12/09/2003

PureEdge Solutions, a provider of automation for form-based business processes, has been awarded a contract “to provide secure, browser-based e-forms for the Grants.gov E-Government initiative.”

With this deal, PureEdge says, its XML e-forms will be used for Grants.gov's grant applications. It is projected that 15,000 users will submit grants through the portal during the system's first year of operation. The grants are issued to state and local governments, academics, non-profit groups and other organizations.

The grants.gov portal is part of President Bush's E-Government initiatives and “will provide a single, secure and reliable source for applying for Federal Grants online,” PureEdge notes. “Applicants will download and fill out forms offline, and then submit them with proper authentication. By offering an electronic means of submitting grant applications, Grants.gov is improving service delivery methods while creating internal efficiencies by streamlining processes and eliminating redundancies.”

"As one of the major Presidential E-Government implementations, Grants.gov shows how agencies can work together to make it easy for citizens, businesses, non-profits, and state and local governments to find and apply for grants. There are thousands of grants provided by over two hundred government bureaus. Until now, those needing grants had to pay someone to help them navigate the government's maze. Grants.gov eliminates paper-based processes and streamlines the bureaucracy to better to meet the needs of citizens," said Mark Forman, executive vice president, Worldwide Services, Cassatt Corporation and former U.S. Administrator for E-Government and IT. "It is a good example of how the initiative is leading the way for greater operational efficiency and reduced costs within government, and how e-government is becoming a reality for employees, businesses and citizens in the United States."

PureEdge points out that its technology “is based on document-centric, XML-based architecture to provide organizations with the power to manage the entire lifecycle of each business process, including creation, routing, management and archiving. With PureEdge, Grants.gov users will have the ability to digitally sign documents, use both ad hoc and structured routing, work remotely, move data in and out of corporate systems and store all elements of a process in one secure file. This integration of PureEdge's front-end technology with Grants.gov's existing backend architecture will create a complete end-to-end content management solution.”

"We're very pleased to be playing a significant role in this e-government initiative," said Mark Upson, CEO, PureEdge Solutions. "Government departments and agencies now recognize the need for e-forms that are intelligent, secure and XML-based. Grants.gov's selection of PureEdge technology for this project is a testament to the value we offer to our government customers by enabling them to create operational efficiencies and lower costs. Ultimately, this enables government to improve service between departments and other levels of government, as well as with citizens, businesses and employees."