“Everyone can access”

1. “Everyone can access”

2. Contents • Mer-link’s context • The route of decision-making • What is Mer-link? • Lessons Learned

3. Digital Government in Costa Rica 2009-2010 Prioritized Projects

4. Digital Government in Costa Rica The actual digitization of government procurement was the most challenging project. But it was also the most attractive, since it creates efficiencies for the institutions, mechanisms to provide access to many companies of all sizes and in the digitization of State

5. The route of decision-making

6. Diagnosis of the Situation of the Country • Joint investigation by the Technical Secretariat for Digital Government and the Department of Digital Government INCAE • 2008: Rapid diagnosis of the status of electronic procurement in the country(3) • 2009: Depth review and key findings(4) • (3) E-Procurement in Costa Rica. Barahona et. al. San José Costa Rica, 2008 • (4) Research Challenges for the adoption, implementation and appropriation of an electronic procurement system in Costa Rica. Barahona et. al. San José Costa Rica, 2009

7. Results: Diagnosis of the Situation of the Country • “Fragmented“ model  • Model based on paper. • An ineffective use of time. • Lack of standardization • (Single product catalog and vendors)

8. Best Practices Experiencia Internacional

9. Best Practices • Platform: ChileCompra • It has: • Single Vendors Catalog (300K companies) • Single Products Catalog • Covers the entire contracting cycle • 900 affiliated agencies • Cost Savings of $ 70 million annually • Platform: CompraNet • Started as a portal in 1996 • In 2006 realized ​​$ 30 billion transaction • 30,000 tenders annually • 7,000 purchasing units

10. PanamáCompra • New modalities such as minor procurement contracts, public bidding, bid for best value tendering framework agreement, reverse auction and direct contracting. • It Has: • Single electronic catalog of products and services • Single vendor registration. • Participants 7500. 180,000 procedures. • Contracts awards value in $ 2.200 million. International Experience • A portal that integrates a set of subsystems related to purchasing management. • Average length of shopping in this modal is 10 days. • It Has: • Single vendor registration. • Standardized Product Catalog System  • The model encourages participation of small and medium enterprises and other priority sectors for national development

11. South Korea • Single Window • Real-time monitoring of procurement processes. • Online marketplace, where real-time interaction tens of thousands of buyers with tens of thousands of vendors • Paperless • Signature and digital certificate All information is available via the Internet, through a centralized electronic record single case processed. Which can be obtained and accessed in real time.

12. South Korea Technologically feasible and tested • 37,000 public institutions • Single product registration: 120,000 products (UNSPSC Standard) • Single vendor registration: registered companies • 180,000 visits per day • Cost Savings of $ 4,500 million annually (*) • Allows the linkage to the vendor and information systems of all public institutions, financial and controlling entities. • Follow the ASP business model (Application Service Provider) and which can provide or integrate with all the features of the procurement process.

13. That’s why in 2008, the Technical Secretariat of Digital Government initiated a technical cooperation relationship with the Government of South Korea. • MOU(8) is signed, with a view to promoting the implementation of an electronic procurement system in Costa Rica, which takes as basis the standards and technologies of Korea Online • e-Procurement System (KONEPS). • In this system, then would call as ”Mer-link” On-line Marketplace. (8) Memorandum of understanding between the public procurement service of the Republic of Korea and the Intersectoral Commission for Digital Government of the Republic of Costa Rica in collaboration for managing acquisitions. May 9, 2008

14. What's Online Marketplace"Mer-link"?

15. What is Mer-link? It is the country's response to the challenge of efficient and effective management of public procurement Standardization Process Modernization of the State Digitization Process

16. Mer-link implementation

17. Progressive implementation Schedule July 2009 Dec 2010 2009 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 Project Started II Phase I Phase I Phase I Phase

18. Main features

19. “Paperless” Model Single Vendor Registration and Product & Service Catalog

20. Using Digital Signature Applied during the process Authentication Signature of documents and records Legal value to acts

21. Electronic Documents

22. Single Vendor Registration Vendors Buyers Social Security Administration, National Registry, Heath, others

23. Product and Service Catalog • Catalog

24. Benefits for vendors • More Visibility into procurement processes (transparency). • More customers • Visibility of its goods and services. • Simplification of procedures. • Extended hours. (24 hours) • Secured Documents. (Digital Signature) • Mer-link’s Call Center. • Participation and equality of conditions for small and medium enterprises • No charge for use

25. Benefits for the country

26. Lessons Learned

27. “Everyone can access”