Auction based procurement system

Abstract

A method and system for performing an auction by determining a request for an item based on at least one of (i) an item to purchase, (ii) a performance specification of the item to purchase, and (iii) a term of a request for the item to purchase. The method and system include sending, through a network, the request for the item to an auctioneer machine server. Performance information is collected for each seller. Notice is provided that a performance evaluation has been received for a specific seller, and is on record with the provider of the information. Additional transaction costs may be captured and included as a separate line item in an auto-rebid auction environment.

1 . A method for an auction, comprising:
 receiving, through a network, a request for an item from a first device;   sending, through the network, the request for the item to a second device;   receiving, through the network, a first bid from a sender via the second device, the first bid being based on the request for the item;   sending, through the network, the request for the item to a third device;   receiving, through the network, a second bid from a sender via the third device, the second bid being based on the request for the item;   calculating an additional transaction fee for each of the first and second bids;   ranking the first bid and the second bid based on a comparison of each bid, the ranking including a first status indicator for the first bid and a second status indicator for the second bid, each of the first and second status indicators indicating one of a leading bid and a lagging bid;   initiating a re-bid for each lagging bid, the re-bid initiation including comparing each leading bid with a pre-set limit for the sender of the lagging bid; and   determining a result of the auction based on the request for the item, the first bid and the second bid;   wherein the result of the auction is based on a match between the request for the item and at least one bid, the at least one bid being selected from a plurality of received bids, the plurality of received bids including the first bid and the second bid, the match including at least one of (i) an exact match between the request for the item and at least one bid and (ii) the at least one bid satisfying the request for the item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device includes a first computer operated by a potential consumer, the second device includes a second computer operated by a first potential vendor, and the third device includes a third computer operated by a second potential vendor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the request for the item, the first bid, and the second bid include at least one of (i) performance risk of a potential vendor, (ii) price, (iii) warranty and (iv) performance specification of an item. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending the result of the auction to at least one of (i) the first device, (ii) the second device and (iii) the third device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a sender via the first device submits a second request for a second item based on the result of the auction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second item and the first item are identical. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional transaction fee is calculated based upon a look-up table of government agencies and contract types. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the result of the auction, wherein the additional transaction fee is included in the displayed result as a separate line item.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional transaction fee is a contract fee. 
     
     
         10 . A method for performing an on-line auction, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a network, a bid request for an item;   receiving, via the network, at least two responses to the bid request, each response having a sender;   calculating an additional transaction fee for each of the first and second bids;   ranking each of the responses via a rank indicator, each rank indicator indicating one of a leading bid, a lagging bid, and a no-bid;   notifying, via the network, each response sender of the rank indicator of the response; and   initiating a re-bid for each lagging response, the re-bid initiation including comparing each leading response with a pre-set limit for the sender of the lagging response.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 displaying the result of the auction, wherein the additional transaction fee is included in the displayed result as a separate line item.   
     
     
         12 . A system for performing an on-line auction, the system comprising:
 receiving means for receiving, via a network, a bid request for an item;   receiving means for receiving, via the network, at least two responses to the bid request, each response having a sender;   calculating means for calculating an additional transaction fee for each of the first and second bids;   ranking means for ranking each of the responses via a rank indicator, each rank indicator indicating one of a leading bid, a lagging bid, and a no-bid;   notifying means for notifying, via the network, each response sender of the rank indicator of the response; and   initiating means for automatically initiating a re-bid for each lagging response, the re-bid initiation including comparing each leading response with a pre-set limit for the sender of the lagging response.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 displaying means for displaying the result of the auction, wherein the additional transaction fee is included in the displayed result as a separate line item.   
     
     
         14 .- 22 . (canceled)