VANs are third party companies that link trading partners together, providing electronic connectivity. A university can subscribe to a DoD-certified VAN so that it can receive the government's electronic documents. (A more complex alternative is for a trading partner to act as its own VAN.) VANs receive electronic data in ANSI X12 format. Then, if you have requested translation service, the VAN reformats the electronic data from ANSI X12 into a university-designated format. The VAN will then send you the translated government document. In our example, the VAN will translate and send the contracting officer's transaction set 840 Request for Quote. Move to Stop Sign # 5