SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AND RESPONDING TO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

• US 20090094040A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Directrfp LLC
• Original Assignee: Directrfp LLC
• Inventors: Lewis, Curt
• Application Number:
  US11/868,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094040A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/346
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting

Abstract

A method for generating a request for proposal and responding to the request for proposal is provided. The method includes generating, via a computing module stored in a computing system, a request for proposal. The method further includes providing, via the computing module, a response to the request for proposal. The method also includes receiving at least one of a first communication related to the request for proposal and a second communication related to the response by using the computing module.

Claims

1. A method for generating a request for proposal and responding to the request for proposal, said method comprising:

generating, via a computing module stored in a computing system, a request for proposal;

providing, via the computing module, a response to the request for proposal;

receiving at least one of a first communication related to the request for proposal and a second communication related to the response by using the computing module.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising protecting the second communication from access by a user other than a customer sending the first communication and a supplier receiving the first communication.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

protecting the second communication from access by a user other than a customer sending the first communication and a supplier receiving the first communication; and

providing an option to the customer to remove the protection.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising protecting the first communication from access by a user other than a supplier sending the second communication and a customer receiving the second communication.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

protecting the first communication from access by a user other than a supplier sending the second communication and a customer receiving the second communication; and

providing an option to the customer to remove the protection.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising compiling a request for proposal summary report based on at least one of the first communication and the second communication and based on at least one of the request for proposal and the response.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

storing the request for proposal and the response within the computing system; and

retrieving at least one of the request for proposal and the response upon receiving a command from a user.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising compiling the request for proposal, the response, and at least one of the first and second communication within a report.

9. A computing system for generating a request for proposal (RFP) and responding to the request for proposal, said computing system comprising:

an RPF memory device configured to store a request for proposal upon executing a computing module;

a response memory device configured to store a response to the request for proposal upon executing the computing module; and

a processor configured to execute the computing module to output the request for proposal and communicate at least one of a first communication related to the request for proposal and a second communication related to the response.

10. A computing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to protect the second communication from access by a user other than a customer sending the first communication and a supplier receiving the first communication.

11. A computing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to protect the second communication from access by a user other than a customer sending the first communication and a first supplier receiving the first communication, and wherein said processor is configured to provide an option to the customer to provide access to the second communication to a second supplier other than the first supplier.

12. A computing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to protect the first communication from access by a user other than a supplier sending the second communication and a customer receiving the second communication.

13. A computing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to protect the first communication from access by a user other than a first supplier sending the second communication and a customer receiving the second communication, and wherein said processor is configured to provide an option to the customer to provide access to the first communication to a second supplier other than the first supplier.

14. A computing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to compile a request for proposal summary report based on at least one of the first communication and the second communication and based on at least one of the request for proposal and the response.

15. A web-based system for generating a request for proposal and responding to the request for proposal, said web-based system comprising:

a customer computing device configured to control execution of a computing module to output a request for proposal on a web page; and

a supplier computing device coupled to said customer computing device via a network, said supplier computing device configured to control execution of the computing module to output a response that is based on the request, wherein said computing module is configured to receive at least one of a first communication related to the request for proposal and a second communication related to the response.

16. A web-based system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to execute the computing module, wherein said processor is configured to protect the second communication from access by a user other than a customer sending the first communication and a supplier receiving the first communication.

17. A web-based system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to execute the computing module, wherein said processor is configured to protect the second communication from access by a user other than a customer sending the first communication and a first supplier receiving the first communication, and wherein said processor is configured to provide an option to the customer to provide access to the second communication to a second supplier other than the first supplier.

18. A web-based system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to execute the computing module, wherein said processor is configured to protect the first communication from access by a user other than a supplier sending the second communication and a customer receiving the second communication.

19. A web-based system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to execute the computing module, wherein said processor is configured to protect the first communication from access by a user other than a first supplier sending the second communication and a customer receiving the second communication, and wherein said processor is configured to provide an option to the customer to provide access to the first communication to a second supplier other than the first supplier.

20. A web-based system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to execute the computing module, wherein said processor is configured to compile a request for proposal summary report based on at least one of the first communication and the second communication and based on at least one of the request for proposal and the response.

21. A web-based system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

an RFP database configured to store the request for proposal;

a response database configured to store the response; and

a processor configured to access at least one of the request for proposal and the response based on a command from a user.

22. A method for generating a request for proposal and responding to the request for proposal, said method comprising:

receiving an initial request for proposal;

providing an initial response to the initial request for proposal; and

determining, by a processor, whether an additional request for proposal is similar to the initial request for proposal.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising populating, by the processor, at least one answer within an additional response to the additional request for proposal with at least one answer within the initial response upon determining that the initial request for proposal is similar to the additional request for proposal.

24. A computing system for generating a request for proposal and responding to the request for proposal, said computing system comprising:

a memory device configured to receive an initial request for proposal;

a memory device configured to store an initial response to the initial request for proposal; and

a processor configured to determine, whether an additional request for proposal is similar to the initial request for proposal.

25. A computing system in accordance with claim 24, wherein said processor configured to populate at least one answer within an additional response to the additional request for proposal with at least one answer within the initial response upon determining that the initial request for proposal is similar to the additional request for proposal.