RESTRICTED
GENERAL AGREEMENT GPA/IC/W/7/Add.1
28October 1994
ONTARIFFS AND TRADE
(94-2118)
Original: English Interim Committee onGovernment Procurement
QUESTIONNAIRE ONINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Response byJapan
TheattachedcommunicationcontainstherepliesfromthedelegationofJapantothequestionnaire
onInformation Technology inGovernment Procurement contained indocument GPA/IC/W/4/Rev.1,
dated 16September 1994.GPA/IC/W/7/Add.1
Page2
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Replies received from Japan
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?
Withaviewtoestablishing anelectronic database which would listinformation ongovernment
procurement published inKanpo¯,theJapanese official gazette, including thatoftheentities covered
bytheAgreement presently inforce and/or under Annexes 1and3ofthenewly-signed Agreement,
theGovernmentofJapantookastepinOctober1994sothatentitiesshouldbegintousecommonformats
forpublic notices ongovernment procurement tobepublished intheofficial gazette fromJanuary 1995.
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) iscurrently developing asystem forthedatabase
utilizing government procurement information tobeprovided inthecommon formats. Itisplanned
thatthedatabase should beready attheendofMarch 1995.
2. What function(s) would information technology serve insuchsystems andwhowillbetheusers?
Itisenvisaged thatthedatabase would listsuchinformation asprocuring entities, subject matter
ofcontract, places where tender documentation willbeobtained, schedule ofexplanatory meetings
ontender, contract award information andqualification forparticipating intendering procedures.
Itissupposed thatdomestic andforeign suppliers should bethemain users ofthedatabase.
3. Could delegations describe thetechnical aspects ofthesystems inuseorplanned? Inparticular
asregards infrastructure/hardware-software anditsoptions/standards?
Since thedatabase iscurrently under development, details ofinfrastructure/hardware-software
anditsoptions/standards ofthedatabase arenotavailable.
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?
Since thedatabase iscurrently under development, information onthemethod ofaccess to
thedatabase isnotavailable.
5. Hasanythought beengiven tothequestion ofinteraction between electronic tendering and
theobligations concerning publication andtime-limits imposed bytheAgreement?
_____GPA/IC/W/7/Add.1
Page3
6. Forthose delegations whouseadatabase which listsgovernment procurement opportunities:
(i) What isthename ofthisdatabase?
Thename ofthedatabase under development isnotavailable.
(ii) Howlonghasthedatabase beenoperational andhowmany suppliers usethedatabase?
Itisplanned thatthedatabase should beready attheendofMarch 1995.
(iii) Isafeecharged tosuppliers using thissystem? Ifso,howmuch, andwhatisincluded
inthefee?
Itiscurrently considered thatnofeewould becharged tothose using thedatabase.
(iv) Cansuppliers obtain tender documentation electronically? Ifso,how?
Thedatabase, which willbebased oninformation tobepublished intheofficial gazette,
willnotcontain tender documentation.
(v) How isinformation onthedatabase organized?
JETRO willputinformation, which willbereceived from thePrinting Bureau of
Ministry ofFinance, inthedatabase.
(vi) Does thedatabase offer anyother features?
Noinformation iscurrently available.
(vii) What istheapproximate number ofprocurement opportunities listed onthedatabase
annually?
Thedatabase, which isplanned tobeready attheendofMarch 1995, willcontain
allgovernment procurement information tobepublished intheofficial gazette.
(viii) Isthesystem managed bythegovernment oraprivate company?
Thedatabase willbemanaged byJETRO, agovernment-related entity, based onan
arrangement among ministries andagencies.