Architecture and Tools for Processing Pre-Award Systems Acquisition Documents

Implementation of Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 set into motion a series of changes requiring Government use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Small businesses can use EDI to acquire contracts to $100,000. EDI is the transmission of unambiguous information of business significance between computer of independent organizations. EDI is the common "language" used to get information from one computer system to another. Small business Request for Quotes/purchase orders (RFQs/POs) have transaction sets promulgated by the DAta Interchange Standards Association, INc. The ASC X12 develop and maintain EDI standards and is chartered by the American National Standards Institute. Request for Proposals (RFPs) usually contain larger amounts of text than RFQs. Global proposes to utilize commercial software (i.e., Microsoft(TM) Word and Ventana's GroupSystem V (TM) to preprocess typical systems RFPs and proposals into electronic formats. Product will be translated into standard format by a software program developed by Global allowing Government agencies to develop EDI Raps in a standard format for electronic transmission. A "Response to RFP," in standard format will be developed for Trading Partners to submit proposals to the Government. They will be able to encrypt proposals using public key encryption. Transaction sets will be submitted to ASC X12 for approval.