Methods and Apparatus for Processing Catalog Spot Buys

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a procurement request for an item; determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog; processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract catalog. The second set of procurement rules include procurement rules that are in the first set of procurement rules. In some embodiments, the method further comprises tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog. In some embodiments, the method further comprises analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a procurement request for an item;   determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog;   processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and   processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract catalog.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second set of procurement rules include procurement rules that are in the first set of procurement rules. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; 
 determining categories of items based on the tracked procurement request; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting criteria. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; 
 receiving a search query for a spot buy item; and 
 adjusting the search results based on the analyzed tracked procurement requests. 
 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that when executed, control a computer system to be configured for:
 receiving a procurement request for an item;   determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog;   processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and   processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract catalog.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8  wherein the computer system is configured for tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the computer system is configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria. 
 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the computer system is configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; 
 determining categories of items based on the tracked procurement request; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting criteria. 
 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the computer system is configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria. 
 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the computer system is configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; 
 receiving a search query for a spot buy item; and 
 adjusting the search results based on the analyzed tracked procurement requests. 
 
     
     
         14 . A computer implemented system, comprising:
 one or more computer processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors to be configured for:
 receiving a procurement request for an item; 
 determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog; 
 processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and 
 processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract. 
   
     
     
         15 . The computer implemented system of  claim 14  wherein the second set of procurement rules include procurement rules that are in the first set of procurement rules. 
     
     
         16 . The computer implemented system of  claim 14  wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog. 
     
     
         17 . The computer implemented system of  claim 15  wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer implemented system of  claim 15  wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; 
 determining categories of items based on the tracked procurement request; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting criteria. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented system of  claim 15  wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and 
 adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computer implemented system of  claim 15  wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:
 analyzing the tracked procurement requests; 
 receiving a search query for a spot buy item; and 
 adjusting the search results based on the analyzed tracked procurement requests.