Task 1 - The Design phase - Specification

The first task of the consortium is to analyse the status quo of the legal, organizational and technical situation of the use of eSignatures in the field of E-Procurement in selected European countries. While taking existing surveys as a basis, additional analysis and practical evaluations in the PEPPOL consortium member states – eventually to be completed by more candidates, for example from the PROCURE project - will be carried out. As a consequence a trust model is defined covering all the different existing situations. The preliminary study on public procurement carried out by DG MARKTwill be explored and taken into account. Upon this basis the technical specifications of the use of e-signatures and eIDs in the procurement processes are defined.

Task 2 - The Construction phase - Implementation

Bremen and DIFI will contribute substantially to the implementation by developing the validation authority and software for the pilot solution. In co-ordination with WP8 work on Release Candidate 1 and Golden Master, this development will also take into account the necessary transport (security) requirements. Furthermore, task 2 will focus on interoperability testing of signing environments and testing of appropriate solutions. The project partner Italy supports the coordination with WP 8 and the STORK consortium.

Task 3 - The Operational phase -Pilot

Based on the revised specification to be drawn up at the end of the implementation phase, the transnational eSignature trust solution(s) will be demonstrated when the complete infrastructure and applications are piloted in the final phase of the project. The pilot will be run in Norway, Germany, Italy and one further country to be selected.
The success of WP1 will rest on successful communication, coordination and liaison internally and externally. eSignature is not an end of eProcurement, but a means. This means that WP1 has to work extensively with WP2 to 5 to understand the business requirements, as well as with WP8 as eSignature are part of the infrastructure as well. It is also critical to liaise with STORK and other activities on Commission and European (CEN) level. Finally, as many signature providers are already active in the European market place, the WP has to establish the necessary communications (in co-operation with WP7). The main work is done by Bremen incl. WP1 coordination and DIFI and the quality is assured by CNIPA.