FLEXIBLE DATA STORE FOR IMPLEMENTING A STREAMLINED ACQUISITION PROCESS

• US 20140188652A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Noblis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Noblis, Inc.
• Inventors: FROST, Stephen Peter, GRIFFETH, Eva L., LEIGH, John Gregory, MENNA, Robert Rudolph, SNOW, Michelle Louise
• Application Number:
  US14/200,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188652A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• 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

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A computer-implemented method for facilitating a process for a first entity to make an acquisition, the method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:

receiving requirements for the acquisition from the first entity;

presenting a request for proposal generated based on the requirements to one or more second entities;

receiving information associated with a proposed solution to the request for proposal from at least one of the one or more second entities;

linking the information associated with the proposed solution to the requirements; and

providing a notice to at least one of the first entity or the one or more second entities when a deficiency exists between the information associated with the proposed solution and the requirements.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein receiving the requirements comprises:

receiving a selection of a requirement from a library of requirements including one or more of;

requirements previously received from the first entity;

requirements specified by a government regulation; and

standard acquisition requirements.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein receiving the requirements comprises:

providing a requirements template to the first entity via an interactive tool;

receiving a particular requirement from the first entity via the requirements template;

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

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

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the first entity is a buyer and the one or more second entities include one or more potential vendors.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, the method further comprising the following operation performed by the at least one processor:

enabling the first entity to compile a conformance matrix based on at least one of the information associated with the proposed solution or the requirements.

27. A computer-implemented interactive acquisition system configured to enable a first entity to make an acquisition, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

receive requirements for the acquisition from the first entity;

present a request for proposal generated based on the requirements to one or more second entities;

receive information associated with a proposed solution to the request for proposal from at least one of the one or more second entities;

link the information associated with the proposed solution to the requirements; and

provide a notice to at least one of the first entity or the one or more second entities when a deficiency exists between the information associated with the proposed solution and the requirements.

28. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, further comprising a database configured to:

store one or more requirements previously received from the first entity; and

store one or more proposed solutions previously proposed by the one or more second entities.

29. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

retrieve, from the database, a requirement previously received from the first entity; and

present the retrieved requirement to the first entity.

30. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

apply a standard format to display the request for proposal.

31. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive information relating to evaluation criteria or rules from the first entity; and

enable the first entity to evaluate the proposed solution based on the evaluation criteria or rules.

32. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

enable the first entity to develop forecasts based on the requirements.

33. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

enable the one or more second entities to develop the proposed solution by providing access to the one or more second entities to a library of potential proposed solutions including at least one of;

a solution previously proposed by the one or more second entities;

a solution previously accepted by the first entity;

a solution specified by a government regulation; and

a standard solution for the acquisition.

34. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive information relating to a pricing structure for at least one of the requirements from the first entity; and

present the information relating to the pricing structure to the one or more second entities.

35. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive a description of the at least one of the requirements from the first entity; and

link the information relating to the pricing structure with the description.

36. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive a first proposed solution for a primary requirement in the requirements;

determine that the primary requirement is associated with a related requirement;

notify the one or more second entities of the related requirement; and

receive a second proposed solution for the related requirement that relates to the first proposed solution received for the primary requirement.

37. The computer-implemented interactive acquisition system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive a first proposed solution for a primary requirement in the requirements;

determine that the primary requirement is associated with a related requirement;

notify the first entity of a missing proposed solution for the related requirement; and

receive a second proposed solution for the related requirement that relates to the first proposed solution received for the primary requirement.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for facilitating a process for a first entity to make an acquisition, the method comprising:

receiving requirements for the acquisition from the first entity;

presenting a request for proposal generated based on the requirements to one or more second entities;

receiving information associated with a proposed solution to the request for proposal from at least one of the one or more second entities;

linking the information associated with the proposed solution to the requirements; and

providing a notice to at least one of the first entity or the one or more second entities when a deficiency exists between the information associated with the proposed solution and the requirements.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein receiving the requirements comprises:

receiving a selection of a requirement from a library of requirements including one or more of;

requirements previously received from the first entity;

requirements specified by a government regulation; and

standard acquisition requirements.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the requirements include information relating to a predetermined schedule, and the method further comprising:

enabling the first entity to control timing of releasing comments to the one or more second entities based on the predetermined schedule.

41. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein the comments include at least one of:

a clarification request, a deficiencies notice, and a discussion item.