San Antonio, Texas August 12, 2002 Orbis Online announced today that it has been selected as a contractor by the General Services Administration (GSA) Contract Number GS07T02BGD0008 to conduct online reverse auctions. The GSA Federal Technology Service provides access to commercial products and services at volume discount pricing on a direct-delivery basis.
Orbis will facilitate self-service (desktop) and full-service (hosted) auction events. In the hosted auctions Orbis conducts the auction event. In the desktop auctions Orbis assists the buyer agency by providing the technology and support necessary to conduct events on their own.
According to Orbis, the GSA's award of this contract facilitates government agencies' transition to e-commerce. The company said online reverse auctioning conforms to government procurement regulations and is an improvement over the sealed-bid process because it increases competition and creates market transparency by allowing suppliers to submit multiple bids in real-time.
During the reverse auction events, suppliers' identities are concealed, but their bids are not. Once the event is completed, the agency may evaluate the bids, weigh the other variables to be considered and then make the procurement. Orbis said this online process reduces prices and streamlines negotiations.
Dr. James Strader, CEO of Orbis Online, explained that federal procurement officials have the principal goal of getting the appropriate product or service at the best price at the right time, which in turn conserves their procurement dollars and ultimately benefits citizens. "Orbis Online enhances the value of this reverse auction contract with its ability to source suppliers in accordance with federal agency goals to increase small and minority-owned business utilization," he added. "Orbis Online is eager to help government agencies fulfill aggressive goals to work with minority, woman-owned, or other historically underutilized businesses. Our goal is for everyone to benefit."
Orbis will team with the GSA in marketing and promoting the benefits of online reverse auctioning. GSA is committed to helping government agencies save money by dedicating resources to promote this contract to make them aware of the efficiencies and cost savings resulting from reverse auctioning.
