Submitted by:
Guy E. Thompson
Procurement Analyst I, GATEC Team Member
United States Air Force
Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) /PK
1940 Allbrook Drive, Suite 3
Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433-5309 USA
v: (513) 257-5231
f: (513) 257-7429
e: thompson@gatec.wpafb.af.mil
Categories:
Research, government; Economic development
Keywords:
Innovative or improved ways of doing things; More equitable access to technology or electronic information; Creation of new ideas, products or services; Partnerships between public and private sector
Supporting Documentation (contact author for more information):
Documentation; Video; Other: text reports and calculations
The Story:
Government Acquisition Through Electronic Commerce (GATEC)
ASC/PK,the Air Force contracting office at Wright Patterson AEB has developed an electronic contracting tool for use by the Department of Defense. The Project Engineer for this effort is Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL). GATEC uses EDI technology to send RFQs to vendors, receive quotes from vendors and to transmit awards and award information back to vendors. The flow of information goes from existing standard procurement systems through a site computer for translation, to a communication hub computer, via Internet, for passing on to multiple Value Added Networks (VANs) and then on to vendors. The return routing is reversed. GATEC uses ANSI X12 standards as well as X400 enveloping standards. GATEC reduces procurement leadtime, increases competition resulting in lower item costs, and improves buyer efficiency. Vendors gain access to more government requirements and have greater opportunities to compete for increased business.
This new concept has generated a need for ED! knowledge on the part of these vendors and a new market for providing this knowledge has grown. It is a part of the larger Electronic Commerce (EC) concept that will encompass the entire business cycle from identification of a requirement through the procurement cycle and through the receiving I invoice/payment processes all electronically. Internet offers an alternative to direct line connections. The pilot has been operational since October 1992 and has documented the process improvements indicated. Refinements to the system are being made and it will be exported to other sites in the near future. Further enhancements are planned in phases and include contract administration, small dollar service procurements, user access to an item description database and inclusion of large dollar solicitations, specifications and contracts. GATEC was designed using the standard systems approach developed by LLNL as a part of the EC concept. The modular development allows the vast majority of the system to work with other agency systems with minimal software development needed. It is the only DOD ED! system designed to use national commercial standards, multiple value added networks, communicate all solicitation and award actions, and work with multiple standard procurement systems thereby allowing “one face to industry”.
Initial results indicate the exciting possibilities of this system. After a few months of limited operation, we have shown a 25% reduction in processing time and have almost doubled productivity. Improvements in the GATEC system will enable productivity to continue to grow for the next few months. There are both direct and indirect savings resulting from the use of ED!. These process improvements and savings accrue for all parties involved. It is important to note that this is only one area of the business cycle where ED! and Electronic Commerce (EC) can provide benefits. GATEC is making the vendor base ED! capable. The use of commercially accepted standards and off the shelf equipment with VAN provided software allows them to use the same methods to communicate with their other trading partners.
Internet has facilitated the effective implementation of ED! systems and has established the need for a faster, more reliable and powerful network in the future.
For additional information contact:
Margaret (Peg) Arnold, GATEC Team Leader
United States Air Force
Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) /PK
1940 Allbrook Drive, Suite 3
Wright Patterson AFB,Oh 45433-5309
v: (513) 257-5231
f: (513) 257-7429
e: arnold@atec.wpalb.af.mil