• CPU: 2000 Mhz or above
• RAM: minimum recommended – 2 GB
• Operating System and Browser: see below the recommended operating systems and browsers for correct use:

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* Mandatory to exclude vortal.biz of Compatibility Settings

Vortal’s platform recognises the signing of PDF documents up to version 2.0, which is the standard version according to the PDF Association’s ISO 32000 standard (https://www.pdfa.org/resource/iso-32000-pdf/)

NEXT> Platform

• Firefox: only the less current versions of this browser (<51) support java applets, necessary to sign documents on the NEXT> platform.

• Google Chrome: only the less current versions of this browser (<79) support java applets, necessary to sign documents on the NEXT platform>.
In the most current versions (79>) it is possible to overcome this situation using the “IE Tab” plugin, compatible with Google Chrome. To do this, go to ietab.net/options and after configuration add community.vortal.biz in the field “Auto URLs”

• Internet Explorer: when using IE11 you must ensure the following configuration:
1. In the browser tools, select “Internet Options”;
2. In the “General” section, click in “Settings”;
3. Select “Every time I visit the webpage”.
Note: The E-Auction module is not compatible with the version 9 of Internet Explorer.

• Safari: the less current versions of this browser (<11) support java applets, necessary to sign documents on the NEXT> platform.

vortalvision Platform

We recommend using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browsers in their latest versions.

When the platform is fully available, the new document signing framework “Digital Signature Service” will not require applets to run, avoiding any constraint.

Note: Cookies and JavaScript should be enabled. The pop-up blocker should be disabled. Please note that you may have more than one pop-up blocker.

To use any Internet Explorer browser, you must remove Vortal websites from Compatibility View. Here’s how (the example considers Internet Explorer 11):

1. In the browser, select “Tools” and then “Compatibility View Settings”

2. Click on “Delete”

The platform was designed to allow all public entities and bidders to use it in a simple and intuitive way.

Although the use of the platform is very simple, VORTAL offers, among other things, professional consulting and training services carried out by specialised consultants, as well as comprehensive support provided by a customer service department. On the other hand, consultation tools for training public entities and suppliers, such as online user manuals, are also available on the platform.

VORTAL regularly organises training sessions, both in person and online, to ensure that there are no barriers to using our solutions.

Yes. VORTALconnect is the tool we designed to allow complete communication between multiple systems of varying standards. Versatile and flexible, it has been designed to be compatible with a wide range of international frameworks including PEPPOL. Our complete integration service will seamlessly adapt the VORTAL system to your business – including your ERP and financial management systems.

At VORTAL we understand that customer service means more than providing leading-edge technology. It means supporting our products with the very best in client care. If it’s urgent for you, it’s urgent for us – which is why we work around the clock to ensure that your questions or doubts are given the priority attention they deserve. You’ll have access to our dedicated team of specialists from day one.

There are various definitions, which often hinge on the difference between eProcurement (post-award) and eTendering (pre-award).
In the private sector, eProcurement is often used to mean the technology that supports the post contract award purchase to pay or transactional cycle. eTendering is then used to describe the technology used around the pre-contract award phase, the category management or strategic sourcing cycle – so supplier selection, tendering, and contract management.
In discussion of technology in the EU context, most of the interest in public procurement has been around automating and systemizing the sourcing process – but somewhat confusingly, it is generally termed eProcurement. The transactional element of procurement (P2P), which tends to be post-contract award focused, such as requisitioning, ordering and invoicing, is often handled through ERP systems and is therefore of less interest at EU Commission level.

There are various definitions, which often hinge on the difference between eProcurement (post-award) and eTendering (pre-award).
In the private sector, eProcurement is often used to mean the technology that supports the post contract award purchase to pay or transactional cycle. eTendering is then used to describe the technology used around the pre-contract award phase, the category management or strategic sourcing cycle – so supplier selection, tendering, and contract management.

In discussion of technology in the EU context, most of the interest in public procurement has been around automating and systemizing the sourcing process – but somewhat confusingly, it is generally termed eProcurement. The transactional element of procurement (P2P), which tends to be post-contract award focused, such as requisitioning, ordering and invoicing, is often handled through ERP systems and is therefore of less interest at EU Commission level.

The VORTAL public procurement platform serves all public entities that, according to the applicable legislation, are obliged to use an electronic platform to carry out public procurement procedures. The platform is prepared to be easily configured in each country to adapt to the specific legislation of each market.

Public procurement rules, defined in each country according to European guidelines, require public authorities to adopt strict procedures. In order to carry out this type of procedures, a number of actions must be taken. In this way, the essential function of the platform is to allow all the stages required by law to be carried out on the platform, thus allowing full management of the procedure, while guaranteeing all the necessary interaction between the public entity and suppliers.

VORTAL Public eProcurement platform will allow you to simplify and have more efficient procurement processes. Thanks to VORTAL you will be able to manage all the process, from the creation of the procedure to the digital signature of the contract, electronically.
By using VORTAL platform, you will:

• Reduce by more than 10% your procurement costs.
• Draw proposals from a larger, more competitive pool – without increasing the time and money you spend on procurement.
• Discover new and cost-effective suppliers (including SMEs who might not have been able to bid in more traditional procurement processes).

By using VORTAL all clients will fulfill all the requirement of the new Public Procurement Directives approved by the EU. Apart from that, our platform is easy customize to any national or regional law.

VORTAL allows you to manage all your procurement process electronically:

• Creation of the tender and invitation to suppliers
• Publicise the tender (including contract noticing and documentation)
• Clarify and amend procedures if necessary
• Hold an eAuction
• Start online negotiation
• Open tender and send notifications
• Receive online proposal with receipts
• Compare bids automatically and evaluate proposals
• Award bid, create contract and send notifications
• Signature of the contract

But VORTAL is not only technology. Our platform is commercialized as Software as a Service. We offer training and multilingual support, both for buyers and suppliers, all the process along. Our community management approach makes us unique.

We could say that you can save even more thanks to our experience. However, we prefer to be conservative at this point. We have referred these percentages because they appear in the Green Paper on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy published by the European Commission.

VORTAL has built an eProcurement suite that is easy to customize to any legal framework. This implementation is quick and our customers can start using our solution very quickly, independently of their country.

eProcurement for the public sector requires specific functionalities. For example, focus on clear processes and tracking of when bids are submitted, documentation of supplier questions, security issues, and formal evaluation processes are all key factors that do not necessarily have quite the same criticality for the private sector. And whilst many requirements are defined by the EU regulations, there are national or even regional differences too. Because of this, VORTAL has become a specialist in the public sector market.

A SaaS approach will be generally better than other options:

• A SaaS approach will be faster to implement, with lower costs associated with that phase compared to an on-premises installation.

• Updates and new innovations will generally be quicker and easier to implement. We can make just one change to the system to improve performance or perhaps to meet a new regulatory requirement; that is then applied to all clients using that system.

• Availability – whilst every provider is different, the availability of VORTAL SaaS systems is generally higher than with other models.

Our experience says it’s one of the crucial points. The implementation of Public eProcurement will modify the way people work, and this is always hard. Our implementation methodology, built based on our experience, helped us and the decision makers to overpass this situation.

We will automatically inform the suppliers on our extensive international network. We work hard to guarantee that you receive the best offers from the most qualified suppliers. Our community management team will bring new suppliers to your procedures.

For all governments, but most significantly those where eProcurement is not well established already, there are a number of options in terms of ensuring that eProcurement is introduced as required. Similar options face individual contracting authorities, at least where the national government has not imposed a standard solution.

The key decisions are:

• Whether to allow an open market in eProcurement systems i.e. let each contracting authority determine itself which solution it will use to fulfill the Directive, or whether to impose central (national or regional) solutions;

• Whether to choose an on-premise or software as a service (SaaS) solution; and

• Whether to build a bespoke eProcurement system, or buy a proprietary off the shelf solution available on the market already.

We’ll give you the technology to manage every last cost – direct or indirect.

As a company, you might be very good at managing your direct costs, but sometimes it can be harder to tackle the other costs of doing business – the indirect spend. In fact, if you aren’t in control, the murky world of indirect procurement can quickly start resembling the Wild Wild West.
Our best-in-class technology solutions are designed to help you clear the clutter from your expenditures, cutting costs and increasing efficiencies.

What you will get with VORTAL eSourcing suite:

Save up to 20% thanks to higher competition.
Efficiently manage the indirect spend and the tactical sourcing.
Reduce 40% of costs related to searching and qualifying suppliers.
Save up to 60% analysing and comparing proposals.
Make better decisions based on more market information.
Track all your expenses in single place.
And much more.

We cover all the sourcing process, from the publication of the requirements till the digital signature of the contract. Apart from the normal process we offer other functionalities such eAuction or eInvoicing that make part of our suite.

Yes. We have customers from almost every business sector: construction, telecommunication, media, energy, etc.

Thanks to our platform you will be able to invite your current suppliers to your tenders. You can also open your request to the category, which means that any supplier with that category will be informed of the business opportunity and will have the opportunity to present a proposal.

Introducing your suppliers in the VORTAL network will give them the possibility to access more business opportunities. They will have access to the request from more than 2.000 buying entities.

VORTAL is one of the world’s largest and most successful eMarketplace operators, with a proven eProcurement and eSourcing platform that connects thousands of public and private sector buyers with an international community of qualified suppliers.

The combination of an eSourcing Suite and an eCommerce Suite makes VORTAL a unique provider with a dual-value proposition. We take care both of buyers and suppliers, giving them the right tools to manage their purchases and sales.

VORTAL has a community management team that has the mission to find new suppliers and qualify them. Apart from that, our platform has a reputation system that will let you choose the best supplier according to other buyers’ experiences.

Only a computer and Internet connection. Once you have this, you are ready to start presenting your proposals.

It’s easy. You only have to click here and follow the steps.

There are no costs for the supplier companies subscribing to the platform for services available directly on the platform to respond to a public procedure.

Without prejudice to this free access, the legislation imposes some requirements which are not the direct responsibility of the electronic platforms and which may imply costs for the entities using the electronic platforms (e.g. obtaining a digital certificate and chronological validation seals issued by an accredited certification body).

The service becomes automatically available.

Any company, entity or independent worker who wishes to access information on the procedures published by VORTAL’s public entities clients.

Yes, simply select the option “I am self-employed” in your company’s registration process.

In your dashboard you will be able to create your company profile. Include all the information you consider important (logo, services, products, online assets, etc.). If you need any help at this point please contact us.

The only thing you need is to do is ensure your company is correctly categorized in terms of its activity. Automatically, you will start receiving business opportunities from the buyers that use the platform for their daily procurement activity and that are searching for a supplier in your category.

By default, the person who creates the entity’s account on the platform will be considered responsible for it. This user has the ability to manage other users’ access to that entity’s account.

VORTAL is one of the world’s largest and most successful eMarketplace operators, with a proven eProcurement and eSourcing platform that connects thousands of public and private sector buyers with an international community of qualified suppliers.

The combination of an eSourcing Suite and an eCommerce Suite makes VORTAL a unique provider with a dual-value proposition. We take care both of buyers and suppliers, giving them the right tools to manage their purchases and sales.

Every successful business relies on a network of strong partners to keep growing. At VORTAL we are no different. We need partners to support us in the business communities within which we operate, and with the clients with which we work.

Together we are faster, stronger and more resilient. Local partners allow us to discover new opportunities and align to new expectations – together we can create the largest eMarketplace for both the public and private sectors.

That’s why we created the VORTAL Channel Partners Program.

There are not any minimum requirements. We only need a good understanding and a common objective.

We have identified 6 types of partners but it is possible to create more partnership categories, if you believe we can work together.

Contact us and let’s talk about it.

The data that is encrypted on the platform is: applications for qualification phases, and offers.

A VORTAL Digital Certificate is generated for each tender and used to encrypt all information related to that procedure.

The private key of this procedure remains under the custody of VORTAL, as it is stored by means of adequate internal security protocols and duly certified by the external auditor. This key is only delivered for the decryption of the information, at the time and under the conditions provided for in the legislation relating to the opening of the envelopes of the procedure.

Traditional public procurement processes are carried out according to a series of controls that ensure transparency in the procurement process.

Through the use of chronological validation seals (Timestamps) and digital certificates, used in the procurement processes carried out on the platform, controls are implemented that ensure that only members of the jury, defined by the awarding entity, have access to the bids on the day and at the fixed times.

The information stored by buyers and suppliers on the platform is available in accordance with current legislation of each geography and its access and integrity is guaranteed through a system of redundant servers, solving the problems of information custody.

ISO 27001 (formally known as ISO/IEC 27001:2005) is a specification for an information security management system (ISMS). An ISMS is a framework of policies and procedures that includes all legal, physical and technical controls involved in an organization’s information risk management processes.

According to its documentation, ISO 27001 was developed to “provide a model for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving an information security management system.” ISO 27001 uses a top down, risk-based approach and is technology-neutral. The specification defines a six-part planning process:

• Define a security policy.

• Define the scope of the ISMS.

• Conduct a risk assessment.

• Manage identified risks.

• Select control objectives and controls to be implemented.

• Prepare a statement of applicability.

It is an integrated security control system that can be implemented in any organization. This system consists of a set of technological, procedural, structural and human protection mechanisms.

This system aims to guarantee confidentiality, information integrity and business continuity, as well as to reduce the impact of possible security incidents.

In addition to ISO 27001, organizations wishing to be certified must comply with a good practice guide consisting of 133 controls, divided into 11 domains and organized in ISO 27002.

VORTAL is a reference in terms of data security and all direct or indirect related areas on high level certified with ISO 27001. In addition, we are certified with ISO 22301 for business contingency and ISO 9001 for the other areas.

Such high demanding certifications are much more than a momentary snapshot with a lawyer stamp on it. These are living company procedures and policies with permanent audit for security. We have a security team which is responsible for ensuring the compliance. Our overall communication is encrypted based on newest technical standards and all user interaction on our platform is time stamped.