A System for Virtual Tendering and Bidding

In this paper we analyse virtual consortia in the construction sector. Focusing on the bidding/tendering process, we review the existing information systems over the Internet that support this process. Our results show that although there are a substantial number of systems that support searching for calls for tenders, few of them provide support for other vital items of the bidding/tendering process, such as robust collaboration facilities for the virtual consortium formation and for the management of the bid. We then present the SupplyPoint system, which has been developed in order to electronically support and automate the whole tendering/bidding process of virtual consortia. Supplypoint provides in addition to what existing systems already do a collaboration platform that facilitates, in a virtual manner, the formation of consortia.