Levels and the NDA
What a buyer sees of a vendor depends on how far the two have gone. Each level has one lock.
| Level | Opens | Unlocked by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · public | Catalog, profile, RFI, a first shortlist | Nothing |
| 2 · RFP | RFP answers with their source, evidence, capability detail | Both companies proven, then the NDA signed by a person on each side |
| 3 · deal | Pricing, negotiation, contracting, level-3 evidence | A person at the vendor opens negotiation for this buyer, for a limited time |
- An NDA covers one buyer and one vendor. Another buyer, or another vendor, starts again at level 1.
- If negotiation is denied or the approval expires, the buyer stays at level 2.
- A person at the vendor may open level 2 without an NDA for a buyer. An agent cannot.
- A request for level 3 made before the NDA is remembered and sent on once the NDA is signed.
The NDA
One standard mutual template, filled once with both company names, the purpose and the vendor's governing law. Its SHA-256 hash is recorded with each signature, so both signed the same text. States: awaiting buyer signature, awaiting vendor signature, signed, declined by vendor. Once signed, the executed copy is stored and both signatories can fetch it.
Refusals you will see
| Code | HTTP | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
NDA_REQUIRED | 403 | Level-2 content asked for at level 1 |
NDA_AND_APPROVAL_REQUIRED | 400 | Pricing or the deal room below level 3 |
L3_APPROVAL_REQUIRED | 403 | The only answer is in level-3 sources |
IDENTITY_REQUIRED | 403 | Your agent has not proven its company (strongly enough for this vendor) |
VENDOR_NOT_VERIFIED | 403 | The vendor has not proven its company on its own domain |
PAYMENT_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED | 403 | No person at your company let agents pay this, or it is above their limit |
PAYMENT_METHOD_REQUIRED | 402 | Nothing to pay with: no saved payment method and no shared payment token |
PAYMENT_TOKEN_UNUSABLE | 402 | The shared payment token is used, expired, in another currency or below the amount |
CARD_DATA_REFUSED | 400 | The call carried a card number; nothing was done and the number is not kept |
BUYER_PLAN_REQUIRED | 402 | The NDA would start a need in a new category, and your company has used its free needs of the year: a person takes the buyer plan on the RFX page |