From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for: GAO's E-Filing System - Registering as a New User

Description: Tutorial on GAO's E-Filing system for bid protests

Released: January 2018

[ Opening Screen ] Electronic Protest Docketing System (EPDS)
REGISTERING AS A NEW USER GAO Logo

Welcome to the tutorial on Registering as a New User. Before you can use
GAO's Electronic Protest Docketing System, also known as EPDS, you must
be a registered user. When using EPDS, we recommend that you use Google
Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge as EPDS performs best when
using these web browsers. We do not recommend using Internet Explorer.
So, let's get started. To register as a user, type the URL
https://epds.gao.gov in the address bar of your web browser.

The EPDS Sign In page appears. Since this is your first time using EPDS,
click the Register as a new User button.

The Please Select Account Type dialog box appears. By default, the
Protester/Intervenor option is selected. When you click the down arrow,
you also have the option to register as an Agency Representative.

If you register as an Agency Representative, your email must be from a
.gov or .mil domain.

Once you complete the registration process and log into EPDS for the
first time, you need to create a new password and respond to three
security questions. If you are registering as a Protestor/Intervenor,
you only need to create a new password. For this demo, we will register
as a Protestor/Intervenor.

Then click OK.

The Register as a Protester/Intervenor Representative form appears. The
form for Agency Representative would have appeared if you had selected
Agency Representative for the Account Type. Scroll down the screen.
Complete all of the fields on the form starting with your email address.

Note that when you complete a required field, a green check mark appears
next to it. Use these checkmarks to ensure you have completed all of the
required fields before submitting your form.

Let's continue completing the form by typing in the first and last name
fields. Now type the name of the company or firm you represent. Type
your company or firm's phone number. Scroll down the screen.

Complete the Business Address section. As you type in the Address field,
EPDS begins filtering the list.

Locate and select the business address from the list and the remainder
of the address fields automatically populate. Confirm that all of the
information in the address section is correct.

The next step is to click the checkbox next to the agreement to abide by
GAO's Bid Protest Regulations and EPDS Instructions. Click the here link
if you have not reviewed this information.

For this demo, we will click the checkbox. Now click the Register
button.

The Rules of Behavior agreement appears. Read the agreement, then scroll
down the screen. Click the I Agree button at the bottom of the
agreement.

The Success dialog box appears to confirm a successful registration. If
your registration was not successful, a notification appears alerting
you of the fields that need correcting. Once you've made the necessary
corrections on the form, click the Register button again.

Since our registration was successful, we will click OK in the Success
dialog box. An email is sent to the email address you registered on the
form.

The email from EPDS contains a temporary password that you will use
during your initial log on to the system. Once you log on, you will be
prompted to create a new password. The criteria for your new password
are included in the email. Click the link in the email to log back into
EPDS and to reset your password.

The EPDS Sign In page reappears. Log in to EPDS using your registered
email address and the temporary password you received from the EPDS
email. To ensure you enter your temporary password correctly, we
recommend that you copy from the email and paste it into the Password
field.

Now click the Sign me in button. The Password Reset dialog box appears
letting you know that you are accessing EPDS for the first time and that
you need to update your password. Click the OK button to begin resetting
your password.

The Please update your password dialog box appears prompting you to
enter a new password. Type your new password in the New Password field.
When typing, be sure to follow the password guidelines listed. Then
re-type your new password in the Confirm Password field. Then click the
Update Info button.

The Welcome to EPDS dialog box appears confirming that you have
successfully updated your information. Click OK.

You are now logged into EPDS and the Dashboard appears. When you're
finished working in EPDS and you wish to log out of the system, click
the down arrow next to your name

and click Logout.

This concludes the tutorial on Registering as a New User in the
Electronic Protest Docketing System. To learn more about using EPDS,
check out the other tutorials in the bid protest section of our website
at www.gao.gov.