Electronic Commerce Removing Regulatory Impediments

Abstract

Electronic Commerce techniques, such as electronic mail and electronic data interchange (EDI), enable Government agencies to conduct business without the use of cumbersome paper documents. The benefits include reduced paper-handling costs, lower clerical costs, fewer data errors, faster communications, easier access to information, and better customer service. Regulatory impediments, however, are restricting the ability of Government agencies to actually obtain those benefits. The primary impediment is the Federal Acquisition Regulation's requirement that Government agencies use paper forms and manual signatures when conducting procurement and contract administration actions. Other impediments are similarly limiting the application of Electronic Commerce techniques in the areas of accounting, transportation, and supply. This report recommends a number of specific changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation and identifies a variety of other regulations and documents that are impeding the application of Electronic Commerce techniques within DoD. It also recommends that the DoD Executive Agent for Electronic Commerce and Electronic Data Interchange require all participants in DoD's Electronic Commerce Program to include regulatory and procedural reviews in their program plans. Electronic Commerce, Electronic Data Interchange, Federal Acquisition Regulation, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA252691

Entities

People

  • Daniel J. Drake
  • John A. Ciucci
  • William R. Ledder

Organizations

  • LMI

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acceptability
  • Authentication
  • Business Administration
  • Commerce
  • Communication Systems
  • Contract Administration
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Electronic Mail
  • Governments
  • Information Processing
  • Information Systems
  • Law
  • Procurement
  • Standards
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) EDI Research and Innovation.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics