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47QSMD20R0001 Refresh: 0009 Section I B. Offer Preparation Instructions and Evaluation Criteria <br />(a) General background. The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA) of 1994 requires the <br />Government to evolve its acquisition process from one driven by paper to an expedited process based <br />on electronic commerce/electronic data interchange (EC/EDI). EC/EDI encompasses more than merely <br />automating manual processes and eliminating paper transactions. EC/EDI improves business processes <br />(e.g. procurement, finance, logistics) into a fully electronic environment and fundamentally changes the <br />way organizations operate. <br />(b) Trading partners and Value -Added Networks (VAN's). <br />(1) Within the electronic commerce architecture, electronic documents (e.g., orders, invoices, <br />etc.) are carried between the Federal Government's procuring office and Contractors (now known <br />as "trading partners"). These transactions are carried by commercial telecommunications <br />companies called Value -Added Networks (VAN's). <br />(2) EDI can be performed using commercially available hardware, software, and <br />telecommunications. The selection of a VAN is a business decision Contractors must make. <br />There are many different VAN's which provide a variety of electronic services and different <br />pricing strategies. If the VAN only provides communications services, you may also need a <br />software translation package. <br />(c) Registration instructions. To perform EDI with the Government, Contractors shall register as a <br />trading partner. Contractors will provide regular business information, banking information, and EDI <br />capabilities to all agencies in this single registration. A central repository of all trading partners is the <br />Systems for Award Management (SAM) httL)://www.sim.2ov. Contractors shall follow the instructions <br />on the SAM website regarding how to register for EDI. <br />(d) Implementation conventions. All EDI transactions must comply with the Federal Implementation <br />Conventions (ICs). The ICs are available on aregistry maintained by the National Institute of Standards <br />and Technology (MIST). It is accessible via the INTERNET at httL)://www.nist.gov/itl. ICs are available <br />for common business documents such as Purchase Order, Price Sales Catalog, Invoice, Request for <br />Quotes, etc. <br />(e) Additional information. GSA has additional information available for Contractors who are interested <br />in using EC/EDI on its website, httL)://www.gsi.gov. <br />(f) GSA Advantage!® <br />(1) GSA Advantage!® uses electronic commerce to receive catalogs, invoices and text <br />messages; and to send purchase orders, application advice, and functional acknowledgments. <br />GSA Advantage!® enables customers to: <br />(i) Perform database searches across all contracts by manufacturer; manufacturer's <br />model/part number; Contractor; and generic supply categories. <br />(ii) Generate EDI delivery orders to Contractors, generate EDI delivery orders from the <br />Federal Supply Service to Contractors, or download files to create their own delivery <br />orders. <br />(iii) Use the credit card. <br />(2) GSA Advantage!® may be accessed via the GSA Home Page. The Internet address is: <br />http://www.2s,i.2ov. <br />Begin Regulation <br />552.238-104 DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION BY <br />Page: 20 of 141 <br />