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NAHRO e-Procurement: Technology Takes Procurement Forward
Procurement for housing authorities is about to get a lot easier. The NAHRO e-Procurement System, which starts beta testing in May, will soon go live.
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials took the lead on developing the system a little over a year ago. NAHRO, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of NAHRO) has signed a contract with Digital Economic Technologies (DET), a Livonia, MI minority business enterprise to produce the system.
The e-procurement system - free to all NAHRO member agencies that purchase through it - is compliant with all computer software. Users only need access to the Internet and a browser. It allows NAHRO members to procure goods and services online, in compliance with federal, state and local requirements.
The system is designed to allow multiple transactions. For example, purchasers will be able to: issue requisitions; conduct requests for quotes, invitations for bids, requests for proposals and qualification-based processes; receive bids and proposals; make awards; and complete payment by credit card or procurement card. In addition, users can solicit vendors on a varying basis - national, regional, state or local.
The system will open major new markets to vendors at a nominal cost. They will pay a $600 access fee to participate. In addition, each successful transaction carries a 2 percent fee paid by the vendors. However, consistent with NAHRO's goal of promoting small businesses, vendors with gross annual income of less than $100,000 per year or that contract exclusively with one housing authority will be exempt from any access fee.
"It is designed as a win-win proposition," said Michael Nail, who is NAHRO deputy director as well as CEO of NAHRO, Inc. "It is beneficial for HUD because, among other reasons, the system promotes user compliance with procurement requirements. Due to the greater procurement efficiencies, users save money and vendors gain access to expanded markets."
"All NAHRO members large and small will be able to use this system," said Paul Corbeil, vice president, sales, DET. "We have features such as individual secure IDs for each procurement officer and software integration that will appeal to the bigger agency. We have straightforward request templates to make procurement a simpler process for the smaller agencies." Corbeil said that the built in HUD procurement compliance cues and system-generated HUD reports will appeal to all users.
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