Coming Soon: Afterschool MIS Cost Calculator
The six companies that responded to NLC's January 2012 request for information - Cityspan Technologies, Inc., Comet Informatics, Community TechKnowledge, nFocus Solutions, Social Solutions, and ThomasKelly Software - each provided cost estimates for a generalized afterschool system, including "fixed" setup costs, training, customization, and recurring licensing costs.
In November 2012, NLC will use these estimates to provide cities with an interactive online cost calculator. While these cost estimates are in no way binding on the companies that participated, they offer cities a reasonably good idea of the range of prices they might expect to pay for a citywide MI system, given certain parameters.
NLC has made every effort to ensure this information is accurate as of early 2012; however, these products are complex and fast-developing. NLC strongly encourages city leaders to conduct an RFP process whenever feasible and certainly contact vendors directly to discuss the city's specific needs, better understand the nuances of each MI system's features and implementation, and get a more accurate assessment of the likely cost. NLC does not endorse a specific software application; rather, the "best fit" for a city or youth-serving agency depends on its specific business case, its budget, and the local expertise available to it.
