The PEPPOL Business Interoperability Specification, “BIS” from here on after, has been developed by the OpenPEPPOL AISBL Pre Award Coordinating Community and is published as part of the PEPPOL specifications.
1. Principle and prerequisites
1.1. Scope
This guide aims to provide insight into transaction details for the transaction model T007 - Tendering Questions 1.1. The transaction description is meant to be a standalone description to be used as a part of one or more procurement profiles. It describes syntax mappings, requirements, rules and example.
The transactions, specified in this document are intended to be exchanged between the tendering systems of economic operators and contracting bodies. This means that it is expected that the parties have connected their systems to the internet, and that they have middleware in place to enable them to send and receive the transactions in a secure way, using an agreed syntax.
The content model of the transactions can also be used in procurement platforms or notification platforms, so that these platforms as well as procurement systems of economic operators and contracting bodies are based on the same information and process models, which makes them more interoperable. Even if platforms are not technically interoperable, the content model facilitates understanding the tendering documents and to participate in the tendering process.
1.2. Parties and roles
The following parties participate as business partners in this transaction, acting in the roles as defined below
Business partner | Description | Example of roles |
---|---|---|
Customer |
The Customer is the legal person or organization who is in demand of a product or service. |
Examples of customer roles are Buyer, Consignee, Debtor and contracting body. |
Supplier |
The Supplier is the legal person or organization who provides a product or service. |
Examples of Supplier roles are Seller, Consignor, Creditor and economic operator. |
Role | Description |
---|---|
Contracting body |
The Contracting Authority or Contracting Entity who is buying supplies, services or tendering public works. |
Economic operator |
Party participating with a bid in a procurement process to sell goods, services or works. |
2. Transaction business and information requirements
The following tables describe the transaction business and information requirements of "T007 - Tendering Questions 1.1", it inherits from CEN WS/BII 3 "Trdm084 Tendering Questions transaction".
ID | Requirement |
---|---|
tbr84-001 |
The economic operator shall be identified. |
tbr84-002 |
The contracting body shall be identified. |
tbr84-003 |
The creation date and time of the message shall be specified. |
tbr84-004 |
Each message shall have a message ID. |
tbr84-005 |
The CEN/BII profile and transaction names and versions shall be identified. |
tbr84-006 |
The message shall contain the Procurement Reference number. |
tbr84-007 |
The message may contain the Lot ID’s. |
tbr84-008 |
The message shall contain the request and its justification. |
3. Data model: Syntax mapping and XML example
3.1. Data model and syntax mapping
The data model and syntax mapping for Tendering Questions can be found at Syntax mapping for T007 - Tendering Questions 1.1. The data model and syntax mapping explains how to use the UBL (or an underlying syntax) to support the Tendering Questions information transaction requirements. It provides the syntax mappings from each UBL (or syntax) element to the Tendering Questions information elements of this transaction.
4. Code lists
Any element with the semantic data type = code, can mandate the use of a specific code list (or a fixed value). The applicable code lists can be found in the Code list section. In this section, you can find the valid codes, their names and description, and also links to where the same code list is used elsewhere in the transaction, or in other PEPPOL BIS transactions.
Information elements that are ruled by codelists in this transaction are also described in the Syntax mapping for Tendering Questions: Syntax mapping for T007 - Tendering Questions 1.1 |
The following code lists for coded elements and identifier schemes are used by the transaction.
4.1. Code list for identifier schemes
Business Term | Allowed Scheme | Applicable Xpath |
---|---|---|
Economic operator electronic address identifier |
schemeID attribute is mandatory and must use values from EAS codes |
cac:RequestorParty/cbc:EndpointID/@schemeID |
Contracting body electronic address identifier |
schemeID attribute is mandatory and must use values from EAS codes |
cac:ResponderParty/cbc:EndpointID/@schemeID |
Economic operator identifier |
schemeID attribute is mandatory and must use values ICD codes |
cac:RequestorParty/cac:PartyIdentification/cbc:ID/@schemeID |
Contracting body identifier |
schemeID attribute is mandatory and must use values ICD codes |
cac:ResponderParty/cac:PartyIdentification/cbc:ID/@schemeID |
5. PEPPOL Identifiers
PEPPOL has defined a Policy for use of Identifiers that specifies how to use identifiers in both its transport infrastructure and within the documents exchanged across that infrastructure. It also introduces principles for any identifiers used in the PEPPOL environment. The e-Tendering pilot adopts and extends the PEPPOL Policy in the following ways:
5.1. Party Identifiers used in business (UBL) documents
All party identifiers (cac:PartyIdentification/cbc:ID) have an optional scheme identifier attribute '@schemeID'. If used, the value shall be chosen from the code list ICD codes.
<cac:PartyIdentification>
<cbc:ID schemeID="0088">5790000435968</cbc:ID> (1)
</cac:PartyIdentification>
1 | schemeID attribute is optional, but when used, the codes must be from ICD codes |
5.2. Electronic address identifier used in business (UBL) documents
All electronic address identifiers (cbc:EndpointID/@schemeID) use the Electronic Address Scheme code list (EAS), maintained by CEF (CEF Code lists).
Valid values are found here: EAS codes.
<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0184">DK87654321</cbc:EndpointID> (1)
1 | schemeID attribute is mandatory and must use values from EAS codes |
5.3. Document Identifiers used in business (UBL) documents
5.3.1. UBL Version ID
This transaction model is using the UBL 2.2 syntax. The namespace of the XML-message does only communicate the major version number. Since it is important for the receiver to also know what minor version of the syntax that is used, the element UBLVersionID must be stated with the value 2.2:
<cbc:UBLVersionID>2.2</cbc:UBLVersionID>
5.3.2. Profile ID
ProfileID identifies what business process a given message is part of, and are connected to one business process, and may contain multiple document types.
Valid profile identifiers are described in the Syntax mapping for Tendering Questions - Syntax mapping for T007 - Tendering Questions 1.1 - and the corresponding BIS document, see Main documentation site.
5.3.3. Customization ID
The PEPPOL Customization ID identifies the specification of content and rules that apply to the transaction. Profiles are connected to one business process (ProfileID), and may contain multiple transactions. Valid document instances shall contain corresponding ProfileID and CustomizationID.
CustomizationID is a string without spaces. Which customization identification should be used, is based on which transaction is sent. |
For implementers, please note that the process identifiers in the document instance MUST correspond to the SMP process identifier. |
TransactionID | Transaction name | Short Description | cbc:CustomizationID |
---|---|---|---|
T007 |
TenderingQuestions |
The EO sends questions to the CA. |
urn:fdc:peppol.eu:prac:trns:t007:1.1 |
6. Descriptions of selected parts of the transaction
The transaction including business terms, business rules and code lists are based upon the definitions of "Trdm084 Tendering Questions transaction" described in "Profile 48 — Call for Tenders Questions and Answers" (CWA 17027-113:2016).
6.1. AdditionalDocumentReferences and Attachments
The Enquiry
element should be build as follows:
-
The first
cac:AdditionalDocumentReference
within theEnquiry
must have ancbc:ID
having the attributeschemeName
set toContractFolderID
and the value has to be the contract folder id. -
An
Enquiry
element can have multiplecac:AdditionalDocumentReference
refer to a LotsGroup, a lot or a part. -
The relation between
cac:AdditionalDocumentReference
andcac:Attachment
is done by acbc:XPath
element in thecac:AdditionalDocumentReference
. -
The
cbc:XPath
can only contain references to ancac:Attachment
and has to match the following expression:/Enquiry/cac:Attachment[number]
where number represents a 1-base index in the list of the attachments. -
All questions are placed in an
cac:Attachment
element. The attachment can have only onecbc:Description
elements to ask a question and optionally refer to a file in the ASiC-e by using thecbc:FileName
element.
The following are examples of combining questions in a transaction with different parts of the procurement procedure.
6.1.1. Common question about a procurement procedure
If you have questions only about the procurement procedure, a reference to the question in the attachments can be created directly in the cac:AdditionalDocumentReference
with the cbc:ID
having the schemeName
set to ContractFolderID
.
<cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cbc:ID schemeName="ContractFolderID">6ebc4e19-eba6-4b0a-9155-b59471f20ea0</cbc:ID> (1)
<cbc:XPath>/Enquiry/cac:Attachment[1]</cbc:XPath> (2)
</cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cac:Attachment>
<cac:ExternalReference>
<cbc:Description>Place your Tendering Questions here?</cbc:Description> (3)
</cac:ExternalReference>
</cac:Attachment>
1 | The Contract Folder ID of the procurement procedure. |
2 | A reference to an element where a question is located. The number in square brackets is the position in the list of attachments. The position starts with 1 (1-based indexing). |
3 | The questions are placed in an attachment element. |
6.1.2. A question about a group of lots of a procurement procedure
If you have questions about a group of lots, you have to add an cac:AdditionalDocumentReference
with an cbc:ID
having an attribute schemeName
set to LotsGroup
and the value represents the Group of Lots ID.
Add as many questions as needed and refer the cac:Attachment
with the cbc:XPath
element.
<cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cbc:ID schemeName="LotsGroup">GLO-0001</cbc:ID> (1)
<cbc:XPath>/Enquiry/cac:Attachment[2]</cbc:XPath> (2)
</cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cac:Attachment>
<cac:ExternalReference>
<cbc:MimeCode>application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet</cbc:MimeCode>
<cbc:FileName>CalcSheet.ods</cbc:FileName> (3)
<cbc:Description>Place your Tendering Question regarding GLO-0001 here?</cbc:Description> (4)
</cac:ExternalReference>
</cac:Attachment>
1 | The ID of the group of lots. |
2 | A reference to a question. |
3 | Refers to an optional file within the ASiC-e. |
4 | Each attachment must have a question. |
6.1.3. A question about several lots in a procurement procedure
If you have one question regarding several lots, you have to add an cac:AdditionalDocumentReference
for each lot containing an cbc:ID
with an attribute schemeName
set to Lot
and a value representing the Lot ID.
Add an cac:Attachment
with a question and refer this attachment with a cbc:XPath
element in each cac:AdditionalDocumentReference
element.
<cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cbc:ID schemeName="Lot">LOT-0001</cbc:ID> (1)
<cbc:XPath>/Enquiry/cac:Attachment[3]</cbc:XPath> (3)
</cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cbc:ID schemeName="Lot">LOT-0007</cbc:ID> (2)
<cbc:XPath>/Enquiry/cac:Attachment[3]</cbc:XPath> (3)
</cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cac:Attachment>
<cac:ExternalReference>
<cbc:Description>Place your Tendering Question regarding LOT-0001/LOT-0007 here?</cbc:Description>
</cac:ExternalReference>
</cac:Attachment>
1 | A reference to a lot. |
2 | Another reference to a lot. |
3 | References to the same question (note the same index in square bracket). |
6.1.4. Reference to multiple attachments
It’s possible to reference multiple cac:Attachment
elements from an cac:AdditionalDocumentReference
.
<cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cbc:ID schemeName="Lot">LOT-0006</cbc:ID> (1)
<cbc:XPath>/Enquiry/cac:Attachment[4]</cbc:XPath> (2)
<cbc:XPath>/Enquiry/cac:Attachment[5]</cbc:XPath>
</cac:AdditionalDocumentReference>
<cac:Attachment>
<cac:ExternalReference>
<cbc:Description>Place your first Tendering Question regarding LOT-0006 here?</cbc:Description>
</cac:ExternalReference>
</cac:Attachment>
<cac:Attachment>
<cac:ExternalReference>
<cbc:Description>Place your second Tendering Question regarding LOT-0006 here?</cbc:Description>
</cac:ExternalReference>
</cac:Attachment>
1 | A refernce to lot 6. |
2 | Two XPath elements to reference the questions. |