System and method for matching electronic proposals to electronic requests
View Patent ↗A system for receiving bid requests and bid proposals sent thereto over a data-packet-network (DPN) and for matching the bid proposals to the bid requests includes at least one input/output port for receiving the bid requests and the bid proposals, at least one memory utility for storing the bid requests and bid proposals, and a set of machine readable instructions for enabling matching of the stored bid proposals to the stored bid requests.
1. A bid management system installed and executed from a computer-readable medium by a network-connected server comprising:
a first portion of software code operating on the server for receiving and storing first requests for bid from a first plurality of persons or enterprises, herein requestors, the requests including specific requirements for a project identified in the bid and are directed to a second plurality of persons or enterprises, herein bidders, the project requirements providing to the bidders specific conditions to be met in making bids directed to the requests for bid made by the requestors;
a second portion of software code operating on the server for providing a bid template to the bidders for submitting bids including conditions according to the project requirements contained in the first requests, and for receiving and storing bids made by the bidders in response to the requests for bid made by the requestors; and
a third portion of software code operating on the server matching conditions of the stored bids to the project requirements specified in the stored requests for bid;
wherein bids having conditions matching the project requirements of the first requests are sent to the requestors submitting the requests and when no matched conditions for the bids are found, the first request is modified to add, alter or remove one or more of the project requirements, thereby creating a second request for bid received and stored at the system, and the second request is automatically parsed for altered project requirements by additional software code and the template provided to the bidders is automatically populated with specific conditions provided by the altered project requirements.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth software portion for transmitting bids matched to requests for bid to the bidders.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the template is automatically populated with modified pricing based on established rules at the premises of the bidders according to the altered requirements and a second bid is submitted in response to the second request.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein a single bid match is made and a contract associated with the request and the bid match is entirely automated and brokered by the system between the requestor and the bidder.
5. A bid management method executed by a computerized server connected to a wide area network (WAN), comprising the steps of:
a) receiving and storing digital files comprising first requests for bid from a first plurality of persons or enterprises, herein requestors, the requestors operating first computerized appliances connected to the WAN, and the requests for bid including specific requirements for a project identified in the bid and are directed to a second plurality of persons or enterprises, herein bidders, the bidders operating second computerized appliances connected to the WAN, the project requirements providing to the bidders specific conditions to be met in making bids directed to the requests for bid made by the requestors;
b) providing via the WAN an electronic bid template to the bidders for submitting bids according to the requirements contained in the first requests for bid submitted by the requestors;
c) receiving and storing digital files comprising bids made by the bidders in response to the requests for bid made by the requestors;
d) matching specific conditions of the stored bids to the project requirements of the stored requests for bid;
e) modifying the project requirements in the requests for bid when no matches are found, thereby creating a second request for bid providing second specific conditions stored at the system; and
f) parsing the second request for bid for altered requirements and automatically populating the template with the second specific conditions provided by the altered requirements.
6. The bid management system of claim 5 further comprising a step g) automatically populating the template with modified pricing based on established rules at the premises of the second plurality of persons or enterprises bidders according to the altered requirements and submitting a second bid in response to the second request for bid.