RESTRICTED
GENERAL AGREEMENT GPA/IC/W/7/Add.9
6December 1994
ONTARIFFS AND TRADE
(94-2654)
Original: English Interim Committee onGovernment Procurement
QUESTIONNAIRE ONINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Response bytheRepublic ofKorea
Theattached communication contains thereplies fromthedelegation oftheRepublic ofKorea
tothequestionnaire onInformation Technology inGovernment Procurement contained in
document GPA/IC/W/4/Rev.1, dated 16September 1994.GPA/IC/W/7/Add.9
Page2
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Replies received from Korea
1. Could delegations giveabriefdescription ofanystepstaken orplanned tointroduce information
technology (electronic commerce) intopublic procurement? Ifso,doesthiscover contracts which
arecovered under theAgreement presently inforce, orunder thenewly-signed Agreement? Atall
levels ofgovernment? Intheevent thatdelegations arenotconsidering introducing information
technology intopublic procurement, could theyexplain thereasons?
Procurementinformationatalllevelsofgovernmentisprovidedintheofficialgazette"Kwanbo".
Theinformation canalsobeobtained viatheGINS* information network system operated byaprivate
company. Themain function ofthesystem istoprovide suchinformation toitssubscribers ona
commercial basis.
*GINS: Goldstar Information Network Service
2. What function(s) would information technology serve insuchsystems andwhowillbetheusers?
Notification oftenders andcontract awards. There areabout 1,200 suppliers andother
subscribers whousethesystem.
3. Could delegations describe thetechnical aspects ofthesystems inuseorplanned? Inparticular
asregards infrastructure/hardware-software anditsoptions/standards?
N/A
4. Could delegations describe anylimitations affecting access toinformation available inasystem?
How wideispotential access tointerested suppliers? What aretheaccess possibilities forsuppliers
ofother signatory countries? What possible obstacles toaccess might arise forsuppliers inother
signatory countries?
Nolimitations. Forpotential users ofthesystem, aPC,amodem andatelephone lineare
required. Onepossible obstacle toaccess forforeign suppliers isthattheGINS system isoperational
onlyinKorean.
5. Hasanythought beengiven tothequestion ofinteraction between electronic tendering and
theobligations concerning publication andtime-limits imposed bytheAgreement?
N/A
6. Forthose delegations whouseadatabase which listsgovernment procurement opportunities:
(i) What isthename ofthisdatabase?
GINS.Itisasimplecommercialnetworksystemdistributinginformationtothepotential
users.GPA/IC/W/7/Add.9
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(ii) Howlonghasthedatabase beenoperational andhowmany suppliers usethedatabase?
Thedatabase hasbeenoperational forfiveyears and1,200 potential suppliers and
customers useit.
(iii) Isafeecharged tosuppliers using thissystem? Ifso,howmuch, andwhatisincluded
inthefee?
33,000 Korean wonpermonth (VAT included).
(iv) Cansuppliers obtain tender documentation electronically? Ifso,how?
Yes,theycangetthem through theirPC.
(v) How isinformation onthedatabase organized?
Aprivate company collects theprocurement information from theOffice ofSupply
oftheRepublic ofKorea (OSROK) andfrom localgovernments.
(vi) Does thedatabase offer anyother features?
N/A
(vii) What istheapproximate number ofprocurement opportunities listed onthedatabase
annually?
7,500 peryear(OSROK only).
(viii) Isthesystem managed bythegovernment oraprivate company?
Byaprivate company.