PTAG RFI Library Subscription Services.pdf

CUI//SP-PROCURE

Library Subscription Services

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION & NOTICE OF VENDOR

ENGAGEMENT

June 26, 2025

Facilitated by the Office for the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Procurement

Contents I. Introduction & Submission Instructions

II. Attachments

I. Introduction & Submission Instructions

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seeks to broaden its understanding of the commercial marketplace in order to improve the use of Library Subscription Services to meet the USPTO’s requirement to process and grant patents. The USPTO is interested in solutions that meet the requirements outlined in the draft Statement of Work (SOW).

The Government contemplates utilizing 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). This PTAG Request for Information (RFI) is intended as preliminary market information gathering which the USPTO will use to determine which vendor(s) is/are the most likely to successfully meet the agency’s needs and are thereby eligible to participate in an alternative competition. As a result of this market research, the solicitation will only be issued to the limited number of qualified vendor(s). Vendors that do not respond to the RFI will not be considered for the alternative competition, and will not be eligible to compete as a prime offeror. Submission of an RFI response does not guarantee a vendor’s eligibility to compete for the Library Subscription Services requirement. This PTAG RFI is not a request for competitive proposals.

The Government will not utilize formal evaluation criteria for market research associated with PTAG 6.1.1. The Government will review RFI responses to determine which vendor(s) are most likely to successfully meet the agency’s requirements for Library Subscription Services.

This RFI is not a solicitation and does not constitute a request for quotation or proposal. The USPTO is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. There is no USPTO commitment or implied agreement or understanding as a result of Government action or inaction taken in response to the RFI or the accompanying documents. Telephone calls requesting a solicitation will not be accepted or acknowledged. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary. No entitlement to payment will arise as a result of submission of a response to the RFI. Any cost for submission of responses or associated activities are at the interested respondent’s risk and interested respondent’s expense. The USPTO is not liable for costs (direct or indirect) associated with the preparation, submission, or responses to this RFI, including any costs associated with the meetings, follow on questions or additional requests for information, if any. USPTO will not reimburse the respondent for any costs incurred with responding to the RFI.

Submission Instructions

RFI respondents shall complete RFI Attachment 1 – RFI Response Template, in its entirety.

Completion of the RFI Response Template includes:

a) Completion of the “Corporate Profile” tab. Please note that “Business Size Status,” refers to the prospective prime contractor. Respondents shall indicate whether their company is “small” or “other than small.”

b) Completion of responses for all RFI questions #1-8 (see tabs titled, “Response to Q.1-8”). Note, the services meet the definition of commercial products and services as defined in FAR Part 2.

Respondents that do not submit a response to this RFI will not be considered for participation in the solicitation.

c) The Government reserves the right to contact the point of contact included in RFI Attachment 1 – RFI Response Template, if applicable.

d) The Government will consider each Respondent’s Phase 1 submission to determine which vendor(s) are most likely to successfully meet the agency’s requirements for Library Subscription Services based on the responses to questions.

Questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted via email to Sean.Bain@uspto.gov, using the following email subject format: “Library Subscription Services Questions - Company Name”.

Questions are due no later than 11:00 a.m. on July 8, 2025. Questions shall be submitted via RFI Attachment 4 – Question and Answer Sheet. Questions that are not submitted in the required format may be disregarded in their entirety.

Note: Respondents may submit questions regarding the RFI Attachments during the RFI phase.

However, the USPTO only intends to provide answers relevant to RFI Attachment 2 – Library Subscription Services SOW Draft during the RFI phase.

All final RFI responses shall be submitted via email to Andrew.Spinazzola@uspto.gov and Sean.Bain@uspto.gov , using the following email subject format: “Library Subscription Services RFI Response - Company Name”. RFI responses are due no later than 10:00 a.m. on July 14, 2025. RFI submissions shall include a completed Attachment 1 – RFI Response Template only. Please do not submit additional marketing materials or other unsolicited information, as they will not be considered.

Proprietary information submitted in response to this RFI will be protected from unauthorized disclosure as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). In their RFI submission email, vendors shall clearly identify any RFI Attachment 1 tabs that contain proprietary information.

The USPTO reserves the right to conduct one on one market research/interactive dialog sessions with any of the respondent(s) of this RFI, as required.

II. Attachments A. RFI Attachment 1 – RFI Response Template B. RFI Attachment 2 – Library Subscription Services SOW Draft C. RFI Attachment 3 – Title List D. RFI Attachment 4 - Question and Answer Sheet mailto:Sean.Bain@uspto.gov, mailto:Andrew.Spinazzola@uspto.gov mailto:Sean.Bain@uspto.gov