ELECTRONIC COMMERCE/ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EC/EDI) FOR COMMUNICATION, DETECTION, AND COHERENT RADIATION EQUIPMENT POC Jodie Paustian, IRS Small Business Specialist, (202) 283-1350. Federal Supply Group 58, Communication, Detection, and Coherent Radiation Equipment. Only the Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data Interchange (EC/EDI) method will be used to solicit and receive quotes and provide notice of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) purchase requirements exceeding the micro-purchase threshold ($2,500) and not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($100,000) for the following Federal Supply Codes (FSCs) within Federal Supply Group (FSG) 58, Communication, Detection, and Coherent Radiation Equipment, effective May 1, 1996, unless the contracting officer determines that it is not cost effective or practicable to use EC/EDI for a specific procurement: FSC 5805, Telephone and Telegraph Equipment; FSC 5810, Communication Security Equipment and Components; FSC 5811, Other Cryptologic Equipment and Components; FSC 5820, Radio and TV Communication Equipment; Except Airborne; FSC 5835, Sound Recording and Reproducing Equipment; FSC 5836, Video Recording and Reproducing Equipment; FSC 5855, Night Vision Equipment, Emitted and Reflected Radiation; FSC 5865, Electronic Countermeasures, Counter-Counter-Measures and Quick Reaction Capability Equipment; and FSC 5895, Miscellaneous Communication Equipment. When the EC/EDI method is used to solicit and receive quotes, a presolicitation notice will not be published in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD). The IRS has made a determination that only brand name items will be purchased using the EC/EDI method. Competitive pricing for multiple brand name items will be solicited to the maximum extent practicable. See FSGs 67, 69 and 70 for additional FSCs designated for procurement exclusively through the EC/EDI method. The IRS, having conducted an EC/EDI pilot from August 1994 to present will expand the use of EC/EDI in its headquarters and implement EC/EDI functions described in the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Subpart 4.504 in the four regional procurement offices located in Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and two computing centers in Detroit, MI, and Martinsburg, West Virginia. By the above effective date, IRS will begin soliciting and receiving quotes for the specific FSCs within FSG 58 from Trading Partners (businesses that have agreed to exchange business information electronically) using the Federal Acquisition Computer Network (FACNET). Businesses who wish to receive and respond to electronic requests for quotations (RFQs) issued by the IRS for the designated FSCs must register via a Value-Added-Network (VAN) with the Federal Government's Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database to become a Trading Partner. For additional information on the IRS plans to implement EC/EDI, contact Jodie Paustian, IRS Small Business Specialist, at (202) 283-1350. For the most current list of Government Certified VANS and information on the Federal Electronic Commerce initiative and how to become a Trading Partner, contact the Electronic Commerce Center help line at 1-800-EDI-3414 or Internet: dodedi@acq.osd.mil. EC/EDI information is also available by accessing the Small Business Administration (SBA) Online at 1-800-697-4646 to browse or 1-900-463-4636 to download information; and 202-401-9600 (local). SBA also has EDI demonstration software available at their business information centers for use by the public. Note: The IRS EC/EDI program supports only the X.12 3040 Convention.

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