GSA is currently drafting an RFP for ACES, Access Certificates for Electronic Services ACES will be a Multiple Award Contract, using the commercial sector's proven technology to verify a citizen's identity as they transact business electronically with government. The ACES approach is designed to be a common tool for a variety of electronic commerce processes. The Defense Department, the National Institutes of Health, and Treasury Department are using model systems for managing seller information effectively. The Department of Defense has developed a central vendor registration database to obtain information from vendors and contractors to streamline business transactions. The CCR provides a DUNS number and validation.
Validation accelerates electronic payment and promotes a paper-free environment.
By June 1, vendors must be registered in CCR to do business with Defense. The contractors are charged a subscription fee and the data base is supported, in part, by these charges. The information is accessible on the Internet web site and has four levels of security. Compete automation of the performance evaluation is expected by March 1999. Agencies are required to submit a report on how they will implement collection of TINs to Financial Management Service in Treasury.