So what happens at your end? When the VANs sends you the contracting officer's RFQ you will be able to access it in standard university format. If you decide it is a good opportunity to do business with the Government, the university simply prepares its proposal, sends it electronically to the VAN, and the translation and electronic courier process begins. The VAN will take your response to the RFQ and translate it into ANSI X12 (in this case into transaction set #843-Response to RFQ). The university, through its VAN, responds to the Government via the same electronic path that brought the Government's request. It's a two-way electronic avenue. The loop is repeated as the contracting officer makes a selection from among proposals and electronically sends a contract award to the winner. And when the work is completed, you won't be waiting for a check in the mail. The 1996 Debt Collection and Improvement Act requires the Government to make all its payments by electronic funds transfer (EFT) by the year 2000. EFT will place the funds directly into a university-designated fund.