






            FAST - A Computer Network Broker for Standard Electronic Parts


            _A_d_d_r_e_s_s:
               The FAST Project - USC/ISI
               P.O. Box 10907
               Marina del Rey, CA 90295-8831

            _E-_m_a_i_l: FAST@ISI.EDU

            _P_h_o_n_e: (310) 822-1511
               FAX: (310) 823-1482


            _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n

            FAST is a prototype, automated  broker  for  standard,  off-
            the-shelf  items.   Electronic  and  optical  parts and com-
            ponents and laboratory and test equipment are  readily  pur-
            chased through the FAST service.

            FAST is ONEstop shopping.  It is a complete value-added ser-
            vice that handles quoting, ordering, expediting and returns.
            One purchase order with FAST  allows  customers  to  acquire
            items easily and quickly from a very large vendor base.

            The FAST broker currently serves more than  100  university,
            commercial  and  government  customers.  As of June 1992, it
            had acquired items from over 1,500 suppliers.

            FAST's customers request quotes and place orders  from  FAST
            via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange - standard email or EDI
            X12).  FAST sources (often in  a  fully  automated  fashion)
            incoming  rfqs  and  redistributes them to vendors who carry
            the requested items.

            FAST communicates with its vendors using EDI (standard email
            or  EDI  X12) or fax.  All vendor responses are collected by
            FAST and sent back to the customers via EDI.  The  customers
            pick  the  best quote/item and place the order from FAST via
            EDI.  FAST sends EDI orders for the items  to  the  vendors.
            The vendors invoice FAST and customers reimburse FAST.
            _________________________
            The information in this section is provided  in  accor-
            dance  with the copyright notice appearing at the front
            of this guide.




            July 17, 1992               NNSC        Section M.7,  Page 1








            FAST also offers a one-step  quote-and-order  option,  where
            the  customer  specifies what selection criteria FAST should
            use when evaluating  incoming  vendor  quotes.   The  "best"
            quote is then automatically turned into an order by FAST.

            Customers are charged an 8% service fee (8% of the  cost  of
            the merchandise acquired through FAST) for the service.

            _N_e_t_w_o_r_k _A_c_c_e_s_s

            FAST  can  be  accessed  via   email   over   the   Internet
            (FAST@ISI.EDU) or via EDI X12 over any commercial VAN (Value
            Added Network).

            _W_h_o _C_a_n _U_s_e _F_A_S_T

            The service is open to anybody who can establish  a  blanket
            purchase  order with FAST.  Under certain circumstances FAST
            requires the blanket purchase order  to  be  accompanied  by
            prepayment.   Please send a message to FAST@ISI.EDU contain-
            ing the lines

               REQUEST: INFORMATION
               TOPIC: INTRODUCTION
               REQUEST: END

            for further information about how to use the service and  on
            how to establish a FAST account.

            _M_i_s_c_e_l_l_a_n_e_o_u_s

            For further information about FAST, please contact:

               Anna-Lena Neches or Robert Wormuth
               The FAST Project - USC/ISI
               P.O. Box 10907
               Marina del Rey, CA 90292-8831

               Phone: (310) 822-1511
               Email: FAST@ISI.EDU, ALNeches@ISI.EDU, Wormuth@ISI.EDU











            July 17, 1992               NNSC        Section M.7,  Page 2


