Strategic Economic and Energy Development - National Prequalification Network

National Prequalification Network

SEED has complied an overview of the prequalification process within the fifty states, including the District of Columbia. The research indicates a decentralized system prevails that is paper-based. SEED has a commitment to establish a centralized national prequalification network through cloud computing technology where contractors and vendors can view and submit the required prequalification forms electronically, which will allow states, counties, and towns, government agencies to store prequalification forms remotely and reduce IT costs. As of January 2009, SEED released a working paper on its national prequalification network. SEED is committed to the implementation of an innovative framework that will allow contractors and vendors to search, view, and submit the required prequalification forms in an electronic medium.

The government agency is expected to have the following minimal functionalities:

• The ability to upload and store the required prequalification forms within a document library, along with versions history rollback and retrieval as forms are updated.
• To be able to approve or reject prequalification forms submitted by a contractor or vendor within an internalized program or within an email. Allow for a committee-based vote platform based upon a majority decision or a multiple committee platform in which the prequalification forms are passed onto at least one or more committee within the department.
• Allowance of a paper-based alternative method that only requires a signature authorization form with a USG1-compliance barcode or radio frequency identification (RFID). When scanned, all required prequalification documentation appears on the computer. This assists in the reduce of paperwork and adheres to environmental sustainability of SEED.
• Accept electronic payments, where applicable.

A contractor or vendor wishing to engage in business practices with the government agency should have the following minimal functionalities:

• Search all states, counties, and towns prequalification forms within a centralized network.
• The ability to edit, save, and share prequalification forms.
• Submit prequalification forms to the appropriate state, county, or town agencies electronically with third-party digital signatures that provides an audit history.
• Receive automatic notifications when prequalification packages have been sent, when received and opened by the recipient, and when renewals are required.