System and method for offering and managing online purchasing card transactions

Abstract

A purchase card system configured in accordance with the invention offers purchase card products that facilitate online purchases of life sciences research products and/or services via an e-commerce application. The acquisition and use of such purchase card products complies with mandated procurement, spending, and appropriations rules, regulations, and laws, such as the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Anti-Deficiency Act, and the Department of Defense “bona fide needs” rule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for facilitating purchase card product transactions for a user account in compliance with procurement, spending, and appropriations rules, regulations, and laws applicable to the user account, said method comprising:
 receiving, via an e-commerce transaction, a request for a purchase card product having a stated value, said purchase card product having a product catalog identifier associated therewith;   electronically processing credit card information, purchase order information, or a combination thereof, as a method of payment for said purchase card product; and   establishing a purchase card balance for said user account in the amount of said stated value.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising initiating shipment of said purchase card product to an entity associated with said user account. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the purchase card product is shipped with a corresponding reconciliation document, said reconciliation document facilitating procurement system intake procedures by said entity. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method facilitates transactions of a government or academic user. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 offering life sciences research products and services for purchase via said e-commerce transaction; and   processing, via a subsequent e-commerce transaction, a product purchase for said life sciences research products and services.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 establishing a purchase card balance occurs in a fiscal year of a government or academic institution associated with the government or academic user account; and   processing said product purchase occurs in a subsequent fiscal year of said government or academic institution.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising establishing a maximum value for said stated value, said maximum value qualifying as a “micro-purchase” as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising creating a card record for said purchase card product, said card record including a government funding source identifier. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising offering a plurality of stated values for said purchase card product, each of said plurality of stated values having a different product catalog identifier associated therewith. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 processing, via a subsequent e-commerce transaction, a product purchase for said user account, said product purchase having a purchase price;   applying said purchase card balance toward said purchase price without requiring a new purchase order or record of call for said product purchase; and   reducing said purchase card balance by said purchase price.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 generating a web page containing a listing of a plurality of available purchase card balances for said user account; and   receiving a purchase card balance selection that identifies said purchase card balance from said plurality of available purchase card balances.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising automatically linking said user account to user-specific pricing for said product purchase, said automatically linking step being performed prior to said processing step. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via a subsequent e-commerce transaction, a replenish request for said purchase card product, said replenish request corresponding to a stated replenish value, said stated replenish value having a replenish product catalog identifier associated therewith; and   increasing said purchase card balance for said user account in the amount of said stated replenish value.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising modifying an existing purchase order to reflect payment for said stated replenish value. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising establishing a maximum replenish value for said stated replenish value, said maximum replenish value qualifying as a “micro-purchase” as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising offering a plurality of stated replenish values for said purchase card product, each of said plurality of stated replenish values having a different replenish product catalog identifier associated therewith. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a share request for said purchase card product, said share request identifying a secondary user; and   linking said purchase card balance to a secondary user account corresponding to said secondary user.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising restricting, for said secondary user account, rights to share and replenish said purchase card balance. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 said share request identifying said secondary user by an email address of said secondary user; and   sending, via said email address, an email invitation to said secondary user, said email invitation prompting activation of said share request by said secondary user.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving an activation request in response to sending said email invitation; and   said linking step being performed in response to said activation request.   
     
     
         21 . A method for facilitating purchase card transactions for a user account, said method comprising:
 offering an e-commerce purchase card for life sciences research products and services, said e-commerce purchase card having a stated value;   maintaining a purchase card balance for said user account; and   applying, via a subsequent e-commerce transaction for life sciences research products or services having a purchase price, said purchase card balance toward said purchase price; wherein   offering said e-commerce purchase card and said subsequent e-commerce transaction are in compliance with procurement, spending, and appropriations rules, regulations, and laws applicable to the user account.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said applying step comprises applying said purchase card balance toward said purchase price without requiring a purchase order or a record of call for said life science research products or services. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising electronically delivering a unique identification number to a user. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising initiating shipment of said e-commerce purchase card to an entity associated with said user account. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein a corresponding reconciliation document is shipped to the entity along with the e-commerce purchase card, said reconciliation document facilitating procurement system intake procedures by said entity. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising establishing a maximum value for said stated value, said maximum value qualifying as a “micro-purchase” as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising establishing list pricing for said e-commerce purchase card, said list pricing qualifying as “fair and reasonable” as defined by the Anti-Deficiency Act. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving, via a subsequent e-commerce transaction, a replenish request for said e-commerce purchase card, said replenish request corresponding to a stated replenish value; and   increasing said purchase card balance for said user account in the amount of said stated replenish value.   
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , further comprising modifying an existing purchase order to reflect payment for said stated replenish value. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28 , further comprising establishing a maximum replenish value for said stated replenish value, said maximum replenish value qualifying as a “micro-purchase” as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 maintaining a purchase card balance occurs in a fiscal year of a government or academic institution associated with the user account; and   said subsequent e-commerce transaction occurs in a subsequent fiscal year of said government or academic institution.   
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said purchase card balance is maintained in real-time. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the purchase card balance is accessible in real-time to users of the user account. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the offering comprises offering life sciences research products and/or services other than oligonucleotides and/or their synthesis. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the offering comprises offering life sciences research products and services comprising oligonucleotides and/or their synthesis. 
     
     
         36 . A method for facilitating purchase card transactions for life sciences research products and services in compliance with mandated procurement, spending, and appropriations rules, regulations, and laws, said method comprising:
 ordering, via an e-commerce transaction for a user account, a purchase card product having a stated value, said stated value qualifying as a “micro-purchase” as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation;   purchasing, via a subsequent e-commerce transaction, life sciences research product or services for said user account, said life sciences research product or services having a purchase price; and   selecting said purchase card product as a method of payment toward said purchase price without requesting a purchase order or a record of call for said life sciences research product or services.   
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , further comprising ordering, via a second subsequent e-commerce transaction, a replenish value for said purchase card product, said replenish value having a stated value, said stated value qualifying as a “micro-purchase” as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37 , further comprising modifying an existing purchase order to reflect payment for said replenish value. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 36 , further comprising completing a share request for said purchase card product, said share request identifying a secondary user, and said share request initiating a link between said purchase card product and a secondary user account corresponding to said secondary user. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein:
 ordering said purchase card product occurs in a fiscal year of a government or academic institution associated with the user account; and   purchasing said life sciences research product or services occurs in a subsequent fiscal year of said government or academic institution.