The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is conducting market research to determine potential sources/companies to provide administrative services for Employee Reimbursement Accounts (ERA) program, a flexible spending account (FSA) plan authorized by Internal Revenue Code Section 125, and for administering the Parking Expense Reimbursement Plans under the Commuter Benefits program, a qualified transportation fringe benefit (QTB) plan authorized by Internal Revenue Code Section 132. This code allows employees to pay for qualified parking expenses on a pre-tax basis, eliminating federal, state, and social security taxes. The USPTO has approximately 3,500 employees which may be eligible for enrollment in the Parking Expense Reimbursement Plan. The administration services would include the initial plan design and set-up, data system capabilities that will provide for adequate data processing capabilities to provide all necessary record-keeping and accounting functions to ensure complete, accurate and timely plan and participant account information, measures to protect the security and privacy of program data, records, forms, participant information, and data processing operations, and system back-up and disaster recovery procedures in place. In addition claim processing and reimbursement, direct deposit of participant reimbursements, a dedicated hosted website, online submission of claims, processing of questions or complaints by telephone, e-mail, fax, or letter, a customer service help desk, annual customer satisfaction survey, development of informational bulletins, brochures, or newsletters directed to employers and/or employees, provide annual report, and audited by an independent public account of the financial status. The USPTO is seeking companies which have implemented this program at other U.S. Federal Government agencies and has established financial access to the National Finance Center, or has the ability to do so. This market research shall be conducted at no cost to the Government. This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI), not a solicitation for proposals, and accordingly, no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. Telephone calls requesting a solicitation will not be accepted or acknowledged. Instructions: Interested businesses which can provide the above capabilities should respond no later 5:00 p.m., March 20, 2009. Companies should provide a capabilities statement along with any references from U.S. Federal Government agencies where they have implemented this program. Responses received in response to this announcement that are marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Please mail any responses to: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Office of Procurement, Attn: Sylvia Van Dyke, Contracting Office, MDE Room 7B03, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, or email: [email protected]. Please include RFI number DOCSSPAPT0910003 on any correspondence.

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