Vendor Portal

At present, the Lab’s process for interacting with vendors is both decentralized and non-systematized. This environment of discontinuity has led to increased inefficiency and potential for compliance risk. For example, proposals for complex procurements are often emailed directly to the Acquisition Services Professional which has, at times, been problematic when the size of the submission exceeds the limitations of NREL’s Outlook standards and can lead to complications when Acquisition Services managers do not have access to individual Outlook accounts. Additionally, electronic deliverables for subcontracts and purchase orders are often emailed directly to the NREL Technical Monitor overseeing the efforts of the subcontract. However, size constraints and enterprise accessibility to individual outlook accounts have presented concerns relating to deliverable submission, access, and retention as well.

The lack of a system by which prospective and actual subcontractors/vendors can securely upload proposals, vendor information, and electronic deliverables has led to increased inefficiency and compliance risk. With this in mind, it is clear that a consolidated location in which vendor activity and information is stored is a necessity for the Lab’s continued smooth operation and growth.

To better serve the Lab’s needs, this SSN aims to identify vendors qualified and capable of providing existing software that meets the need or identifying vendors able to cost effectively develop a system/software that meets NREL’s need for a Vendor Portal. Additionally, this SSN serves to explore what additional functionality may exist to collaborate more maturely, securely, efficiently, and compliantly with NREL’s vendor/subcontractor community.