What is an eMarketplace?
An internet trading facility that provides the
supply chain
community (Buyer and Suppliers) a secure, cost-effective and
simple electronic tendering solution for the transmission,
retrieval, receipt and processing of Invitation to Tender
(ITT) documentation. Electronic tendering systems are used
mostly in conjunction with the restricted and negotiated procedures.
Is an eMarketplace the same as a Dynamic Purchasing
System (DPS)?
No. A DPS, or eProcurement system is an electronic preferred
Supplier list where Suppliers, that have already gone through
a tendering process, are registered so that Buyers can establish
contracts on an ongoing basis. They are only suitable for
repeat purchases based upon catalogue items which are best
suited to the open procedure.
Do I need any special
IT requirements?
No. An internet browser and internet connection is all you
need. You may need to check
with your IT department that you can access web sites using
the more secure https protocol.
Why should I agree to receive ITT documents via AirportSmart?
It is more cost effective and quicker to use an eMarketplace than using
email or CD-ROMs let alone paper format. Airport tenders are
often very complex dossiers of information and drawings. Documents
can be processed using encryption which makes them secure. The new EU Consolidated Directives state that buying
authorities can demand all tenders be submitted
electronically.
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Is there help available?
There are on-line help facilities and a help desk
for both Suppliers and Buyers. See the Contact
Us page.
What languages do you support?
Users can set up their profile in
one of ten languages: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian,
Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
Does AirportSmart comply with EU Procurement Directives?
Airport operators, as Utilities, are subject to Article
15 of the new Consolidated Procurement Directives. Therefore,
AirportSmart has been developed to allow users to manage EU
compliant tenders. The EU encourages the use of electronic
tendering and thus both Suppliers and Buyers are able to take
advantage of AirportSmart's time reducing benefits.
Do the new Directives allow us to save time by using
AirportSmart?
When the new Directives are fully implemented Buyers and
Suppliers will be
able to you use AirportSmart to reduce the ITT time as follows:
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Seven days fewer
for the receipt of tenders in the Open procedure and for the
receipt of requests to participate in the Restricted and Negotiated
Procedures, where contract notices are sent electronically. |
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A further reduction of
five days for the receipt of tenders because AirportSmart offers
unrestricted and full direct access by electronic means to
all relevant tender documents at no charge to Suppliers. |
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Under Open and
Restricted procedures the time limits for receipt of tenders
may be shortened to 36 days but not less than 22 days, when
buying organisations have published a Prior Information Notice
(PIN) on AirportSmart (if Buyers do this they do not need to publish
their PIN in the OJEU). AirportSmart intends to offer this service
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Can I use AirportSmart for small tenders that are not going to be posted on OJEU?
Yes you can manage small or large tenders regardless of whether they are subject to the EU Procurement Directives or not. Small contracts under the threshold can be managed much more easily using AirportSmart.
How reliable is the audit trail?
Tracking activity over the internet is far more reliable
that monitoring paper trails. All transactions are logged
which provides a trail of Buyer, Supplier and system transactions.
In addition, the Buyer will also receive an email if a Supplier
undertakes a transaction or down/up-loads tender documents.
How secure is my information?
Only users invited by the Buyer can access the system. The website is encrypted and access is password protected. Individuals can set their own passwords.
Can anyone register as a Supplier on AirportSmart?
Yes. Please go to the Supplier Registration Page. Registration is free
and if a Buyer wants you to participate in an ITT or RFI then
they shall invite you directly. This process is free also.
At what stage do Suppliers pay?
Buyers use AirportSmart everyday. Thus it is appropriate for AirportSmart to charge an annual usage fee to the buying organisations. Suppliers, on the other hand, get benefit when they respond to a particular tender - this maybe only once a year or on several occasions. Only when a Buyer decides to progress to the bid stage and Suppliers want to bid do Suppliers have to pay a Bid Processing Fee to AirportSmart. This is important to Suppliers as they only pay when there is real benefit and real opportunity in sight. The size of the Bid Processing Fee depends on the value of the contract but starts at €100 (euros) and ends at €2000 (euros). Suppliers who anticipate being asked to bid for several different contracts can pay an annual fee. Given the specialist nature of their purchases, Utilities are allowed under the EU Directives to charge Suppliers for participation in a preferred Supplier list.
Why does AirportSmart need to charge?
There are real cost and efficiency benefits for both Suppliers
and Buyers. The cost-of-sales for Suppliers are reduced. Furthermore,
Suppliers can gain access to new customers thus reducing their
marketing costs. In providing this service and keeping the
technology up to date AirportSmart has to levy a charge to
all users. The benefits offered by AirportSmart remain considerable
over using conventional tendering and sales methods.
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