RESTRICTED
GENERAL AGREEMENT GPA/IC/W/4/Rev.11
16September 1994
ONTARIFFS AND TRADE
(94-1870)
Interim Committee onGovernment Procurement
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Note from theSecretariat
Revision
Atitsmeeting of29June 1994, theInterim Committee invited theSecretariat toprepare, in
consultation with interested delegations, acommon format forthepresentation ofinformation allowing
foranexchangeofinformationamongdelegationsondevelopmentsintheareaofinformationtechnology
used ingovernment procurement. Itwasagreed thattheInterim Committee would undertake this
exchange ofviews atitsnext meeting onthebasis ofinformation provided bydelegations.
Delegations areinvited toprovide inwriting information onthebasis ofthequestions below
totheSecretariat (Annet Blank, room 3016) by17October 1994, fordistribution totheMembers of
theInterim Committee. Delegations arealsoinvited tocome prepared foradiscussion atthenextmeeting
oftheInterim Committee which islikely totake place early November 1994.
___________________
1. Could delegations giveabrief description ofanysteps taken orplanned tointroduce information
technology (electronic commerce) intopublic procurement? Ifso,does thiscover contracts which
arecovered under theAgreement presently inforce, orunder thenewly signed Agreement? Atall
levels ofgovernment? Intheevent thatdelegations arenotconsidering introducing information
technology intopublic procurement, could they explain thereasons?
Example ofinformation technology inpublic procurement: anelectronic database which lists
government procurement opportunities.
2. What function(s) would information technology serve insuch systems andwhowillbetheusers?
Examples offunctions: management ofprocedures, notification oftenders, exchange oftender
information, distribution oftender documentation, added value services, including technical assistance
tousers, surveillance.
Examples ofusers: contracting entities, suppliers (SME 'sinparticular), supervisory authorities.
3. Could delegations describe thetechnical aspects ofthesystems inuseorplanned? Inparticular
asregards infrastructure/hardware-software anditsoptions/standards?
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4. Could delegations describe anylimitations affecting access toinformation available inasystem?
How wide ispotential access tointerested suppliers? What aretheaccess possibilities forsuppliers
ofother signatory countries? What possible obstacles toaccess might arise forsuppliers inother signatory
countries?
Forexample, intheevent thatanelectronic database isavailable, how cansuppliers (both
domestic andforeign) access thedatabase?
5. Hasanythought been given tothequestion ofinteraction between electronic tendering and
theobligations concerning publication andtime-limits imposed bytheAgreement?
6. Forthose delegations who useadatabase which listsgovernment procurement opportunities:
(i) - What isthename ofthisdatabase?
(ii) - How long hasthedatabase been operational andhow many suppliers usethe
database?
(iii) - Isafeecharged tosuppliers using thissystem? Ifso,how much, andwhat
isincluded inthefee?
(iv) - Cansuppliers obtain tender documentation electronically? Ifso,how?
(v) - How isinformation onthedatabase organized?
(vi) - Does thedatabase offer anyother features?
(vii) - What istheapproximate number ofprocurement opportunities listed onthe
database annually?
(viii) - Isthesystem managed bythegovernment oraprivate company?