Electronic Procurement/
Electronic Sealed Bid Auctions/Bidbridge
Your city or town can operate more efficiently and save money by using an electronic procurement system for purchasing and, when appropriate, electronic sealed bidding or reverse auctions. Bidbridge, which provides EZBid and Electronic Sealed Bid Auctions, is an NCLM sponsored service provider. Both EZBid and Electronic Sealed Bid Auctions are available at no cost to NCLM member cities and towns.
Your city or town probably has a computer-based accounting system. Part of your municipal banking is probably done online. You probably track inventory with a computer program and budget with another. So why not move your municipal purchasing to a modern online procurement system that will save time and money?
One of the League's sponsored service providers, Bidbridge is offering EZ Bid, a web-based electronic procurement management system that takes your purchasing process totally electronic. It can be used to post requests for quotes, purchase from your existing suppliers, find new ones and manage recordkeeping electronically. EZ Bid also integrates with the Bidbridge electronic sealed bid auction process.
There is no cost for cities and towns to participate in the EZBid system. Suppliers can register at no cost and then pay a transaction fee of one percent if they make a sale of $1,000 or greater.
EZBid, according to Bidbridge, has advantages for both buyers and sellers. Buyers can more easily manage their purchasing, find a wider range of suppliers and save money. Suppliers can find broader markets and potentially more sales.
EZBid Highlights
• Web-based, so there is nothing to install
• Facilitates Electronic Sealed Bid Auctions if city chooses• EZBid provides specification library
• EZBid database includes a suppliers list associated with each purchase
• EZBid grants access and notification of opportunities to suppliers
• Users see real time reporting to manage and audit purchasing
• Features easily accessible help feature
Through EZBid buyers can:
• Create requests for quotes (RFQs), sealed and not sealed;
• Access a searchable spec library;
• Attach specifications and other files to the RFQs;
• Find and qualify potential suppliers for RFQ notification and issue RFQs to those suppliers;
• Issue addendums to suppliers if needed
• Open supplier's responses on predetermined date;
• Award appropriate suppliers and notify them of the award;
• Setup multiple departments and purchasers;
• Assign privileges and system rights to the purchasers; and
• Run reports that give administrators an accurate and timely picture of citywide purchasing.
Through EZBid suppliers can:
• Receive notification by email of potential bid opportunities;
• Search for bid opportunities;
• Respond to RFQs electronically;
• View electronic documentation such as specifications;
• Rescind bids if necessary;
• Receive award notifications by email or fax; and
• Run reports showing RFQ awards.
Cities and towns that sign up to participate with EZBid will receive onsite training. Local officials will provide their supplier lists to Bidbridge and request that their suppliers register with the EZBid system.
