Flexible data store for implementing a streamlined acquisition process

• US 20100106617A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noblis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Noblis, Inc.
• Inventors: Menna, Robert Rudolph, Snow, Michelle Louise, Leigh, John Gregory, Griffeth, Eva L., Frost, Stephen Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes

Abstract

Methods and systems for seamlessly integrating an end-to-end acquisition process using a flexible data structure are disclosed. A flexible data structure consistent with these methods and systems may connect the buyer'"'"'s requirement to the vendor'"'"'s proposed solution, facilitating a requirement-by-requirement evaluation process allowing buyers to evaluate content as well as price of a proposal. Embodiments of the present invention standardize the format of proposals, allowing buyers to more easily compare vendors'"'"' proposals side-by-side. Still other embodiments of the present invention produce an error checking report to further aid vendors in improving proposals and buyers in evaluating proposals.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a process for a buyer to make an acquisition using an interactive tool, the method comprising:

receiving, by the interactive tool, requirements for the acquisition from the buyer;

representing each of the requirements as a data element in a data structure associated with the interactive tool;

presenting, by the interactive tool, a request for proposal based on the stored data elements to potential vendors for the acquisition;

enabling development of proposed solutions to the request for proposal by one or more of the potential vendors via the interactive tool;

for each of the one or more potential vendors, linking solution items of the vendor'"'"'s proposed solution to the data elements representing the requirements, via the data structure;

providing, by the interactive tool, analysis to the buyer using the linked data elements and solution items to facilitate the buyer selecting a chosen vendor for the acquisition; and

enforcing, by the interactive tool, a pre-determined schedule for the buyer'"'"'s selection process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the requirements further includes:

accessing a library of requirements including one or more of;

requirements previously used by the buyer;

requirements specified by a government regulation; and

standard acquisition requirements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the requirements further includes:

providing a requirements template to the buyer via the interactive tool;

receiving a particular requirement from the buyer via the requirements template;

determining whether the particular requirement conforms to the requirements template; and

storing the particular requirement in the data structure, when the particular requirement conforms to the requirements template.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the requirements template increases accuracy of the received set of requirements.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the requirements template reduces time needed to receive the set of requirements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the request for proposal further includes:

applying a standard format for displaying the request for proposal using the stored data elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the standard format reduces time to develop the proposed solutions.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the standard format increases accuracy of the proposed solutions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling development of proposed solutions further includes:

accessing a library of possible proposed solutions including at least one of;

a solution previously used by one of the vendors;

a solution previously accepted by the buyer;

a solution specified by a government regulation; and

a standard solution for the acquisition.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein linking solution items further includes:

alerting each vendor to the linked data elements; and

requiring vendors to offer coordinate the solution items to the linked data elements.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for a primary requirement in the requirements:

receiving a solution item of a vendor'"'"'s proposed solution for the primary requirement;

determining, via the data structure, that the primary requirement has a related requirement;

notifying the vendor of the related requirement; and

requiring the vendor to provide a solution item for the related requirement that corresponds to the solution item received for the primary requirement.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling development of proposed solutions further includes:

receiving a particular solution item of the vendor'"'"'s proposed solution;

determining the data element linked to the particular solution item; and

alerting the vendor to a deficiency in the vendor'"'"'s proposed solution when the linked data element does not match the particular solution item.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising for a primary requirement in the requirements,

receiving a solution item of a vendor'"'"'s proposed solution for the primary requirement;

determining, via the data structure, that the primary requirement has a related requirement;

notifying the buyer of a missing proposed solution item for the related requirement.

requiring the vendor to provide a solution item for the related requirement that corresponds to the solution item received for the primary requirement.

14. A method for facilitating a process for a buyer to make an acquisition using an interactive tool, the method comprising:

receiving, by the interactive tool, requirements for the acquisition from the buyer;

representing each of the requirements as a data element in a data structure associated with the interactive tool;

presenting, by the interactive tool, a request for proposal based on the stored data elements to potential vendors for the acquisition;

enabling development of proposed solutions to the request for proposal by one or more of the potential vendors via the interactive tool;

for each of the one or more potential vendors, linking solution items of the vendor'"'"'s proposed solution to the data elements representing the requirements, via the data structure;

providing, by the interactive tool, analysis to the buyer using the linked data elements and solution items to facilitate the buyer selecting a chosen vendor for the acquisition;

receiving an element of the vendor'"'"'s proposed solution related to a primary requirement in the set of requirements;

determining that a particular data element that vendor has provided a solution item has a corresponding linked data element;

determining that the vendor has not provided a solution item for the corresponding linked data element;

notifying the buyer of the missing solution item for the corresponding linked data element; and

enforcing, by the interactive tool, a pre-determined schedule for the buyer'"'"'s selection process.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein notifying the buyer of the missing solution item for the corresponding linked data element further includes:

reducing cross communications between the buyer and one or more vendors by linking the proposed solutions to the requirements.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein enforcing a pre-determined schedule further includes:

allowing the buyer to control the timing of a release of comments to the one or more vendors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the comments include at least one of:

clarification requests, deficiencies notices, and discussion items.

18. An interactive acquisition system for enabling a buyer to make an acquisition according to a predetermined schedule, comprising:

an online acquisition management tool configured to;

receive requirements for the acquisition from the buyer;

present the requirements to potential vendors for the acquisition;

enable one or more of the potential vendors to develop a proposed solution to the requirements; and

facilitate the buyer in implementing a pre-determined schedule selecting a chosen vendor for the acquisition from among the vendors developing a proposed solution; and

a data structure associated with the online acquisition management tool configured to;

store each requirement as a data element; and

link the data element for each requirement to a corresponding solution item in each vendor'"'"'s proposed solution.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a library configured to;

maintain one or more requirements previously used by the buyer; and

maintain one or more proposed solutions previously used by the vendor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the online acquisition management tool is further configured to:

retrieve a requirement previously used by the buyer from the library; and

present the retrieved requirement to the buyer while receiving the requirements from the buyer.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the online acquisition management tool is further configured to:

retrieve a proposed solution previously used by the vendor from the library; and

present the proposed solution to the vendor while enabling development of the vendor'"'"'s proposed solution.