‘Contracting authority’: the contracting party ordering the goods or services from the contractor  and exchanging the relevant electronic documents (listed below in the definition of e-PRIOR) involved in that process. 

‘Dispatch advice’ : electronic document that the contractor  sends to the contracting authority when it dispatches the goods or delivers the services based on fixed price or quoted time and means. The document must include the order  reference and, in case of dispatch of goods, the delivery information. Once it has been validated, the contracting authority  issues a receiving advice. 

‘Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)’:  the electronic transfer, from computer to computer, of commercial and administrative data using an agreed standard to structure an EDI message. 

‘EDI message’ : an electronic document structured by using an agreed standard, prepared in a computer readable format and capable of being automatically and unambiguously processed. 

‘Electronic system’: the set of electronic means used by the parties in order to send or receive electronic messages ( own system  and system not controlled by the parties). 

e-PRIOR’ : the service-oriented communication platform that provides a series of web services and allows the exchange of standardised electronic messages and documents between the parties. This is done either through web services, with a machine-to-machine connection between the parties’ back office  systems ( EDI messages ), or through a web application (the s upplier portal ). The Platform may be used to exchange electronic documents (e-documents) such as electronic requests for services/supplies (request for quotation, final offer, etc.) electronic specific contracts and order forms, electronic transmission of timesheets, deliverables and its acceptance ( service receipt, dispatch advices and receipt advices ) or electronic invoices between the parties. Technical specifications (i.e. the interface control document ), details on access and user manuals are available at the following website: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/wikis/spaces/viewspace.action?key=ePRIOR 

‘e-Request’ is the module in e-PRIOR  which aims to automate the exchange of r equest for quotation and offers between the contracting authorities  and their suppliers . By covering the steps of the request management process as defined in the relevant contracts, e-Request establishes the basis under which orders  will be concluded in e-Ordering  with those suppliers who are providing services or goods related to the procurement procedures supported by the system. 

‘e-Ordering’ is the module in e-PRIOR enabling the electronic exchange and signature of specific contracts or order forms for services or supplies in the context of framework contracts or direct contracts. This may not be applicable to certain categories of specific contracts (such as on-call services, services provided during extended working hours, etc.) which are not currently covered by e-Ordering and all these cases paper based procedures apply for the signature of the specific contracts. The contracting authority may include at a later stage those specific contracts in the scope of e-Ordering  by means of written notification (e-mail or registered letter) to the contractor. This written notification shall have full legal effect from the date mentioned in the notification. 

‘e-Fulfilment’ is the module in e-PRIOR enabling the electronic acceptance of services or goods through the exchange of dispatch advices (delivery note), service receipts and receiving advices  (evidence of goods receipt or service receipt  approval). 

