System and method for internet based procurement of goods and services

• US 8,712,819 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IQNavigator Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Volt Information Sciences Incorporated
• Inventors: Brief, Victor, Cullen, Andrew A. III, Zarrelli, Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jonathan G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Folashade
• Application Number:
  US13/460,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.23, 705/7.17
• US Class Current: 705/7.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system for internet-based procurement of non-cataloged goods and services based upon qualified resumes includes a human resources procurement server, an associate vendor terminal, and a hiring manager terminal. The associate vendor terminal is connected to the human resources procurement server. The hiring manager terminal is connected to the human resources procurement server. The human resources procurement server receives at least one job request from the hiring manager terminal. The human resources procurement server also receives at least one qualified resume from the associate vendor terminal and forwards the qualified resume to the hiring manager terminal for review.

Claims

1. A method for procurement and administrative management of non-payroll workers, the method comprising:

providing a procurement network comprising a human resources procurement server, at least one hiring manager terminal, and a plurality of associated vendor terminals;

wherein the providing comprises utilizing data to establish a list of approved associated vendor terminals selected from the plurality of associated vendor terminals;

wherein each of the plurality of associated vendor terminals has access to information related to a plurality of job candidates;

wherein each of the at least one hiring manager terminal is associated with an employer;

wherein each associated vendor terminal of the plurality of associated vendor terminals is associated with a vendor that is outside the employer;

processing, by the human resources procurement server, a competitive request-for-quote from a hiring manager terminal of the at least one hiring manager terminal;

wherein the processing of the competitive request-for-quote comprises;

storing the competitive request-for-quote;

submitting the competitive request-for-quote; and

broadcasting the competitive request-for-quote to the approved associated vendor terminals;

wherein the storing of the competitive request-for-quote comprises;

receiving a plurality of specified mandatory request for quote template variables comprising at least one of non-payroll worker assignment location, job title, job description, related job skills, assignment start date, assignment end date, estimated laborer billing rate, and anticipated labor hours; and

determining whether mandatory request-for-quote template variable input has occurred;

wherein the determining of whether mandatory request-for-quote template variable input has occurred comprises;

notifying the hiring manager terminal that required request-for-quote template variable input is incomplete responsive to a determination that mandatory request-for-quote template variable input has not occurred;

providing to the hiring manager terminal a modified user interface to input missing or incorrect request-for-quote template variable information; and

storing the competitive request-for-quote responsive to a determination that the mandatory request-for-quote template variable input has occurred;

processing, by the human resources procurement server, a completed request for quote response from each of at least a portion of the approved associated vendor terminals;

wherein the processing of the completed request for quote response comprises processing at least one job-candidate record;

receiving, by the human resources procurement server, an approval of the request for quote response from the hiring manager terminal; and

processing, by the human resources procurement server, engagement of a non-payroll worker responsive to the approval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data utilized comprises:

geographic non-payroll laborer resource provision authority;

skill set non-payroll laborer resource provision authority;

job category non-payroll laborer resource provision authority; and

job title non-payroll laborer resource provision authority.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data utilized comprises:

vendor-preferred tier labor resource provision level; and

client business-unit preferred-vendor sourcing-preference list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of submitting the competitive request-for-quote comprises:

determining a stored non-payroll worker request-for-quote approval status responsive to client-configured business rules;

notifying a client of pending required approval authorization responsive to business-rules configuration;

providing request-for-quote record access to designated client approving personnel; and

storing a request-for-quote approval disposition by the designated client personnel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of storing the request-for-quote approval disposition comprises:

terminating a request-for-quote process responsive to client approver personnel authorization rejection; and

saving the competitive request-for-quote to an open-jobs data collection responsive to client approver personnel authorization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of broadcasting the competitive request-for-quote comprises:

posting a request-for-quote open job to the approved associated vendor terminals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of posting the request-for-quote open job comprises:

providing associated vendor personnel access to a competitive request-for-quote open job responsive to receipt of an open job posting; and

notifying client personnel of the posting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing the completed request for quote response comprises:

submitting the request-for-quote response.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of processing the at least one job-candidate record comprises attaching an electronic resume associated with an applicable stored job candidate record.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of processing the at least one job-candidate record comprises validating a stored job-candidate profile and applicable resume attachment.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of validating the stored job-candidate profile comprises:

notifying a vendor user of validation failure responsive to a determination that required job-candidate profile data is incomplete or incorrect;

providing the vendor user with a modified user interface to edit job-candidate profile data;

storing a modified job-candidate record;

notifying the vendor user of validation failure responsive to a determination that the job-candidate resume attachment failed validation requirements; and

providing the vendor user with a modified user interface to attach or upload a job-candidate resume.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of submitting a request-for-quote response comprises:

posting a job-candidate profile and attached resume to a client;

wherein the job-candidate profile and attached resume are associated with an open client request-for-quote; and

notifying applicable client personnel of the received request-for-quote response.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing the at least one job-candidate record comprises:

creating the at least one job-candidate record, the at least one job-candidate record comprising at least one of worker identity, applicable work eligibility, education history, professional certifications, and previous work experience;

receiving specification of job request attributes for the at least one job-candidate record comprising at least labor rates and available assignment start date; and

storing settings related to the at least one job-candidate record.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing the submitted request-for-quote response comprises:

receiving at least one submitted job-candidate profile;

creating a temporary laborer master record;

screening candidate submittals;

administering interview logistics; and

selecting a qualified non-payroll worker.