Detecting abnormal and collusive bids in capped tendering

Recent developments in the area of Bid Tender Forecasting have enabled bidders to implement new types of easy-to-use tools for increasing their chances of winning contracts. Although these new tools (such as iso-Score Curve Graphs, Scoring Probability Graphs, and Position Probability Graphs) are designed for bidders in capped tendering (tenders with an upper price limit), some of their principles can also be applied by a Contracting Authority to detect which bidders do not follow a standard pattern, that is, their bids are extremely high or low. Since a collusive bid generally needs to be sufficiently high or low to make an impact on the bid distribution, any person in charge of supervising capped tenders can be alerted to any bidder that might be involved in a cartel after identifying the same abnormal behavior in a series of tenders through simple calculations and a new type of graph

Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Autism-Specific Workplace Tool for Employers: A Randomised Controlled Trial

A randomised controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of the Integrated Employment Success Tool (IEST™) in improving employers’ self-efficacy in modifying the workplace for individuals on the autism spectrum. Employers (N = 84) were randomised to the IEST™ or support as usual groups. Measurements of self-efficacy, knowledge and attitudes towards disability in the workplace were obtained at baseline and post-test. Results revealed a significant improvement in self-efficacy within the IEST™ group between baseline and post-test (p = 0.016). At post-test, there were no significant differences between groups in relation to self-efficacy in implementing autism-specific workplace modifications and employer attitudes towards disability in the workplace. Given the lack of significant outcomes, further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of the IEST™ for employers

Modellsystem zur routinemaessigen Ermittlung umweltoptimierter Flugstrecken als Beitrag zum Schutz des Klimas

The purpose of the research project ''Model system for routine determination of environmentally optimised air routes as a contribution to climate protection'' was to develop a system which would permit taking ecological aspects into account in routine flight scheduling. This led to the development of a model for optimising flight profiles which in addition to the economic criteria of flying time and fuel consumption also takes an ecological criterion into consideration, namely the climatic activeness of an airplane's jet emissions. The climatic activeness of jet emissions is assessed with due consideration to the CO_2 effect, condensation trail formation, and chemical effects. The results of an exemplary application of the model have confirmed the findings of previous research projects according to which an ecological optimisation of flight profiles is indeed economically feasible. The practicability of the model in routine flight scheduling will be initially ensured by limiting the permissible computing timeIm Rahmen des Forschungsvorhabens 'Modellsystem zur routinemaessigen Ermittlung umweltoptimierter Flugstrecken als Beitrag zum Schutz des Klimas' wurde ein System entwickelt, mit dessen Hilfe die Beruecksichtigung oekologischer Aspekte in der routinemaessigen Flugplanung ermoeglicht wird. Das entwickelte Modell zur Optimierung von Flugprofilen beruecksichtigt neben den oekonomischen Kriterien Flugzeit und Kraftstoffverbrauch die Klimawirksamkeit der Triebwerksemissionen als oekologisches Kriterium. Die Bewertung der Klimawirksamkeit der Triebwerksemissionen erfolgt unter Beruecksichtigung des CO_2-Effektes, der Kondensstreifenbildung sowie der chemischen Wirkung. Die Ergebnisse bei der beispielhaften Anwendung des Modells bestaetigen die Aussagen vorheriger Forschungsvorhaben, dass eine 'oekonomisch vertraegliche' Umweltoptimierung von Flugprofilen moeglich ist. Die Einsetzbarkeit des Modells in der routinemaessigen Flugplanung ist in einem ersten Ansatz durch die Beschraenkung des erforderlichen Rechenaufwandes gewaehrleistet. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 8908(2000,30) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman