apogee Edge.
The Apogee Edge means We Wear Your Colors™. We act as an extension of your campus IT team to keep the efficiency of your IT operations well in hand, so you can confidently redirect critical staff to the strategic projects that accelerate your IT transformation and contribute to your institutional mission.
Our considerable investments in client services, around-the-clock call center support, world-class IT service management (ITSM) technologies like ServiceNow®, and custom analytics provide the service, support, visibility, and insights you need to thrive.
HESS Member Pricing
Apogee is offering the following discounts to HESS member institutions:
- 20% minimum discount off standard rates for ResNet, Campus Network, Video Services, and Executive Advisory Services.*
- 10 hours free towards any Cloud or Security Services offering.
- Free network consultation with qualified interest.
*Discount is minimum discount offered to Hess member institutions. Additional discounts may be offered when services are bundled or when existing infrastructure is solution ready.
Hess Member Rates
Service | ResNet | Campus Network | Video Servicec | Executive Advisory Services |
Per Bed Space-Monthly | $32.48a | – | $10.04 | – |
Per Access Point-Monthly | — | $62.66b | — | – |
Hourly Rate | – | – | – | $196.00 |
a ResNet and IPTV pricing assumes a minimum number of 1,000 bed spaces.
b Campus Network pricing assumes a minimum of 250 access points.
c Video Service pricing includes Traditional RF or IPTV. Additional 15% discount applies when Traditional RF and IPTV are bundled.
Managed IT Services: HESS Member Pricing excludes pricing for Managed IT Services. Due to varying institutional IT design, volume, and infrastructure, Apogee does not provide standardized pricing for these services. However, Apogee will work with Hess Member institutions to provide competitive pricing subsequent to a discovery period.
To learn more about these relationship levels and how your company might develop a business relationship with HESS, click here. For more information on this process, please contact Keith Fowlkes, Executive Director for the HESS Consortium at keith.fowlkes@hessconsortium.org.