Material ordering and reporting expediter (MORE)

• US 7,552,059 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Gruber, Robert Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, FREDA ANN
• Application Number:
  US11/086,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/80, 705 26- 27, 705/37, 705 39- 40, 715/210
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A computer program which automates and assist various members of an order and approval chain in preparing purchase documents. A requester using the program enters a part number and other information in the purchase document and forwards the document to a processor. The processor checks the purchase document for accuracy and completeness and forwards the document to the approval chain. When each member of the approval chain electronically signs the purchase document is returned to the processor who fills the purchase order.

Claims

1. A computer-based networked system for coordination of a government purchase document and approval of said government purchase document by an approval chain having a plurality of signatories, comprising:

means used by a requester to create said government purchase document, said requester selecting said government purchase document to be created by said requester from a group of government purchase documents consisting of a DD (Department of Defense) Form 1348 Six Part Requisition Document, a DD Form 1348-6 Requisition Document and a work sheet for a government bankcard purchase;

first notifying means for notifying a processor of said government purchase document, wherein the processor reviews said government purchase document for completeness and accuracy and upon finding said government purchase document to be complete and accurate, the processor forwards said government purchase document to said approval chain;

means for determining said approval chain for said government purchase document;

means for sending said government purchase document through said approval chain, wherein each of the signatories approves said government purchase document by affixing an electronic signature to said government purchase document before said government purchase document is forwarded to a next signatory in said approval chain for approval;

second notifying means for notifying the processor of approval of said government purchase document, wherein the processor is notified after a final signatory in said approval chain approves said government purchase document;

means for providing a sole source statement for the purchase of said item, wherein said requester provides said sole source statement, said sole source statement justifying the purchase of said item without price competition from multiple vendors, wherein a vendor has a product, supply or service to be purchased which is uniquely configured for a particular application and said requester accesses a Requirements and Guideline Screen within said computer-based networked system to provide sole source justification information for a sole source buy, said sole source justification information including a description of said product, supply or service to be purchased;

a rationale supporting said sole source buy of said product, supply or service;

market research by said requester to identify said vendor as a qualified vendor to supply said product, supply or service; and

an urgent requirement statement which sets forth a statement of harm to a government agency when a delay occurs in purchasing said product, supply or service from said vendor;

means for providing an extended description of said item to be purchased using said computer-based networked system, wherein said requester provides said extended description of said item to be purchased;

means for providing an urgency statement to expedite the purchase of said item, wherein said requester provides said urgency statement to expedite the purchase of said item, said urgency statement to expedite the purchase of said item including an impact statement to the Government agency in terms of cost to the Government agency and a loss of mission capability to the Government agency;

a date by which the item needs to be delivered to the Government agency;

said sole source statement when said item cost more than twenty five hundred dollars; and

a past procurement history for said item;

means for printing an approved government purchase document, wherein said approved government purchase document contains procurement data which is relevant to the purchase of said item and the electronic signature of each of said signatories in said approval chain, wherein said procurement data relevant to the purchase of said item includes a nomenclature for said item to be purchased, a unit of issue for said item to be purchased, a unit cost for said item to be purchased, a National Stock number for said item to be purchased and a distribution code for said item to be purchased; and

means for providing a job order number for said item to be purchased, said requester providing the job order number for said item to be purchased, wherein said computer-based networked system having a master job order file which includes said job order number to validate said job order number, insure a positive funds balance for said job order number and insure that said job order number allows for a purchase of said item.

2. The computer-based network of claim 1 wherein a force activation designator authority is provided by said requester when a past procurement history for said item is not being supplied by said requester.

3. The computer-based networked system of claim 1 wherein said computer-based networked system provides an expiration date on said government purchase document for funds used to purchase said item when said computer-based networked system indicates said positive fund balance is available for the purchase of said item.

4. The computer-based networked system of claim 1 wherein the description of said product, supply or service to be purchased for said sole source buy includes a product name, a product part number, a manufacturer and an intended use for said product, supply or service.

5. The computer-based networked system of claim 1 wherein the rationale supporting the sole source buy of said product, supply or service is selected from the group consisting essentially of a statement covering unique capabilities of said product, supply or service, a statement covering compatibility of said product, supply or service with existing products, supplies or services, a statement describing proprietary rights of said vendor in said product, supply or service, and a statement identifying said item to be purchased as a direct replacement part.

6. The computer-based networked system of claim 1 wherein said urgent requirement statement for said sole source buy includes an estimate of cost resulting directly from the delay in purchasing said product, supply or service in man hours lost and dollars lost.