Request for Information (RFI): Initial Patent Classification and Reclassification Services

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) under the Office of the Commissioner of Patents has a continuing requirement for Initial Patent Classification and Reclassification Services and is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) to help determine the availability and technical capability of sources for Initial Classification and Reclassification Services.

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541990, proposed Federal Supply Code (FSC) is B599, and the Small Business Size Standard is $15,000,000.00. The estimated ceiling amount is $125,000,000.00.

The USPTO seeks to award a contract to provide classification services to benefit the USPTO's core business mission, which is the examination, granting, and dissemination of patents and trademarks.

The USPTO is an agency comprised of approximately 12,000 employees plus an estimated 1,000 contractor support personnel located in Alexandria and Arlington, VA and other hoteling locations.

The USPTO is seeking information from contractors capable of furnishing Initial Patent Classification and Reclassification Services.  The USPTO has outsourced the majority of these activities since 2006.  The desired services will enable the office to meet its business needs for searching the prior art without relying on keyword searching. 

The requirements include, but are not limited to:

•·        High quality classification of incoming patent applications

•·        Creation of Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) combination set classifications

•·        Reclassification of previously published patent applications and grants which are currently classified in subject matter areas which are undergoing revision

•·        Research of appropriate primary classification for patent applications for which transfer requests have been initiated in the various Technology Centers

•·        Review of patent applications to ensure compliance with applicable guidelines for the identification of offensive subject matter and representative drawing

This RFI is not a request for proposals/quotes and the USPTO is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this announcement. Contractors are hereby notified that as a result of USPTO's exemption from the Competition in Contracting Act, the subject requirement may be procured using the Alternative Competition Method in accordance with the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidelines (PTAG) and the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(4)(A). If the PTAG Alternative Competition Method is used, the solicitation may only be issued to those determined to be capable of providing the required services or products. This determination will be made based on USPTO's market research, including the responses to this RFI.

The information from this RFI is for planning purposes only and will assist the USPTO in planning its acquisition strategy. This is strictly market research and the USPTO will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this RFI.

SUBMITTAL OF CAPABILITY STATEMENT:

Please submit capability statement electronically in your own format to include Name of Organization, DUNS Number, Address, Point of Contact (POC), POC E-mail Address, and POC Phone Number.  Please ensure responses do not exceed 20 pages and are submitted in a single document, preferably Portable Document Format (.pdf).

Responses shall be in sufficient detail to allow the USPTO to assess the capability/interest of your organization to meet requirements for Initial Patent Classification and Reclassification Services, including:

•·Relevant and recent experience in the past three (3) years

•·Whether or not organization would team as Prime Contractor or Subcontractor if such a solicitation were issued

•·Which type of business, if applicable, your organization is, as registered and validated at the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov

 

Small Business (SB) [if not one of the categories listed below]

ü 8(a) Small Business (8A)

ü HUBZONE Small Business (HUB)

ü Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

ü Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)

ü Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB)

ü Women Owned Small Business (WOSB)

ü Large Business (LB)

•·     GSA Federal Supply Schedule Contract Number if your organization has one

• •·  Whether or not organization could provide the following capabilities:

      ü   Ability to meet production volume based on relevant experience
      ü Ability to provide experience with transition planning

ü Typical timeframe taken, based on transition experience, to transition work from incumbent contractor to your organization

ü Ability to provide automated solutions

ü Ability to provide experience with hiring/training plans for similar effort as described within draft SOW

ü Ability to meet all, or a portion of, the requirements as described in the draft SOW

If your organization can only fulfill a portion of the requirements outlined above, please identify the requirements you can fulfill.

The due date for submission of this information is 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on February 17^th, 2015.  All submissions shall be submitted electronically to Hope Smith, Contracting Officer, at [email protected]. On subject line of e-mail, please indicate Capability Statement - Initial Patent Classification and Reclassification Services. No phone calls please. No evaluation letters will be issued to organizations submitting capability statements. Responses marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly.

This notice is not a request for competitive proposals.

Contracting Office Address:

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Office of Procurement

600 Dulany Street, MDE 7C03

Alexandria, VA 22314-5791

Place of Performance:

Contractor's Facilities

Primary Point of Contact:

Hope Smith

Contracting Officer

[email protected]

571-272-6565