5.10.2 Electronic Data Services The policy is to encourage operators in a liberalized sector to provide systems and networks that support electronic data application services like e-government, e-business, e-commerce, eagriculture, e-health, e-security, e-learning and e-banking to name a few. The policy mandates that by 2013, government institutions with related functions interface with each other using communication systems that provide electronic data sharing as well as access to the information highway. 5.11 E-Services The Government of Liberia has a vision to create a knowledge based society by using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in all aspects of development and governance. Pioneering efforts will be made through the National ICT Policy mechanism to ensure the benefits of ICT reach the citizens urban and rural, rich and poor, literate and illiterate and all residents. The Government is conscious of the dangers of the 'digital divide', and will make special provisions for reaching the 'information have-nots'. 5.11.1. E-Services Portal Looking at 'service' from the citizens' point of view, the GoL will seek to redefine citizen services through e-Services portals using state-of-the-art technologies which will be first launched as a pilot project in one county and will be rolled out nationwide over a period of time. It will offer an integrated approach: integrating GoL ministries at the national and county levels, integration of services like Government-to-Citizen (G2C) and Business-to-Citizen (B2C), focusing on reliability, accountability, transparency, and scalability. 5.11.2 Salient Features of e-Services Vision E-Services will offer a wide spectrum of citizen-friendly services that will save citizens the bother of running around to various governmental departments. Typical e-payments would cover the following types of transactions: paying utility bills such as electricity bills, water and sewerage bills, telephone bills, property tax, sales tax, etc. Over a period of time, the system can grow and provide other additional services to include registration of births and deaths, issuance of birth/death certificates, licensing and license renewal, medical permits, drug licenses, as well as the issuance and renewal of trade licenses. 5.11.3 E-Procurement GoL shall use e-Procurement (as part of E-Government) as one of the vehicles to achieve its PRS objectives through good governance by establishing, for example, a Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) Government regime. Towards this end, GoL intends to implement e-Procurement across key ministries and agencies responsible for procurement of goods and services. E-Procurement is the purchasing of goods and services using the internet. It automates and integrates the buyer and supplier (seller) processes by leveraging the capabilities of the Internet. It automates the complete procurement process right from sourcing to purchase order, invoicing and electronic payment. With regards to tenders, it automates the following processes: a. Requisition creation and approval. b. Cost estimation c. Tender creation, approval and tender publishing. 35