On-line procurement or RFP auction system

• US 20020161697A1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marinebidexchange Com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marinebidexchange Com Incorporated
• Inventors: Brizendine, Ashley, Kostman, Roger C., Stephens, Charles M.
• Application Number:
  US10/126,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

An on-line RFP procurement auction system with bidder sub-auctions, using an Internet based communications network of network members inclusive of network buyers/requesters and network sellers/bidders, for processing an RFP for goods and services through at least one server and operating software. The system including a database for each category of goods and services offered or desired by network members of the system; photo upload capability for remote use by network buyers to particularly illustrate and explain the desired RFP service; capacity for network buyers to generate RFPs for goods or services displayed by jpegs and the like of photo uploads together with alpha-numeric RFP data; capacity for transmitting the RFPs inclusive of jpegs to the server; capacity for e-mail and wireless distribution of RFP notices to those network sellers/bidders; that have asked for notices within selectable categories of RFP'"'"'s; capacity to enable a network seller/bidder to submit an encrypted bid to the server; and capacity within the server for generating a list of all responsive bids and e-mailing the same to the buyer/requester generator after conclusion of an auction.

Claims

1. An on-line RFP procurement auction system with bidder sub-auctions, using an Internet based communications network of network members inclusive of network buyers/requesters and network sellers/bidders, for processing an RFP for goods and services through at least one central network processing unit (“

CNPU”

) and operating software therefore, the system comprising;

(a) a database for each category of goods and services offered or desired by network members of the system;

(b) photo upload means for remote use by network buyers to particularly illustrate and explain desired RFP requirements;

(c) means for network buyers to generate said RFP for goods or services displayed by jpegs and the like of photo uploads together with alpha numeric RFP data;

(d) means for transmitting said RFPs inclusive of jpegs to said CNPU;

(e) means for e-mail and wireless distribution of RFP notices to those network sellers/bidders;

that have asked for notices within selectable categories of RFP'"'"'s.

(f) means for enabling a network seller/bidder to submit an encrypted bid to said CNPU; and

(g) means within said CNPU for the requester, after an RFP period has closed, to view all bids along with a bidder'"'"'s optional profile (mini-webpage) to develop a knowledge-based selection of his preferred bidder; and

(h) means for all participatory bidders of said RFP to view each of said RFP'"'"'s.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, including:

means for furnishing a particular form to a network buyer for use with a particular category of RFP.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

self-tutorials for teaching a network buyer/requester proper use of said form for each category thereof.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said means (e) comprises:

means for enabling said buyer/requester to evaluate network bidder candidates upon a basis consisting of one or more of geography, capability, experience, peril classification, language spoken, and special conditions of sale or offer.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for establishing a member profile through use of a registration questionnaire.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said network buyer/requester consists of a member of a group selected from marine insurance companies, private boat owners, self-insured individuals, boat manufacturers, homeowners, marinas, and private and commercial waterfront facilities.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said network sellers/bidders consist of a member of a group selected from boat yards, inflatable dinghy dealers, vessel trailer manufacturers, vessel towing companies, vessel and cargo salvors, vessel transporting companies, dock and seawall companies, and beach restoration companies.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for charging commissions to network buyers for a lowest RFP bid even if such lowest bid is not selected by said buyer.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, in which:

said means for network buyers/requesters to generate RFPs comprises RFP listing preview means for use during an RFP pending period preceding an active RFP.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for defining an auction period during which a RFP subject description may be added to but not deleted.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

means for providing selectable categories of sub-contractor databases, consisting of network members, for exclusive use by a network buyer/requester for formulation of responses to active RFPs.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, in which said database categories include engine repair facilities and upholstery shops.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for establishing a limited RFP auction consisting of a selectable subset of network seller/bidders.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for limiting receipt by sellers/bidders of RFPs to categories and subjects of particular interest thereto.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

database search means for identifying candidate network member bidders for said limited auction.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for facilitating a forward auction of a designated product or vessel.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, in which said forward auction comprises a salvage auction.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, in which said salvage auction may occur in combination with a RFP auction of the same vessel.

2. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

means for providing a link to a seller/bidder'"'"'s website, which link is provided with the seller/bidder'"'"'s bid.