System and method for offering and managing online purchasing card transactions

摘要

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.

主权项

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:
offering a plurality of purchase cards, wherein each of the plurality of purchase cards has a different monetary value and wherein each of the plurality of purchase cards is associated with a unique catalog identifier; receiving, via an e-commerce transaction, a request for a purchase card product having a stated value, wherein the purchase card product value is replenishable; electronically processing credit card information, purchase order information, or a combination thereof, as a method of payment for said purchase card product; establishing a purchase card balance for said user account in the amount of said stated value, wherein the purchase card balance is linked to a government funding source for funding scientific research; using the purchase card product to purchase life science research products and services funded by research grants or other subsidized funding sources; creating a card record for said purchase card product, said card record including a government funding source identifier; and returning to the user account any unused value.