Responses_to_Questions_on_DACS14P2041.docx

Responses to Questions for the Solicitation, ”Access to Bibliometrics and Patent Database”

1. Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation under solicitation number DACS14P2041 contain requirements similar to a current contract? If possible, please provide the current contract number. Or, is this a new requirement for the government?

A. Yes, The current contract number is NSFSRS0651343.

2. Regarding this part: “The license shall be limited to NCSES statistical uses of the bibliometrics and patent data.” Does this mean only Science and Engineering Indicators, or does it also include other work? If it includes other work, can you explain what this might entail and if the results would be made public?

A. This does include Science and Engineering Indicators (SEI) and other NCSES work that could be made public, including NCSES Infobriefs (short reports) and working papers.

3. Regarding the patent data which is mentioned in the RFP: Aligning patents to subject matter areas typically requires a combination of key terms and classifications. Does NSF have requirements covering the classification system to be used, or is this a matter for discussion, especially in view of changes in classification systems? (As background, the US classification system has recently changed to what is called the CPC, which is a hybrid between the ECLA system and the US system.)

A. We have a prior preference for the patent classification of technologies used in SEI 2014 but are open to discussion about alternatives or refinements to our current technology classification.

4. Under the Heading: Subtask 1b. Desirable (Non-Mandatory) components. “Allow crediting publications to the unique names of U.S. and non-U.S. authors (and not only to the institutions with which those individuals are affiliated). In addition, it is desirable for the database to enable crediting of publications and other content to unique author names that have multiple institutional affiliations.” Is this to be part of the Science and Engineering Indicators report? Is it to be part of another project, and if so, would the data be made public?

A. We are interested in data on individual authors for network analysis and for indicators of collaboration, rather than information about the individuals themselves. The resulting network or collaboration analyses could be released in SEI and other NCSES publications, such as working papers and Infobriefs.

5. Regarding this part: “Include data needed to construct non-traditional measures of scientific output and knowledge flows. Possible data include, but are not limited to: electronic publications beyond those that appear in conventional journals, publications on pre-print servers, measures of support and knowledge flows drawn from acknowledgements, and altmetrics.” Is this to be part of the Science and Engineering Indicators report? Is it to be part of another project, and if so, would the data be made public?

A. It is likely to be used to inform a sidebar for the forthcoming SEI 2016 and may also be used in other NCSES publications.

6. Task 2 (Optional): Customization of provider’s bibliometric database. There are five (5) tasks listed under this “Optional” heading. Are the “optional” tasks an “all or nothing” requirement or will the NSF provide separate awards for one or more of these components. In other words, does the vendor have to complete all of these Optional tasks as part of the work, or will the NSF pick and choose which tasks are most relevant and cost effective based on the vendor response to each listed? Is the vendor supposed to propose a price for all the tasks in a single total price or can the response include an a la carte approach with a response and price on each one individually to facilitate the selection of relevant components by NSF staff?

A. We would like a quote on each subtask and may select some, all, or none.

7. Is it a requirement that the patent data that is used for analysis be shown in SEI or can Patent office data be shown. If value added patent data is used for analysis, can the results be rendered in the SEI using the original patent office records.

A. The patent data analyzed and shown in SEI will be aggregated value added patent data created by the vendor. We view this as higher quality than unedited USPTO data. The release of data on individual patents is not planned for SEI 2016. No release of data on individual patents would be made without additional consultation with and approval by the vendor.

8. If Vendor A wins the data tender but the analysis tender is won by Vendor B, would Vendor A be able to limit the use of the data by Vendor B to only serve the National Science Foundation?

A. This will be single award; only one vendor will end up with a contract.

9. Can a potential contractor submit separate bids: independently and as a subcontractor?

A. We are making one award. The vendor has the option to subcontract.

10. Can the bibliometric and patent data elements be offered as independent offers in the bid submission /or/ must the bid clearly incorporate both data elements in a single comprehensive proposal?

A. We are making one award that covers both data elements.

11. Are there specific currency/timeliness requirements for bibliometric/patent data?

A. For the forthcoming SEI 2016 we would like data through 2014, or the latest year for which the data are available.

12. Are there specific preferences for bibliometric/patent data format(s)?

A. Machine-readable with commercial, off-the-shelf software.

13. What is considered a country grouping? (Please provide a couple of examples, if possible.)

A. European Union, Other developed (excluding U.S., Japan, and EU), Other developing (excluding China), Other Asia (excluding China and Japan), NAFTA, Developing economies.

14. Are application and/or granted patent documents sought? (Can they be included in the offer as a package?)

A. We are interested in both applications and granted patents as indicators of patenting. The text of the patent documents themselves is not a priority.

15. Is there a minimal requirement for patent documents from mid-90s?

A. Yes

16. Are older patent documents sought? (If so, can they be included in the offer as a package?)

A. We would evaluate older data positively since it would allow for a longer time series.

16. Are patent documents sought from local European and Asian regional offices (i.e. DPMA/German Patent & Trademark Office, Chinese Patent Office) in addition to patent documents from the European Patent Office?

A. Yes. We are interested in major national offices, including individual European and Asian countries—both Germany and China would be considered major national offices.

18. What specific data set is sought for patent document coverage? (Is there a minimum requirement and does the minimum requirement vary by region e.g. are patents from US, EU, Japan, China and WIPO needed, as a minimum, and if so back to what specific date?)

A. Patents from US, EU, Japan, China and WIPO, as well as major patenting nations in Europe and Asia. The data should go back to the mid-1990s, to the extent that these data are available.

19. Is the original PDF (i.e. published patent document) sought?

A. No

20. Are patent documents in local language of publication and/or patent documents in English via machine-translation sought? If so, can they be included in the offer as a package?

A. We would like foreign language patents to be included in our patent indicators. If this requires machine-translated documents, then yes.

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