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Project
What is INTERPROC and what is it aiming at
Who’s behind INTERPROC and what to expect
Why is INTERPROC so necessary - a quick guide to the project
Uniformizing Procurement across Europe: the impact of eForms on Tenders and Competition
Transparency and Efficiency Boosted by New Contract Register
Upgrading the ESPD: What's Changing and the Benefits?
How INTERPROC is Enhancing Interoperability to Streamline Procurement Across EU Countries
The Future of Public Procurement in Europe
Harmonization of Pre-Award Phase through Interoperable eTendering Interfaces
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Trans European eProcurement implementation (INTERPROC) is a project financed through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in Telecom, which is a key EU instrument to facilitate cross-border interaction between public administrations, businesses and citizens. The project is supported by a consortium of eight partners from four different EU and EEA countries (Norway, Germany, Greece and Portugal) representing different stakeholders in the eProcurement domain and has a duration of three years.
The purpose of INTERPROC is to support interoperable use of structured information throughout the whole procurement process.
The Action is performed by a consortium of eight members representing policy executing bodies, technical expertise from universities and eProcurement service providers.
As a first objective, national tailored eForms will be implemented in 5 different services (DFØ, Ignite, Mercell, Vortal) with users in 16 countries. Simplified versions of the standard forms for use below threshold will be developed and implemented in the same services. The implementations will be according to the eForms Regulation and technical specifications from the Publications Office.
BeschA and Vortal, supported by UKL, will develop, implement and put in production additional pre-award profiles to increase interoperability in the area of eTendering.
Moreover, Norway will establish a Contract Register that, in addition to all contract award notices, will notices related to call-off and mini-competitions based on framework agreements. Formats feasible for the Open Data Portal will be used. Enforcement methods, as recommended in the EXEP report on Contract Register, will be developed.
Also, an updated specification based on ESPD EDM 3.0 from DG Grow will be developed, implemented and put in production in 5 ESPD services/modules (1 new – Ignite, and 4 updated – GSISPA with UPRC, Vortal, Mercell) serving users in 16 countries. The ESPD services will be interconnected with national databases to retrieve evidences. All services will be connected to new eCertis.
These developments are expected to facilitate the information trading in procurement procedures by allowing, as far as possible, the reuse of already existing data, input of data and/or import of data.
What is INTERPROC and what is it aiming at
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Trans European eProcurement implementation (INTERPROC) is supported by a consortium of partners from four different EU and EEA countries (Norway, Germany, Greece and Portugal) representing different stakeholders in the eProcurement domain. Policy and executing bodies, public entities responsible for the national eProcurement platforms and tendering service providers are working together with Universities and eProcurement technical experts with strong expertise in the pre-award domain from their participation in previous large-scale projects.
The project’s coordinator is the Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management (DFØ – Direktoratet for forvaltning og økonomistyring). DFØ is a central administrative agency that aims to strengthen the government’s work in renewing the public sector and improve the efficiency of government administrations. The Agency's Division for Public Procurement is responsible for Norwegian compliance with the ESPD and eForms Regulations, European Norms and other standards. In Norway, the project relies on Ignite Procurement and Mercell Holding. These are private companies that provide a wide range of solutions for eProcurement and eCommerce.
In Greece, the partners are the General Secretariat of Information Systems for Public Administration (GSISPA) and the University of Piraeus Research Center (UPRC). GSISPA is a part of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance and its mission is to offer efficient technological solutions for an efficient and citizen-friendly Public Administration. UPRC, through the INTEROP research group of the Department of Digital Systems has sound technical expertise in the development and evaluation of interoperable software systems and services in heterogenous environments across different countries, domains, and actors, based on open standards in the area of eGovernment, and has been involved in several related projects (e.g. PEPPOL, e-SENS, TOOP).
In Germany, the project is supported by Universität Koblenz-Landau (UKL) and Beschaffungsamt des Bundesministerium des Innern (BeschA). UKL, through the research group E-Government of the Faculty of Computer Science, has been involved in interoperability and e-government systems research and developments, and in several e-procurement related projects. BeschA is an organizational subunit of the Federal Ministry of the Interior Germany responsible for the national eProcurement platform and for the central IT purchases of the federal administration of Germany.
From Portugal, the partner Vortal has been developing eSourcing and eTendering services since 2000 and hosts a large community of economic operators from Europe, Latin America and Africa. Focusing in Europe, Vortal seeks to improve and harmonize data so that cross border commerce becomes of easy access and participation.
With this set up, the consortium covers the whole value chain, from gathering user needs to putting procurement services in production and supporting take-up by end users. This ecosystem of views facilitates players in different roles in the value chain to work together towards a common goal: more effective, interoperable and transparent procurements through agreed-upon building blocks, formats, specifications and implementations.
Who’s behind INTERPROC and what to expect
eForms, due to replace the current forms by the end of 2023, is the new standard created by the European Commission to advertise tenders in Europe. They set mandatory and optional fields which, when filled with information, generate a notice that enables public buyers to communicate transparently about their tenders and reach relevant suppliers.
In the INTERPROC project, consortium partners from different countries, from within and outside the European Union, are finding common grounds: the new eForms introduce new terms and definitions, that will need to be translated across languages and uniformized. To really implement this functionality, partners will need to clarify terms and make sure that there is a uniform understanding of the content, as this is the only way to ensure that the experience will be the same, wherever economic operators may be.
The focus of the project is to ensure that there is a common understanding of the procurement concepts, which in turn will contribute to better procurement data collection. Ultimately, the improved data quality will allow eTendering providers to build new services and systems, both for existing and new operators, based in re-using information and automatic field completion. By collecting and analysing more accurate information, it will be possible to develop more in-depth analysis across businesses and different subject areas, creating simpler and more user-friendly solutions as a result.Better services will in turn generate more competition through more economic operators finding and participating in tenders.
All in all, it is all about uniformization and improvement of the data collected, which will in turn make it possible for contracting authorities and economic operators to save more time and increase competition by making it possible for more economic operators to find and participate in all tenders, no matter where they are. Overall, eForms signify a significant step forward for procurement and offer a chance for enhanced services and innovation in the procurement process.
Uniformizing Procurement across Europe: the impact of eForms on Tenders and Competition
Trans European eProcurement implementation (INTERPROC) supports the overall objective of the CEF telecom work program "to promote economic growth and support the completion and functioning of the internal market in support of the competitiveness of the European economy" by simplifying and reducing administrative burdens in public procurement procedures for contracting authorities and economic operators, while at the same time implementing and providing the necessary digital service infrastructures to apply the current European public procurement directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU, as well as supporting their national implementations in 16 European Countries.
INTERPROC is supported by a consortium of eight partners from four different EU and EEA countries (Norway, Germany, Greece and Portugal) representing different stakeholders in the eProcurement domain. Policy and executing bodies, public entities responsible for the national eProcurement platforms and tendering service providers are working together with Universities and eProcurement technical experts with strong expertise in the pre-award domain from their participation in previous large-scale projects. The consortium covers the whole value chain, from gathering user needs to putting procurement services in production and supporting take-up by end users.
The purpose of INTERPROC is to support interoperable use of structured information throughout the whole procurement process. The aim is to facilitate the information trading in procurement procedures by allowing, as far as possible, the reuse of already existing data, input of data and/or import of data.
National tailored eForms will be implemented in 5 different services (DFØ, Ignite, Mercell, Vortal) with users in 16 countries and simplified versions of the standard forms for use below threshold will be developed and implemented in the same services.
BeschA and Vortal supported by UKL will develop, implement and put in production additional pre-award profiles to increase interoperability in the area of eTendering.
Additionally, Norway will establish a Contract Register that, in addition to all contract award notices, will notices related to call-off and mini-competitions based on framework agreements.
Also, an updated specification based on ESPD EDM 3.0 from DG Grow will be developed, implemented and put in production in 5 ESPD services/modules serving users in 16 countries.
The outcomes of the Action are expected to facilitate the information trading in procurement procedures by allowing, as far as possible, the reuse of already existing data, input of data and/or import of data.
Why is INTERPROC so necessary - a quick guide to the project
Procuring goods and services is a time-consuming process that can often be complicated by administrative requirements, particularly when companies or organizations must submit numerous self-declarations about their qualifications and selection criteria. That's where the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) comes in. The digital self-declaration document has been a mandatory measure in EU procurement procedures since 2016, reaching for transparency and openness in the public procurement process. Although already in use, the ESPD needed to be updated to adapt to the ever-developing procurement landscape and, as a result, ESPD version 3 was introduced as a part of the INTERPROC Project. Here's what you need to know about the new ESPD and the positive implications it's set to bring.
The ESPD is cross-border, and the European Commission recognizes cross-border interoperability as critical, expanding competition and supporting economic growth. Therefore, the new ESPD will consolidate usage and facilitate interoperability to a great extent, providing suppliers with the capability to reuse their ESPDs in different procedures, running on different platforms, and to fill out the form only once, increasing efficiency and savings.
The ESPD version 3 and its interoperability will bring a series of benefits. Its role in facilitating participation of SMEs in public procurement is of particular importance since most of the companies in the EU are SMEs. Another advantage is the reduction of administrative burden and the easier access of goods and service providers to public tenders, saving businesses time and therefore money. Additionally, ESPD version 3 will promote transparency and clarify requested evidence, thereby reducing ambiguity for businesses in the procurement process.
Regardless of these improvements, the contents of the ESPD will remain largely the same, which means that the procurement notices will likewise be unaffected. However, service providers will need to implement the new ESPD version in their procurement management software, ensuring ease of use and compatibility with other procurement systems. It is therefore crucial for public buyers to establish dialogue with their service providers before the implementation of the new ESPD service in October 2023 to achieve a smooth transition to the new version.
The emergence of new technologies creates new tools for a more transparent and efficient procurement process and the ESPD version 3 will take advantage of this to create a better future in procurement. Upgrading the ESPD is a significant development for EU public procurement, as it will streamline the process and ensure greater efficiency and consistency across different providers. As usual in the INTERPROC Project, the consolidation of usage, compatibility with other procurement portals across different member states, and enhanced interoperability will create a more seamless experience for businesses and offer new opportunities for increased competition and economic growth.
Upgrading the ESPD: What's Changing and the Benefits?
The INTERPROC project is developing a publicly available and searchable contract register. This register will provide a better overview of contracts by structuring existing data and adding new functionalities. The aim is to increase transparency in contract awards and contribute to increased confidence that public funds are being used in the best possible way.
Previously, much of the data about contracts with public entities existed but was not structured. The new contract register will change that, providing a better overview for users and showing information like ongoing contracts, which suppliers have contracts with public entities, expected offers, and the total value of assigned contracts.
The benefits extend to both contracting authorities and economic operators. On one side, contracting authorities can easily search for specific government agencies to gain experience from previously awarded contracts and reach out to procurement officers, leading to more efficient and effective future purchases. On the other, economic operators will have eased access to previous contracts, leading to fairer competition.
But the work will be continuous: the consortium partners aim to add more functionalities to the Contract Register as it progresses. They aim to stimulate and cooperate with different eTendering systems to make the workload associated with the announcement minimized based on the automatic reuse of information that already exists in the system.
The contract register will change the way contracting authorities and economic operators work by enabling them to have access to structured data, which will reduce time consumption, and will allow an overview of the market. This will ensure that contracts are fairly awarded based on the procurement process and remove the possibility of awarding contracts based on acquaintances.
It is, as a result, a major step towards transparency in contract awards, beneficial to all who are involved. It will provide an easy-to-use platform which will make the procurement process easier, and it will be a valuable tool for anyone engaging in public procurement. Most importantly, the contract register will increase transparency in contract awards, providing confidence that public funds are being used in the best possible way, applying automatic re-use of information whenever possible and, with that, making the whole public procurement process less time consuming.
Transparency and Efficiency Boosted by New Contract Register
In today's rapidly changing world, we rely more and more on technology to connect us and make our lives easier. This is especially true when it comes to public procurement processes, where businesses are required to navigate complex systems that can vary from country to country. To address this issue, the INTERPROC project is developing a new functionality to enhance interoperability between different procurement systems. But what exactly is interoperability, and why is it so necessary?
Put simply, it means the ability of different systems and organizations to exchange and use information effectively.
In recent years, there have been significant developments towards greater interoperability within the field of public procurement, and these changes are essential to address a number of challenges facing this sector, namely for economic operators (EOs) who may have to resort to manual processes and paperwork to participate in the process.
Lack of interoperability ca lead to significant barriers for businesses looking to expand their operations across borders or bid on public contracts in multiple countries. Different systems may require different forms, documents, or language for bids, creating administrative burdens and making it difficult to navigate the procurement processes. Where EOs are unable to participate easily due to a lack of interoperability, it can limit competition and result in higher costs for public entities, more inefficiencies, increased costs and limited opportunities. This can be particularly problematic for small and medium-sized businesses, who may find it challenging to participate due to the complexity and lack of transparency.
The INTERPROC project will develop a new functionality to help address these issues. The project aims to create seamless communication between different systems and platforms, enabling businesses to participate more easily in public procurement processes across EU countries. This will be achieved through a range of measures, including the creation of standardised procurement documents, the development of eForms and the use of digital signatures.
Interoperability will bring many benefits to businesses, including increased access to public contracts across different EU countries, reduction in administrative burdens and time, and improved transparency and competition. It will also enable procurement entities to access a wider range of bidders and ultimately improve the likelihood of finding the best offer for each procurement process.
As the basis of the INTERPROC project, interoperability is a vital element in streamlining public procurement processes across EU countries. helping to enhance interoperability and establish seamless communication between different procurement systems and platforms. By reducing administrative burdens, increasing transparency and competition, and promoting cross-border trade, interoperability will help to create a more efficient and accessible public procurement environment for businesses across the EU.
How INTERPROC is Enhancing Interoperability to Streamline Procurement Across EU Countries
Public procurement is a critical function in the European Union, accounting for billions of euros in spending each year. The process requires collaboration between multiple organizations and systems, creating significant challenges around consistency, transparency, and efficiency. However, a new project called Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) aims to solve these issues with electronic platforms that standardize the exchange of information.
Peppol provides a common platform for all parties involved in the procurement process, including public entities, economic operators, and other stakeholders. It streamlines the procurement processes and increases efficiency and transparency in the field of public procurement across the European Union. One of its key features is the use of standardized electronic documents and protocols that allow different systems to communicate with one another.
While Peppol already offers sophisticated specifications for the Post-Award phase, the Pre-Award phase is less developed. This is where the INTERPROC project comes in, attempting to fill the gap with a complete eTendering activity. The goal is to provide a consistent set of transactions covering all steps from the initial notification of bidders to awarding the winning tender: INTERPROC identifies missing transaction specifications, creates them, and tests them as part of the tendering procedure as a whole.
The use of complete eTendering interfaces has numerous benefits for the pre-award phase. Firstly, it can improve efficiency by standardizing the exchange of information between different systems and organizations, ultimately speeding up the process. Secondly, eTendering interfaces can increase transparency by providing a common platform for all parties involved in the pre-award phase, ensuring that all relevant information is easily accessible and shared with all parties. Finally, it can simplify the process for many small and medium-sized businesses, making it easier for them to participate in the pre-award phase and increasing their chances of success.
The use of eTendering interfaces ultimately contributes to increased competition by making it easier for economic operators to participate and drive down costs, and Peppol can help to ensure that the goods and services procured by public entities are of high quality by requiring suppliers to meet certain standards to participate in the platform.
Peppol and the INTERPROC project are significant accomplishments in the public procurement landscape. By creating standardized protocols and specifications, they streamline procurement procedures and increase transparency and efficiency. In the future, we can expect even more additions to the Peppol process based on the developed eTendering interfaces, making the transition from pre-award to post-award even more smooth and partly automatable.
The Future of Public Procurement in Europe
The world of public procurement is undergoing a significant transformation with the adoption of eTendering interfaces. These digital platforms have streamlined the procurement process, making it more efficient and transparent. However, their true potential lies in their ability to harmonize the Pre-Award phase across different stages and stakeholders.
The INTERPROC project is revolutionizing the Pre-Award phase of eProcurement, standardizing how organizations handle procurement processes. Through a comprehensive approach involving gap analysis, Peppol integration, harmonization of transactions and successful interoperability testing, INTERPROC is leading the way toward a more efficient, interconnected, and robust procurement ecosystem.
The Pre-Award phase in public procurement is the period leading up to the awarding of a contract to a supplier. This phase is of vital importance as it sets the foundation for a successful procurement process. Comprehensive coverage of the Tendering Process minimizes gaps and challenges which is crucial for subsequent improvements.
A strong foundation for harmonized Pre-Award processes was a relevant accomplishment for the world of eProcurement. The successful establishment of a harmonized Pre-Award process lays a strong foundation for the future that ensures that procurement processes are consistent, transparent, and efficient.
INTERPROC achieved another significant milestone by developing and implementing Peppol Profiles and Transactions. Peppol, an internationally recognized standard and eDelivery network, provides a robust framework for eProcurement. New interfaces were meticulously crafted to encompass every intricate process step within the Pre-Award phase. This integration streamlines procurement and ensures alignment with global standards, fostering interoperability.
Efficiency goes beyond mere integration; it entails creating a seamless and cohesive flow. INTERPROC recognized this and committed to harmonizing all new and existing transactions. The aim was to establish a holistic workflow that enables data and information to flow effortlessly from one step to the next. This level of integration and harmony minimizes errors and bottlenecks, enhancing overall efficiency.
In addition, a tangible achievement for INTERPROC was the successful interoperability testing conducted between VORTAL and BeschA. This rigorous testing phase confirmed the compatibility of INTERPROC’s specifications with existing systems. It demonstrated that the project's enhancements were not just theoretical but ready for practical implementation.
With the core Pre-Award process streamlined, future projects and developments can now focus on supporting specialized tendering procedures. This includes dynamic procurement systems and the transition towards the post-award phase, paving the way for continued innovation.
The harmonization of the Pre-Award phase in public procurement through interoperable eTendering interfaces is a significant step toward improving transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in procurement processes. By fostering collaboration, standardizing procedures, and enhancing data-driven decision-making, these interfaces are revolutionizing the way governments and organizations conduct their procurement activities. While challenges exist, the benefits of this transformation are clear, making it a crucial development in the realm of public procurement.
INTERPROC is leading the charge in transforming e-Procurement Pre-Award processes, enhancing both efficiency and connectivity. The journey towards a future-ready procurement landscape is underway, and this project stands at the forefront of this transformative endeavor.
Harmonization of Pre-Award Phase through Interoperable eTendering Interfaces
