RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE GPA/W/15
10May1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1831)
Committee onGovernment Procurement
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: COMPILATION OFISSUES
Note bytheSecretariat
1. Atitsmeeting on27February 1996, theCommittee requested theSecretariat toprepare a
compilation ofissues and,inconjunction withtheChairman andbased oninputs from delegations,
identify options forcarrying forward work intheareaofinformation technology.
2. ThisNoteisanattempt torespond tothisrequest. Itisbased onthediscussions inthemeetings
oftheInterim Committee andtheCommittee onthistopic, replies tothequestionnaire drawn upby
theSecretariat (GPA/IC/W/4/Rev.1; replies arecontained indocuments GPA/IC/W/7 plusAddenda),
andotherpaperspresentedtotheCommittee(documentsGPA/IC/W/18,GPA/IC/W/19,GPA/IC/W/36,
GPA/W/13 andGPA/W/14).
3. Article XXIV:8 oftheAgreement reads asfollows:
Withaviewtoensuring thattheAgreement doesnotconstitute anunnecessary
obstacletotechnicalprogress,PartiesshallconsultregularlyintheCommitteeregarding
developments intheuseofinformation technology ingovernment procurement and
shall, ifnecessary, negotiate modifications totheAgreement. These consultations shall
inparticular aimtoensure thattheuseofinformation technology promotes theaims
ofopen, non-discriminatory andefficient government procurement through transparent
procedures, thatcontracts covered under theAgreement areclearly identified andthat
allavailable information relating toaparticular contract canbeidentified. When a
Party intends toinnovate, itshallendeavour totakeintoaccount theviews expressed
byother Parties regarding anypotential problems.
4. Inthediscussions, twomajor concerns haveemerged:
- that, where necessary, theAgreement should accommodate useofinformation
technology, inorder toenable itsbenefits tobeharnessed andtoensure thecontinued
relevance oftheAgreement;
- but,indoing so,non-discriminatory access should beprotected and,where possible,
enhanced.
Based onthese concerns, issues havearisen astowhether certain provisions oftheAgreement should
bereviewed andmodified andwhether other forms ofcooperation between Parties might bewarranted.
5. Thediscussions haverelated totwotypes ofuseofinformation technology:
- information onprocurement opportunities ondatabases;GPA/W/15
Page2
- electronic procurement orcommerce (thesituation where asignificant partorallof
theprocurement process isconducted through electronic means, going beyond
dissemination ofinformation onopportunities toinclude suchelements asdemand and
receipt ofdocumentation andspecifications, tender submissions andinvoicing).
While initially discussions weremainly focused onissues relating todatabases giving information on
procurement opportunities, recently theemphasis inthediscussions seems tohaveshifted towards
issues ofelectronic commerce.
6. Inthelightoftheabove, thecompilation ofissues partofthepaper isorganized under these
headings:
- summary ofthefactual information provided byParties ontheuseofinformation
technology intheirprocurement operations andofissues raised regarding theprovision
ofsuchinformation;
- issues related toensuring thataccess toprocurement opportunities onanon-
discriminatory basis ismaintained andenhanced;
- issues related toensuring thattheAgreement doesnotstand inthewayofgreater
efficiency inprocurement processes through useofinformation technology.
Thefinalsection ofthepaper attempts toidentify, forconsideration bytheCommittee, options for
carrying forward thework intheareaofinformation technology.
I. INFORMATION ONTHE USEOFINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(a) Summary oftheinformation provided
7. Thefollowing information isbased ondelegations 'responses totheSecretariat 'squestionnaire,
contained indocument GPA/IC/W/4/ Rev.1 andonthediscussion intheInterim Committee andthe
newCommitteeonGovernmentProcurement,includingthepracticaldemonstrationwhichwasorganised
inJuneof1995. Inviewoftherapid technological progress intheareaofinformation technology,
someoftheinformationdescribedbelowmayalreadyhavebeenovertakenbymorerecentdevelopments.
(i) Systems inplace/planned
8. InmostParties, internal developments seem, forthetimebeing, focused ontheestablishment
ofdatabases which listgovernment procurement opportunities, rather thanonelectronic commerce.
IntheEuropean Communities, thecentral element ofthisisitsdatabase called Tenders Electronic
Daily (TED). Under theproject, entitled SIMAP (Système d'Information Marchés Publics), inwhich
Norway andSwitzerland alsoparticipate, anumber ofinitiatives areeither underway orsoontobe
undertaken attheEuropean leveltoenhance thecurrent TEDsystem. TheCanadian government has
introduced theOpen Bidding System (OBS), aninternationally accessible electronic database on
government procurement. IntheUnited States, Electronic Commerce architecture provides forthe
VANs toreceive callsfortender astheyareissued; commercial VANs areusedastheinterface to
thesuppliers.
9. Insome countries, likeCanada, Korea andtheUnited States, suppliers canorder andinsome
cases, obtain tender documentation electronically.GPA/W/15
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10. TheUnited States Government isintheprocess ofmoving from apaper-based system toan
electronicprocessforconductingprocurements(electroniccommerce)which,forthetimebeingoperates
inparallel withthesystem ofthehardcopypublications. Forcontracts ofavalue lessthan$100,000,
electronicpublicationisalreadyreplacinghardcopypublication.TheGovernmentisplanningtodevelop
andimplement, nolaterthan1January 2000, aFederal Acquisition Computer Network architecture
("FACNET") thatwould begovernment-wide andprovide interoperability among users. FACNET
would beintroduced gradually, withtheinitial focus onpurchases below thesimplified acquisition
threshold.
11. InFinland, several public sector organizations areusing EDI(Electronic DataInterchange)
inprocurement processes (i.e.municipalities, governmental organizations andcompanies owned by
thegovernment).
12. Israel isconsidering building adatabase thatwould include allpublic procurement ofgoods
andservices covered bythenewAgreement, While, atthemoment, inKorea procurement information
atalllevels ofgovernment canbeobtained viatheGINS (Goldstar Information Network Service),
operated byaprivate firm, theKorean government intends toestablish acomputerized network on
government procurement. Chinese Taipei 'sGPIS (Government Procurement Information System)
provides asingle source fordisseminating tender information bygovernment entities; Chinese Taipei
isplanning tocarry outafeasibility study onelectronic commerce.
13. Finland andNorway areinvolved inpilotprojects concerning theuseofinformation technology
inpublic procurement, focusing bothondatabases containing information onprocurement opportunities
andonelectronic commerce.
(ii) Coverage ofthesystems: whatlevelofentities?
14. Thedatabases ofChinese Taipei, theEuropean Communities andKorea contain procurement
opportunities ofalllevels ofprocurement under thenewAgreement. Thedatabases inJapan andthe
United States aswellastheUSelectronic commerce initiative onlycover central government entities.
Itisnoted thatintheUnited States, procurement opportunities inseveral ofitsStates canbeaccessed
through anInternet Homepage. TheCanadian Open Bidding System includes procurements forgoods
andservice contracts valued atmore than $25.000,- andconstruction andmaintenance opportunities
valued atmore than$60,000,- andinclude those subject totheGATT Procurement Code.
(iii) Factors affecting access.
15. IntheUnited States, commercial VAN'sareusedastheinterface tothebusiness community.
Access tointerested suppliers depends ontheaccess capabilities provided bytheVANs. TheElectronic
Commerce system under development isintended tooperate through awiderange ofVANs, allowing
bothforeign anddomestic vendors theopportunity toaccess government-wide FACNET databases
when theybecome available.
16. Access totheEuropean TEDdatabase system ispossible worldwide. Efficient useofthesystem
isdependant uponfamiliarity withquery commands andsearch strategies. Suppliers (orinformation
brokers), bothdomestic andforeign, access itviathepublic switched network (X-25)connecting
toaNetwork UserAddress.
17. Thedatabases ofCanada, Japan andChinese Taipei containing information onprocurement
opportunities areon-line andcanbeaccessed through theInternet, allowing forworld-wide access.GPA/W/15
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18. While insome Parties (Canada, countries providing information ontheTEDdatabase, Korea,
theUnited States) feesarecharged tousetheirdatabase(s), others arefreeofcharge (Chinese Taipei,
Japan).
19. Intermsoflanguage,somePartiesindicatethattheirdatabasesonlylistthecontractopportunities
inthenational language, while others alsoprovide summary information inEnglish.
(iv) Standards usedinthedatabases
20. IntheUnited States, Electronic Commerce Hardware andtelecommunications infrastructure
consists ofinternal agency automated purchase systems thatareinterconnected tovendor-automated
systemsthroughahubthat,inturn,isinterconnectedtocommerciallyavailablenationalandinternational
Value Added Networks (VANs). Inmostcases, commercial off-the-shelf software isusedtotranslate
agency purchase dataintostandard electronic formats thatarethenbroadcast totheVAN'stobeaccessed
byvendors. Thestandard currently usedintheUnited States bythecontracting authorities forelectronic
commerce istheANSI X-12 standard language which, according totheUnited States representative,
canbeimmediately translated intotheEDIFACT standard. However, theUSrepresentative stated
intheInterim Committee inApril of1995 thatitwashisgovernment 'sintention tomove tothe
EDIFACT standard inayearortwo.
21. TheEuropean TEDdatabase system isbuiltonSiemens hardware using DIMDI asitsdatabase
management system. Interms ofthedevelopment ofanelectronic commerce system, theEuropean
Communities isusing theEDIFACT andX-400 standards. TheUN/EDIFACT message group MD12
(orUN/ECE WP.4/MD12), chaired bytheEuropean Commission, isdeveloping EDImessages for
public procurement. TheaimistodrawupEDIFACT messages, ontheonehand, between theawarding
authorities andthesuppliers and,ontheother hand, between theawarding authorities andtheOfficial
Publications Office oftheECandtheCommission oftheEC.
22. Japan, Norway, Switzerland andChinese Taipei areusing orhaveannounced theirintention
tousetheEDIFACT standard infuture.
(v) Whoprovides thedatabase services: public orprivate?
23. Thedatabases intheEuropean Communities, Japan andChinese Taipei aremanaged byapublic
authority, while inCanada theoperation oftheservice hasbeencontracted outtoprivate firms. In
Korea, thesystem isalsooperated byaprivate firm. TheUS"FACNET" ismanaged bythegovernment
butaccess tosuppliers isprovided byprivate VANs. InFinland, fourprivate databases/services exist
where acompany cangetinformation -stored ontheEC'sTEDsystem -about public callsfortender.
(b) Issues raised regarding theprovision ofinformation
(i) Issues ondatabases containing procurement opportunities
24. Ithasbeensuggested thatadditional information needs tobecollected onthefollowing:
- whether allnotices which arerequired tobepublished under Articles IXandXVIII:1
oftheAgreement -forentities inAnnexes 1,2and3-arealsoavailable ondatabases,
andwhether suchnotices contain atleasttheminimum information required tobe
published under Articles IXandXVIII:1;
- howAgreement-covered notices areidentified;GPA/W/15
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- towhat extent eachtypeofnotice contained ondatabases conforms toastandard
structure;
- whether anyparticular classification isusedinsuchnotices todescribe purchases, and
ifso,which classification;
- asregardsthecompatibilityofdatabasescontainingprocurementopportunities,whether
Parties 'databases canbeinterrogated using international standards, suchasSQL-
Standard Query Language.
- where databases existinanon-WTO language, towhatextent notices andinformation
aresummarized inaWTO language.
(ii) Electronic commerce
25. Thepoint hasbeenmade thatuptillnow, most oftheinformation provided byParties has
concerned databases ofprocurement opportunities. However, Parties seemtobeincreasingly involved
inaction intheareaofelectronic commerce. Thequestion hasarisen astowhether Parties should
beinvited togivefuller andmore information ontheirprojects andplans withregard toelectronic
commerce andinparticular whether those Parties whohaveexperience withelectronic commerce could
share more fullysuchexperiences with theCommittee.
II. ENSURING ACCESS TOPROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES ONA
NON-DISCRIMINATORY BASIS
26. Inthediscussions, ithasbeenwidely recognised thatinformation technology canprovide a
means forincreased access toprocurement opportunities, bymaking information about them more
readilyavailableandfacilitatingcompliancewithprocurementprocedures.Atthesametime,theconcern
hasbeenraised thatincreased useofinformation technology, ifnotproperly handled, could putforeign
suppliers atadisadvantage, evenwhere formally applied onanon-discriminatory basis. Thefollowing
specific points ofconcern havebeenmentioned:
- Problems resulting fromtheexistence ofamultitude ofinformation technology systems
foraccessing information and/or conducting electronic commerce. Typically asupplier
willbemore familiar withoperating anational system. Having tocome togrips with
other oneswillentail anadditional input oftimeandenergy which potential suppliers
maynotbewilling tomake.
- Thiswillbeparticularly thecasewhere different technical standards areusedby
information technology systems, whether forthestructuring andpresentation of
information, search facilities orthecomputer languages used forelectronic
communication.
- Thequestion ofthecostofaccess todatabases andelectronic procurement systems
hasalsobeenmentioned, ashasbeentraditional problems oflanguage.
- Theconcern thatprocurement officials under anincreasing pressure toprocure more
efficiently andquickly using information technology might, insome cases, resort to
anincreased useofexceptions under theAgreement.GPA/W/15
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27. Inrelation totheuseofdatabases forinformation onprocurement opportunities, anumber
ofoptions foraddressing these problems havebeenmentioned inthework onthismatter:
- Ensuring effective non-discriminatory access toforeign databases andelectronic
tendering systems .Whereas noevidence hasbeenputforward suggesting thataccess
tonational systems isnotformally available tosuppliers ofother GPA signatories on
anon-discriminatory basis, thepoint hasbeenmade thatthere maynonetheless bede
factodiscriminatoryeffects,unlessappropriateformsofinternationalcooperation,aimed
atensuring thatnational systems arereadily usable byforeign suppliers, areagreed.
Thepossible areas forsuchcooperation thathavebeenreferred toaretechnical and
content-related compatibility andcost. Inthiscontext, theissueofcommon guidelines
regarding format hascome up,inparticular thequestion towhatextent suchguidelines
arerequired inorder toassist foreign aswellasdomestic suppliers retrieve information
andensure thattheycanquickly andpainlessly findthetenders relevant totheirline
ofbusiness. Thepointhasbeenmade thattheusebyParties ofatoolsuchasGraphical
Users Interface (GUI) isimportant aswould bethesharing ofinformation onthe
Database Management Systems (DBMS) andthehardware upon which thedatabases
arebuilt.
- The incorporation into national databases ofinformation onprocurement
opportunities contained inthedatabases ofother GPA Members ,forexample
through dataswaps. Suchcooperation would giverisetoanumber ofpractical issues
inrelation totechnical andcontent-related compatibility, security, cost,copyright and
licensing, especially where therearedifferences intheownership/control arrangements
ofnational databases. Theissues inquestion arethusinsome ways similar tothose
referred tointhefirstindent, withthedifference that,inthiscase,thequestions relate
totheinterface between national computerized databases and,inthecaseabove, the
question concerns theinterface between individual national systems andindividual
foreign users. Thepoint hasbeenmade thattotheextent thatprogress ismade on
theissues referred tointhefirstindent, theissueofdataswaps becomes lessimportant.
- Theestablishment ofasingle, oratleastacoordinated, international system .The
question hasbeenraised astowhether inanidealworld itwould notbeoptimal to
have anintegrated international database through which suppliers could obtain
information about allAgreement-covered opportunities. Such asystem could either
co-exist withorbecomplementary tonational systems. Twolessambitious possible
forms ofcooperation inthesame direction have been mentioned: facilitating the
generation ofaprivate sector value-added network (VAN) providing forsuchasystem;
theestablishment ofaWTO procurement home pagethrough which direct access could
begained bysuppliers tonational database systems ontheInternet.
28. Inrelationtoelectroniccommerce,themainemphasisinthediscussionsaboutnon-discriminatory
access hasbeentheuseofcompatible standards forelectronic communication. Inparticular stress
hasbeenplaced onthedesirability ofgeneral adoption oftheEDIFACT standard. However, ithas
alsobeensuggested thatuseofacommon standard isnotnecessarily desirable aslongasnational
standards arecompatible witheachother. Thequestion hasalsobeenraised astowhether international
systems providing forelectronic commerce among Parties totheAgreement andtheirsuppliers could
beorganized through oneormore privately operated VANs.
29. Inregard toquestions ofcost, thesuggestion hasbeenmade thatthescope forpreferential
tariffs tobeapplied onanon-discriminatory basis infavour ofsmall andmedium-sized enterprises
might beexplored.GPA/W/15
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30. Inregard toproblems oflanguage, thesuggestion hasbeenmade thatelectronic systems might
themselves beabletoincorporate tools tohelpalleviate suchdifficulties, andthattheexperience of
theEuropean Communities inthisregard might beexamined.
31. Thepoint hasbeenmade thattheAgreement onGovernment Procurement contains detailed
rules onprocurement procedures aimed atensuring thatsuch procedures provide effective non-
discriminatory access toforeign suppliers. Such rules, however, weredrawn upwiththehardcopy
world inmind. Thequestions therefore ariseasto:
- whether additional rules, orclarifications oftheexisting rules, should bebuiltinto
theAgreement toensure thatprocedures administered electronically givethesame or
better guarantees ofnon-discriminatory access;
- whether suchsafeguards ensuring effective non-discriminatory access areonlyneeded
intheeventthattheAgreementismodifiedtoallowinformationtechnologytosubstitute,
insome measure, forhardcopyprocedures, orwhether suchsafeguards should also
beconsidered insituations where information technology procedures co-exist withhard
copyones;
- whether other forms ofcooperation ofamore technical nature, without involving
modifications totheAgreement itself, might bewarranted.
III. ENABLING ADVANTAGE TOBETAKEN OFINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
32. Ithasbeensuggested thatthree aspects oftheAgreement mayneedtobereexamined inorder
thatthecontribution thatinformation technology canmake toincreasing theefficiency ofprocurement
operations canbeharnessed:
(i) Allowing electronic means ofpublication orsubmission ofbids. Ithasbeensaidthat
theprovisions oftheAgreement areambiguous astowhether itsobligations canbe
satisfied through electronic means ofpublication orsubmission ofbidsandthatthe
relevant provisions should bereviewed andclarified astotreatment ofelectronic
transmission. Theexamples ofArticle IX,which doesnotexplicitly refertoelectronic
publication,andArticleXIII,whichdoesnotrefertonewformsofelectronicsubmission
oftenders, havebeencited.
Anumber ofobservations about thissuggestion havebeenmade:
- forthetimebeing atleast, electronic based systems should beacomplement
andnotasubstitute forhardcopynotices andtendering;
- Parties should notbeauthorized torelyexclusively oninformation technology
untilsuchtimeasthesuppliers ofallother Parties were abletousesuch
technology;
- account should alsobetaken ofthepossible disincentive effect ofsuchamove
onpotential applicant WTO Members totheAgreement;
- intheeventthatrequiringelectronicratherthanhardcopysubmissionoftenders
wasallowed asmeeting theobligations oftheAgreement, special safeguards
ensuring effective non-discriminatory access might benecessary;GPA/W/15
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- special account needs tobetaken ofthesituation ofsmall- andmedium-sized
enterprises which maybelesswellsituated tocopewithelectronic systems;
- thedangers ofreliance onelectronic systems giving risetounintended
discrimination andobstacles mayvaryfromsector tosector, according tothe
extent towhich theindustry inquestion hasingested information technology;
(ii) Reviewing deadlines. Thepoint hasbeenmade thattheminimum periods required
bytheAgreement forthedifferent stages oftheprocurement process weredrafted with
hardcopytransmissions inmind andtherefore theneedtoallow fortransmission by
international mail. Ithasbeensuggested thatthedeadlines under Article XIshould
bereviewed inthelightofthefactthatelectronic publication canreduce theleadtime
necessary forinforming interested suppliers ofpotential procurement opportunities
andelectronic submission oftenders candecrease thetimerequired bybidders for
submitting responsive tenders.
Inthediscussion onthismatter, thepoint hasbeen made that, before amending
deadlines, itwillbenecessary toensure thatallParties totheGPA haveinplace the
necessary electronic transmission systems andthataccount should betaken ofthe
position ofpossible newParties. Inthisregard thesuggestion hasbeenmade that
thought should begiven toways ofensuring thatelectronic systems withdifferent
degrees ofsophistication cancoexist.
(iii) Greater useofselective tendering procedures. Thesuggestion hasbeenmade that,
because electronic commerce mayresult inasignificantly greater volume ofbids,
procurement authorities mayrelymore heavily onselective tendering, andthatitmight
therefore benecessary toconsider waystoensure thatforeign suppliers canparticipate
onanequal footing withdomestic suppliers inselective tendering procedures under
Article Xarising from theuseofelectronic commerce.
Inthediscussion onthismatter, thefollowing points havebeenmade:
- anincreased volume ofbidsshould notbeconsidered aproblem ifitresults
ingreater competition andtherefore more cost-effective procurement;
- before recourse toselective tendering isfacilitated under theGPA, itshould
beassessed whether technology canbeused toalleviate theburden ona
purchasing entity fromtoomany bids,while guaranteeing non-discrimination.
Suitable toolsformaking arapid selection oftenders onthebasis ofsimple,
effective andnon-discriminatory criteria could perhaps bedeveloped;
- thequestion hasbeenraised astowhether electronic databases andcommerce
would necessarily betherealsource ofaproblem ofexcessively numerous
bids. Ithasbeen suggested thatperhaps thesolution liesmore ingreater
precisioninthespecificationsandqualificationcriteriatobebuiltintothetender
documentation.
33. Thepoint hasalsobeenmade thattheCommittee maywanttoexercise caution intaking any
action which would require amendments totheAgreement inviewoftheirimplications fordomestic
legislative processes.GPA/W/15
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IV. OPTIONS FOR CARRYING THE WORK FORWARD
34. Thediscussions sofarwould seem toindicate widespread acceptance oftwobasic guidelines
thatshould inform thefuture work oftheCommittee oninformation technology:
- thatthework should begoverned bytheobjectives oftheGovernment Procurement
Agreement andthespecific provisions ofArticle XXIV:8;
- thatwork onaspects aimed atsafeguarding andpromoting open anddiscriminatory
procurement should proceed inparallel withwork onaspects aimed atpromoting
efficient procurement.
35. Inregard tothefactual information available totheCommittee onpractices andprojects using
information technology, thesummary inSection Iabove indicates thatmuch oftheinformation provided
couldbenefitfromupdatingandcompletion,especiallyinregardtoelectroniccommerce.TheCommittee
maywish toconsider asking theSecretariat torevise thequestionnaire oninformation technology
(document GPA/IC/W/4/Rev.1) toinclude theelements referred toinSection I(b)(paragraphs 24-25)
above andagree thatmembers would provide responses intimefortheSeptember meeting ofthe
Committee.
36. Inregard totheissues discussed inSection II,anumber ofquite technical matters havebeen
raised andthequestion arises astowhether work onthese matters would befacilitated bythe
establishment ofasub-group ofexperts and/or bytheuseofaconsultant. However, itwould bethat
amorein-depth andsystematic examination oftheseissues intheCommittee itselfwould beanecessary
preliminary fortheCommittee tobeabletodetermine toappropriateness ofsuchstepsandthemandate
tobegiven toanysub-group and/or consultant. Indoing so,members might alsohaveregard tothe
issues earlier identified indocument GPA/IC/W/18 (reproduced atAnnex 1).
37. Inregard totheissues setoutinSection III,amore detailed examination ofthethree aspects
oftheAgreement thatithassuggested mayneedtobere-examined inthelightofinformation technology
would alsoseem warranted. Tofacilitate suchconsideration, theCommittee might wishtorequest
theSecretariat toprepare afactual notesetting outtherelevant provisions oftheAgreement anddrawing
attention toanypertinent information ontheirnegotiating history.
38. Afurther aspect towhich theCommittee might wishtogivethought indeciding howtocarry
forward thework isthepossibility ofestablishing apilotproject ofsome sort. Mention hasbeenmade
ofapilotproject being launched intheAPEC framework, which consists ofcreating ahome page
ontheWorld Wide WeboftheInternet, which would enable individual national databases tobeaccessed
byclicking ontheiricons. There maybeother ideas forpossible pilotprojects, forexample aimed
atassessing thedegree ofcompatibility ofthevarious national systems.GPA/W/15
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ANNEX 1
Issues Identified inDocument GPA/IC/W/18
1. Document GPA/IC/W/18 reproduces thelistofpossible issues forexamination identified as
aresult ofconsultations withdelegations thatwassubmitted bytheChairman totheInterim Committee
onGovernment Procurement atitsmeeting on4April 1995. Thislistwasdrawn upbytheChairman
asagreed bytheInterim Committee atitsmeeting of15November 1994.
Access toProcurement Opportunities
2. Compatibility ofdatabases. Towhatextent dotheexisting andplanned databases ofsignatories
have, incommon witheachother, information theycontain andthestructure within which itisorganized
andwhataretheimplications ofthisforthecompatibilities ofdifferent systems?
3. What common guidelines regarding format arerequired inorder toassist foreign, aswellas
domestic, suppliers retrieve information, encourage themtocompete, andensure thattheycanquickly
andpainlessly findthetenders relevant totheirlineofbusiness?
4. Howshould access besetupandwhoshould payforit?Willsuppliers havetosubscribe to
eachsystem, orwillitbesetupontheInternet, freeforanyone whohasanInternet account?
5. Dataswaps among Parties. Where databases arebeing developed orexist, should apossibility
existorbedeveloped toswap dataamong Parties? Dodelegations consider dataswaps economically
viable? What obstacles currently exist, suchaslicensing restrictions, etc.?
6. Ifso,would itbedesirable tofindways andmeans tofacilitate those swaps? Itwould appear
thatthiswould tosome extent depend ontheexistence ofaminimum amount ofcommon, structured,
information andthepossibility toestablish correspondences between classification systems usedby
signatoriesintheirrespectivedatabases(anygivenobjectofprocurement,e.g.apen,shouldbeidentified
byallsignatories inarecognizable wayintheirdatabases).
Electronic Procurement
7. Thequestion wasraised whether, totheextent information technology hadbeen, orwasbeing
brought intouseinprocurement systems, appropriate usewould bemade oftheinternational standards
toensure thatdatainterchange becarried outinastructured standardized manner, allowing for
international use. Thequestion wasalsoraised whether, intheevent thatthiswasnotthecase,
delegations could make acommitment tousethese standards infuture, withaprecise time-table.
8. Intheevent VANs arebeing usedandtotheextent thatinternational access tothemisdesirable,
howcanways andmeans bedefined toensure suchinternational access?
Concerning BothCategories
9. Compatibility oftheprovisions oftheAgreement withtheuseofinformation technology in
government procurement. Towhatextent aretheprovisions oftheAgreement sufficiently flexible
toallow fortheuseofinformation technology ingovernment procurement? Should governments be
allowed torequire firms totender exclusively byelectronic means? Ifso,forwhattypes and/or values
ofcontracts?