What are “open procurements?
Open interfaces make it possible to specify in a procurement a type of software component, rather than specifying one particular vendor’s software. The goal is to be able to build incrementally with “best of breed” components, and to be able to “swap out” and “swap in” software components. For example, the procurement language might be, “Application shall implement a geocoding service that is accessible via the OpenGIS Location Service Geocoder Interface Specification.” This offers geoprocessing software buyers unprecedented savings and flexibility. With respect to a geospatial portal or other Web-based geospatial solution, whether or not the solution uses components from multiple vendors, all of its connections to outside resources and users must be through open interfaces. If not, the implementation remains a closed system, a stovepipe, an island of automation that prevents present and future inter-institutional interoperability. Open standards make open procurements possible. The op
Open interfaces make it possible to specify in a procurement a type of software component, rather than specifying one particular vendor’s software. The goal is to be able to build incrementally with “best of breed” components, and to be able to “swap out” and “swap in” software components. For example, the procurement language might be, “Application shall implement a geocoding service that is accessible via the OpenGIS Location Service Geocoder Interface Specification.” This offers geoprocessing software buyers unprecedented savings and flexibility. With respect to a geospatial portal or other Web-based geospatial solution, whether or not the solution uses components from multiple vendors, all of its connections to outside resources and users must be through open interfaces. If not, the implementation remains a closed system, a stovepipe, an island of automation that prevents present and future inter-institutional interoperability.
