Builds on success of Virginia’s eVA e-procurement program, which generates the most annual taxpayer savings of any state’s in the country First-of-its-kind eVA Mobile 4 Business app provides greater access and transparency for government procurement opportunities
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the launch of a free mobile application for eVA, Virginia’s award-winning electronic procurement system. The eVA Mobile 4 Business app allows anyone with an Internet-enabled mobile device (iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, etc.) to have real-time access to Virginia government business opportunities—anywhere, anytime.
Virginia is the first state to launch a mobile app that brings bid opportunities and solicitations literally to the fingertips of its suppliers and the general public, giving them immediate access to the thousands of business opportunities published every year and providing increased visibility into how state government spends the taxpayers’ dollars.
“Success in business today requires real-time, mobile access to business opportunities,” said Governor McDonnell. “The eVA Mobile 4 Business app turns every smart phone into a portal to Virginia’s cutting edge e-procurement system. This app increases access and transparency for businesses and individuals, and by expanding the pool of potential bidders, will save taxpayer dollars. This first-of-its-kind mobile application will unleash the power of the private sector to deliver better, more cost-effective services to the citizens of Virginia.”
“Our company has utilized eVA since its inception to see what the Commonwealth is buying,” said Sandra Sylvester, President & CEO of Superior Global Solutions. “We are growing our reach within the Commonwealth and eVA is the key facilitator between small and diverse companies like ours and our public-sector customers.”
“Virginia has a long-standing record as the leading state for business, and CGI is extremely proud to do business here and call it our U.S. home,” said Mark Boyajian, Senior Vice-President, CGI. “This innovative mobile procurement application, developed by CGI, makes it easier for thousands of small businesses to participate in the procurement process with the Commonwealth, simply by using their mobile device.”
Whether in the office or on the move, the eVA Mobile 4 Business app gives businesses immediate access to all bid opportunities and solicitations published on eVA’s public Virginia Business Opportunities (VBO) page. The app also includes personalized features allowing businesses to follow specific opportunities by adding them to a Watch List. With a variety of other exciting features this app brings real business value to the world of mobile computing.
Getting the app is simple. Find it in the Apple and Android app stores by searching for eVA Mobile 4 Business or use your mobile browser to access the web version at www.eva.virginia.gov/evamobile.
The eVA Mobile 4 Business app is just the latest example of Virginia using technology to make it easier to do business with government, especially for small businesses to do business with Virginia, while increasing public visibility and government accountability.
Virginia’s eVA Program also recently launched Quick Quote Reverse Auction, an exciting addition to the system’s already powerful online bidding tools. This tool allows suppliers to bid multiple times offering better and better pricing for a single business opportunity thus increasing their chances to receive a contract. Unlike a standard auction where bid prices increase during the bidding period, Reverse Auction is designed to seek the lowest price for goods and services. King George County was the first to take the new tool for a “test drive” recognizing opportunities for increased competition and resulting savings. They were excited to see their first auction prices for a specialized fire department vehicle, which began at a high of $67,890, result in a winning low bid of $37,100, a savings of 45 percent.
Forbes.com recently lauded Virginia and the eVA Program as one of the top 10 state/local governments to storm industry by transacting into the Cloud. Cloud computing has proven that government agencies can provide improved services at lower cost. The Commonwealth of Virginia saves about $30 million annually through its eVA Program by leveraging a Software as a Service in the Cloud, which, to date, has conducted more than 3.7 million purchases for over $33 billion for hundreds of state agencies, institutions and local governments.
eVA is Virginia’s nationally and internationally recognized electronic procurement technology program that has won numerous awards for its success. International governments such as Canada and Portugal (representing a core of the European nations) have invited and funded travel for Virginia’s thought-leaders to visit and discuss electronic procurement programs. Currently more than 53,000 suppliers and over 22,000 state, higher education and local government users are in the system and use eVA daily to process procurements. eVA is how Virginia does business and since the beginning of the program the system has generated taxpayer savings in excess of $338 million.