Following is a description of how the system helps you create solicitations and how you generate on-line Purchase Orders. You will also want to try the on-line tutorial yourself:

Creating SolicitationsThe Marketplace lets you create new solicitations containing:

• Response date
• Required delivery date
• Freight type
• Terms and Conditions

Items to be purchased are specified by a standardized product and service code with easy-to-use search functions. To match your unique needs, each line item can be modified by:

• Attaching a description file or a picture
• Altering the item description
• Saving the item and description in your “Favorite Items” library

Suppliers can be selected individually, or by letting The Marketplace automatically select them using your criteria. After supplier selection is complete, the solicitation is automatically emailed to the suppliers by pushing one button.

Responding to Solicitations

Vendors receive solicitations in their email inbox: they simply need to open the message, click on “Respond”, and:

• enter a price for each line item
• add any notes, comments, and other details
• press the “Submit Response” button

The bid is automatically submitted and received by The Marketplace. Your suppliers may update thier prices up until you decide to close the solicitation, either with an automatic pre-set time or a manual override.Vendor Selection and Award

After solicitations are closed, you select the winning vendor and the “Award Manager” helps you create an electronic Purchase Order, where you can specify:

• Tax for each line item
• Attached files
• Special delivery instructions
• The “Signed By” person

General Comments

Once the Purchase Order is complete, you can review it on the screen, print it out, or cancel it. Once you are ready, push one button and the Purchase Order is sent via email to the selected vendor.Creating Direct Purchase OrdersYou can also use the “Awards Manager” functions to create a direct purchase order without first going through a solicitation. The items being purchased and the vendor receiving the Purchase Order are selected in the same way as for a solicitation. At the end of the process, a purchase order is sent via email to your selected vendor.

Each solicitation and Purchase Order will display your business logo!

Reduce the paperwork and the cycle time to procure products and services