Flexible data store for implementing a streamlined acquisition process
First Claim
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.
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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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating a process for a buyer to make an acquisition using an interactive tool, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for facilitating a process for a buyer to make an acquisition using an interactive tool, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An interactive acquisition system for enabling a buyer to make an acquisition according to a predetermined schedule, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification