Data is exchanged between a buyer and a plurality of suppliers via an internet supplier on-line system. A buyer requests a quotation from at least some of the suppliers for the cost of a part or device. When the request includes attachments, documents are generated wherein the request and attachments include both engineering and business documents. A determination is made whether the request is for a commodity part or device or for a non-commodity part or device. Once the supplier has downloaded this information, and the e-mail is generated to alert the buyer that such actions have occurred following an analysis of the request, the supplier is able to enter a quotation or bid.