Flexible data store for implementing a streamlined acquisition process

• US 8,700,488 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noblis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Noblis, Inc.
• Inventors: Frost, Stephen Peter, Griffeth, Eva L., Leigh, John Gregory, Menna, Robert Rudolph, Snow, Michelle Louise
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Resha
• Application Number:
  US12/289,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,996 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.44
• 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 computer-implemented 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 stored 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;

representing, by the interactive tool, a proposed solution to the request for proposal by at least one of the potential vendors, wherein the proposed solution links the requirements for the acquisition with one or more solutions;

providing, by the interactive tool, a notice to the at least one potential vendor when the proposed solution does not include a solution for every requirement for the acquisition;

representing each of the one or more solutions and the notice as a stored data element in the data structure associated with the interactive tool; and

providing, by the interactive tool, analysis to the buyer using the linked data elements representing the requirements for the acquisition and the proposed solution to facilitate the buyer selecting a chosen vendor for the acquisition.

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, further including enabling development of proposed solutions by:

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 the one or more solutions with the requirements for the acquisition includes:

alerting each vendor to the data elements representing the requirements for the acquisition; and

requiring each vendor to coordinate the one or more solutions to the data elements representing the requirements for the acquisition.

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

receiving a solution 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 for the related requirement that corresponds to the solution received for the primary requirement.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, by the interactive tool, a request for additional information for the request for proposal from the buyer to the vendor.

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

receiving a solution 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 for the related requirement; and

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

14. A computer-implemented 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 stored 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;

representing, by the interactive tool, a proposed solution to the request for proposal by at least one of the potential vendors, wherein the proposed solution links the requirements for the acquisition with one or more solutions;

providing, by the interactive tool, a notice to the at least one potential vendor when the proposed solution does not include a solution every requirement for the acquisition;

representing each of the one or more solutions and the notice as a stored data element in the data structure associated with the interactive tool;

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

providing, through the interactive tool, an alert notifying the at least one potential vendor that the buyer has altered the requirements for the acquisition; and

receiving revisions to the proposed solution based on the buyer'"'"'s altered requirements for acquisition.

15. The method of claim 14, further including providing a notice to the buyer when the proposed solution does not provide a solution for every requirement for the acquisition.

16. The method of claim 14, further including enforcing a pre-determined schedule further by 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. A computer-implemented interactive acquisition system for enabling a buyer to make an acquisition according to a predetermined schedule, comprising:

one or more memories storing instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform;

receive requirements for the acquisition from the buyer;

represent each requirement as one or more data elements in a data structure;

present the requirements to potential vendors for the acquisition;

represent a proposed solution to the requirements by at least one of the potential vendors, wherein the proposed solution links the requirements for the acquisition with one or more solutions;

provide a notice to the at least one potential vendor when the proposed solution does not include a solution for every requirement for the acquisition;

represent each of the one or more solutions and the notice as a stored data element in the data structure associated with the interactive tool; and

facilitate the buyer in implementing a pre-determined schedule for selecting a chosen vendor for the acquisition from among the one or more potential vendors.

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 one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to perform:

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 one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to perform:

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.