Introduction

GOCA is pleased to announce the launch of its Web-based offset matrix for its members. This can be a very useful tool to allow members (and ultimately non-members) to connect with other parties interested in offset in the same country. It will allow contractors to find other contractors to share experiences and hints on how best to perform in a country. It will allow contractors to find third party service providers who can assist with offset obligations in a country and will correspondingly allow third party service providers to advertise their services to potential customers with a real interest in countries where they have expertise. AND it is confidential and initially anonymous.

The Web-based matrix works much like a dating service. A company puts in its interest in various countries – whether it is experienced, or has a need for offset support (& other options). The input is confidential. Other companies with an interest in either supporting another company’s offset obligations (usually a service provider) or companies seeking further information/support on a country (usually a defense contractor) can search the data base and send confidential emails, through the system, to companies with expertise or needs. All communications are confidential and do not disclose the sender or receiver. When the companies are comfortable with an exchange, they can disclose their identity or terminate the exchange.

The system is completely confidential and neither GOCA nor IBC (GOCA’s management firm) have access to the exchanges or data on the system. The third party service we used to develop the matrix does have access to the data in the same manner as any data base, but has no interest in or knowledge of offset and will maintain the integrity of the data.

Members can allow as many users as they wish, but all users will be designated as either contractors or third party service providers. All users will be required to “sign” an agreement, which is similar to all such agreements seen on the Web at most sites.

This service has been funded by GOCA for the benefit of its members and others in the industry. We are, however, unable to provide individual user support on how to work with the offset matrix.

How to Use the System

To use the system, you will need to request an account and a password. Requests should be emailed to mfromyer@ibgc.com. Include in your request your name, company, and email address. Depending on your membership status you will be designated as a contractor or a third party service provider. The designation will provide you a different screen and options. The system will only allow a user to enter data as a contractor or a service provider.

Log on to the system and start entering your data or start a search.

Entering Data
Go to “Manage my list of Countries”, pull down the countries, and for each country identify the appropriate responses. For each country of interest, enter your interest. Once entered, when you return to this page, the countries selected will be shown and can be amended. We suggest that you update your countries periodically and at least annually.

Searches
To conduct a search, enter what sort of contact you are seeking by country. By selecting a country you will be shown different options, including all or some of the following depending on whether you are a contractor or a service provider:

• Whether there are contractors with existing obligations
• Whether there are contractors with potential obligations
• Whether there are contractors with knowledge of offset in the country
• Whether there are contractors having with an ability to help
• Whether there are service providers available offering to help
• Whether there are service providers with knowledge of offset requirements
• Whether there are contractors requiring assistance

Your search will be anonymous and you will not know the names of the companies or users identified. You will only know, for example, that there are three contractors with an obligation and two service providers claiming an ability to support.

Opening Gambit (Contacting Party)
You may now decide to contact all companies in a particular field. By selecting a particular type of potential contact, you draft an email asking any question you feel appropriate and giving any information you feel comfortable with. The system will send the anonymous email to all users in a particular field. The recipients will not know anything other than what you provide in the message and that it is from a contractor or service provider.

Email Message Received by Contacted Party
The contacted party would receive the drafted email message, which would only identify whether the sender is a contractor or a service provider.

Possible Response by Contacted Party
The contacted party can choose to respond in any of the following ways:

• No response. There is an option to terminate all correspondence at any stage from a particular party, even though you may not know who the other party is.
• Response stating that they are not interested.
• Response without disclosing company name, etc., requesting more information
• Response disclosing company name, etc.

Possible Response by Contacting Party
The contacting party can choose to respond in any of the following ways:

• No response. There is an option to terminate all correspondence at any stage from a particular party, even though you may not know who the other party is.
• Response stating that they are not interested.
• Response without disclosing company name, etc., requesting more information
• Response disclosing company name, etc.

This could continue until the parties decide to terminate or disclose themselves. The system will shut down correspondence after a certain number of email exchanges.

Additional Features
Once communications have been opened, a user can search all communication trails whether started by themselves or others that they have replied to.