Information Technology Electronic Catalog/Purchase Card System (ITEC Direct)

Information Technology Electronic Catalog/Purchase Card System (ITEC Direct)

Organization: SPAWAR, DON-CIO

Team Name: Information Technology Contracts Division

Related Acquisition Topic(s): Acquisition Practices Streamlining, Commercial Practices, Open Systems, Paperless Contracting, Simplified Acquisition

Description:
ITEC Direct is a Department of the Navy (DoN) Chief Information Officer initiative that provides the DoN a single World Wide Web (WWW) Site (http://www.it-umbrella.navy.mil) containing commercial Information Technology (IT) products and services which comply with DON architecture and standards. As a key component in an acquisition strategy to acquire items in an expeditious manner at lower costs and reduced lead times, the site incorporates the use of awarded Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contracts and existing Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) issued under General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules. By combining the interests of the technical and acquisition communities, the site provides easy access to the latest standards-compliant commercial IT products and services. In partnership with the Defense Logistics Agency, ITEC Direct incorporates an electronic catalog with secured on-line Government-Wide Purchase Card ordering.

Program Acquisition Innovation Highlights:
Key components achieved by the site include (1) greater visibility and propagation of standards-compliant Information Technology products and services, (2) purchase of these items at reduced cost and with reduced lead time compared to current paper processes, (3) adaptable technical architecture using current and foreseeable technology such as the Internet and Web browser, and (4) leveraged use of the Government-Wide Purchase Card for immediate procurement by cardholders. By achieving these, ITEC Direct facilitates meeting goals of both the DON Chief Information Officer and the DON Acquisition community. Although developed initially for Navy and Marine Corps customers, the entire DoD community and the Coast Guard can use the system.

Users of the system have successfully located items in the electronic catalog and submitted purchase card orders to vendors through ITEC Direct. This has allowed individual purchase card holders to quickly fulfill a requirement. As a market research tool, the procurement and technical community has been able to use the site to compare prices across the different acquisition vehicles and against other price lists. Additionally, the participating vendors have seen great benefit in being on the site. Additionally, ITEC Direct has a robust IT Services section providing access to several IT Services BPAs. The vendors have incorporated the technology for electronic submission of Statements of Work by the user to which the vendors can then respond electronically.

Recently, an Order Management Module developed by the Defense Logistics Agency for their E-Mall was added which provides the user with updates on the status of their orders and connects to the FedEx and UPS tracking systems.

The ITEC Direct team is clearly on the front line of other DOD and Federal electronic catalog initiatives. By incorporating the latest in technical architecture, working with the Electronic Acquisition 21 (paperless acquisition) team, and fulfilling the needs of the DON customers in providing electronic access to and procurement of best value IT solutions, ITEC Direct will continue its successful support of acquisition reform in the years.

SPAWAR, DON-CIO

Information Technology Contracts Division