1. A method, comprising: receiving a request to procure goods or services that are required to satisfy a spot need of a buyer, wherein at least one aspect of the spot need of the buyer is a requirement that the requested goods or services be available for immediate delivery, wherein the request includes information identifying a type of good or service being procured by the buyer; querying, using a processor, a database that includes the capabilities of suppliers to deliver goods and services and automatically selecting as potential bidders for an auction those suppliers whose capabilities satisfy at least a portion of the request; electronically notifying each of the potential bidders of an opportunity to submit a bid to satisfy all or part of the buyer's purchase request; conducting the auction, including by electronically accepting bids from those potential bidders that each provide one or more bids before a bidding deadline expires and not accepting the bids after the bidding deadline expires; and automatically selecting one or more winning bidders in accordance with the received bids.