1. “Everyone can access”

2. Contents Mer-link’s context The route of decision-making
What is Mer-link?
Lessons Learned

3. Digital Government in Costa Rica
Prioritized Projects
Government 
Intranet
Implementation of the communications infrastructure (voice and data) that interconnects all public institutions
E-Procurement
System
Implementing a new model of public procurement to ensure transparency and efficiency
Digital Tax
Implementing a new model that allows tax administration efficiency and effectiveness in tax collection and tax administration.

4. Digital Government in Costa Rica
The actual digitization of
government procurement was the most challenging project.
But it was also the most attractive, since it creates efficiencies for the institutions, mechanisms to provide access to many companies of all sizes and in the digitization of State

5. The route of decision-making
Diagnosis of the Situation of the Country
Best Practices Analysis

6. Diagnosis of the Situation of the Country
Joint investigation by the Technical Secretariat for Digital Government and the Department of Digital Government INCAE
2008: Rapid diagnosis of the status of electronic procurement in the country (3)
2009: Depth review and key findings(4)
(3) E-Procurement in Costa Rica. Barahona et. al. San José Costa Rica, 2008
(4) Research Challenges for the adoption, implementation and appropriation of an electronic procurement system in Costa Rica. Barahona et. al. San José Costa Rica, 2009

7. Results: Diagnosis of the Situation of the Country
“Fragmented“ model 
Model based on paper.
An ineffective use of time.
Lack of standardization
(Single product catalog and vendors)

8. Experiencia Internacional
Best Practices
Experiencia Internacional

9. Best Practices Platform: ChileCompra It has:
Single Vendors Catalog (300K companies)
Single Products Catalog
Covers the entire contracting cycle
900 affiliated agencies
Cost Savings of $ 70 million annually
Platform: CompraNet
Started as a portal in 1996
In 2006 realized ​​$ 30 billion transaction
30,000 tenders annually
7,000 purchasing units

10. International Experience
PanamáCompra
New modalities such as minor procurement contracts, public bidding, bid for best value tendering framework agreement, reverse auction and direct contracting.
It Has:
Single electronic catalog of products and services
Single vendor registration.
Participants 7500. 180,000 procedures.
Contracts awards value in $ million.
A portal that integrates a set of subsystems related to purchasing management.
Average length of shopping in this modal is 10 days.
It Has:
Single vendor registration.
Standardized Product Catalog System 
The model encourages participation of small and medium enterprises and other priority sectors for national development

11. South Korea Single Window
Real-time monitoring of procurement processes.
Online marketplace, where real-time interaction tens of thousands of buyers with tens of thousands of vendors
Paperless
Signature and digital certificate
All information is available via the Internet, through a centralized electronic record single case processed. Which can be obtained and accessed in real time.

12. Technologically feasible and tested
South Korea
Technologically feasible and tested
37,000 public institutions
Single product registration: 120,000 products (UNSPSC Standard)
Single vendor registration: registered companies
180,000 visits per day
Cost Savings of $ 4,500 million annually (*)
Allows the linkage to the vendor and information systems of all public institutions, financial and controlling entities.
Follow the ASP business model (Application Service Provider) and which can provide or integrate with all the features of the procurement process.

13. e-Procurement System (KONEPS).
That’s why in 2008, the Technical Secretariat of Digital Government initiated a technical cooperation relationship with the Government of South Korea.
MOU(8) is signed, with a view to promoting the implementation of an electronic procurement system in Costa Rica, which takes as basis the standards and technologies of Korea Online
e-Procurement System (KONEPS).
In this system, then would call as ”Mer-link” On-line Marketplace.
(8) Memorandum of understanding between the public procurement service of the Republic of Korea and the Intersectoral Commission for Digital Government of the Republic of Costa Rica in collaboration for managing acquisitions. May 9, 2008

14. What's Online Marketplace "Mer-link"?

15. Modernization of the State
What is Mer-link?
It is the country's response to the challenge of efficient and effective management of public procurement
Modernization of the State
Standardization Process
Digitization Process

16. Mer-link implementation
Phase I
Mer-link Portal, Product Catalog, Vendor Registration and Bid notice Publication
Phase II
Electronic Bidding, Reverse Auction/ Auction, Electronic Contract, Electronic Appeal, Electronic Payment
March 2nd, 2010
December, 2010

17. Progressive implementation
Schedule
Progressive implementation
Project Started
July 2009
March 2010
April 2010
May
2010
II Phase
Dec 2010
I Phase
I Phase
I Phase

18. Main features
Model is a “Paperless" which is accessed through Internet
Digital signature application process
Use of electronic documents
Has a Single Vendor registration record
Has a Product and Services Catalog
e-Procurement’s Regulation
Covered in an

19. “Paperless” Model Electronic Bidding Contract Receiving Payment
Purchasing
Request
Bid notice
Publication
Electronic
Bidding
Opening proposals and awarding process
Contract
Receiving
Payment
Finalization
Vendor
Evaluation
Single Vendor Registration and Product & Service Catalog

20. Using Digital Signature
Applied during the process
Authentication
Signature of documents and records
Legal value to acts

21. Electronic Documents

22. Single Vendor Registration
Buyers
Social Security Administration, National Registry,
Heath, others
Vendors

23. Product and Service Catalog

24. Benefits for vendors
More Visibility into procurement processes (transparency).
More customers
Visibility of its goods and services.
Simplification of procedures.
Extended hours. (24 hours)
Secured Documents. (Digital Signature)
Mer-link’s Call Center.
Participation and equality of conditions for small and medium enterprises
No charge for use

25. Benefits for the country
Savings of 2% of GDP in price and decrease processing time by up to 50%
Contribution to improving transparency
Modernization of the State

26. Lessons Learned "Do not reinvent the wheel" Based on best practices
Partnership between public and private sector
Demonstration of short-term results
Credibility

27. “Everyone can access”