New FBO System

The new FBO system provides users with a robust online resource that offers functionality in the following areas (note, new key advantages, vis-à-vis previous system, are highlighted in italics):

Read about Features for:

• All Users
• Vendors
• Government Users, including Buyers, Engineers, and Administrators

All Users:

From the site's main navigation page, any user (not password protected) can utilize navigation to review:

• General Information
• News
• Opportunities
• Agencies / Offices Lists
• Privacy Statement

Vendors:

Using secured accounts (password protected), vendors are able to take advantage of key system functionality as outlined below:

Vendor Profile:

Vendors maintain account profiles in the system. Having a profile in place in this system streamlines use of the portal. Among other profile elements, the following key vendor information is maintained in their profile:

• DUNS (Data Universal Number System) Number - According to the FAR 4.11, prospective vendors must be registered in SAM (System for Award Management) prior to the award of a contract; basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement. According to FAR 52.204-7, to register in SAM, a firm must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The DUNS Number is assigned by Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. (D&B) to identify unique business entities.
• Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code - A CAGE Code is a five (5) position code that identifies companies doing, or wishing to do business with the Federal Government. The format of the code is the first and fifth position must be numeric. The second, third and fourth may be any mixture of alpha/numeric excluding I and O. All positions are non-significant. The code provides for a standardized method of identifying a given facility at a specific location. The code may be used for Facility Clearance, Pre-Award survey, automated Bidders Lists, pay processes, source of supply, etc.

Vendor Opportunity Review Features:

• Vendor can search for opportunities based on the following terms:
  • keyword search
  • opportunity/procurement type
  • posting date
  • response deadline
  • last modified date
  • set-aside code ("set aside" solicitations allow only specified business concerns)
  • classification code
  • NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code
  • agency/Office(s)
• Vendor can set up "search agents" based on detailed search elements, which highlight newly added opportunities which align with their search criteria. This allows the vendor to includes ability to search on keywords,
• Vendor can add opportunities to a "watch list" list (ala "favorites" list"). This allows for easy reference to a targeted opportunities on their user interface (UI). Additionally, vendors receive daily update emails about changes impacting opportunities on their watchlist.
• Per the vendor's profile status, vendor can review documents associated with the opportunity (Packages) in this system (FedTeds interface is not required for document review).

Vendor Opportunity Actions:

• Vendor is able to add themselves to the "interested vendors list" for an opportunity. While this functionality existed before, now because the vendor has profile in the system, they can more easily see if they have previously expressed interest in an opportunity. When expressing interest, data is pulled from the vendor profile (negating need to complete forms for each expression of interest).
• If the buyer has indicated that reviewing vendors are able to review other interested vendors, vendors can review vendors who have expressed interest in the opportunity.

Government Users

Using their password protected account, buyers can do the following:

Buyers:

• Maintain Buyer Profile. Buyers can be set up to be agency, or specific contracting office, buyers.
• Create, Modify/Amend, or Cancel an Opportunity Notice.
• Manage document package content, and vendor accessibility to package documents, that support opportunities. Buyers can upload non-sensitive docs (and attach existing sensitive docs to notices)
• Buyers can create non-fbo solicitation links. These links create document packages that are not tied to FBO solicitations (parallels functionality previously found in the FedTeds system). With this feature, the buyer is able to create a clickable link that can be used in other systems/documents. When clicked by a vendor, the vendor is taken to a system interface where their authorization to review materials (explicit access / export controlled) is vetted prior to letting the vendor access the materials.

Engineers:

This user group can post / update sensitive documents for use as attachments to Opportunities. Engineers, unless also designated to be a buyer, cannot post or manage opportunities. Note: Every user is registered for a particular agency/office and usually location, which includes engineers. Buyers of the same office will see unattached technical packages when posting notices for attachment. Buyers can also search by PR#, a technical package field, to find packages submitted for any office that is unattached, but a user must know the #PR# to find it.

Buyer/Engineer:

A user can be given both Buyer and Engineer user rights. This allows a single user to both post secure documents and to create solicitations.

Agency Administrators:

Users that have the authority to authorize an agency's staff member as being able to post opportunities in the system. Agency administrators are also able to post opportunities for their agency.

Super User:

Users with system oversight and administrative rights.