TICCS_Market_Survey_Phase_1.pdf

Transformation, Innovation, Communication and Culture Solutions (TICCS) Market Research Survey – Initial Phase

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1. Introduction The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) seeks a partner that can identify innovative improvement concepts, methodologies, and industry best practices to drive change at the individual, team, product, product line, and enterprise leadership levels to continue the improvement and maturation of our ways of working. The USPTO seeks industry partners that will leverage and improve upon USPTO’s digital transformation and agile mindset and can: (1) Quickly identify opportunities for improvement (2) develop iterative plans for change; (3) Utilize Agile and DevSecOps processes, procedures, and enabling technologies in the right way to empower daily work; 4) define and meet goals and success measures (OKRs, KPI’s, tactical metrics) for each 5) A strong industry partner shall have insights into more than one possible solution to a problem and how to objectively weigh pros and cons for the government’s interests and priorities with the never wavering goal of meeting business goals and delivering measurable value to USPTO’s customer base, be it internal or external.

2. Objective The USPTO is launching the TICCS Market Research effort as an opportunity to engage strong industry partnership. In accordance with the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (PTOEA) 35 U.S.C.

2(b)(4)(A), the Government contemplates utilizing the Alternative Competition Method defined in section

6.1.1 of the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidelines (PTAG). The PTOEA has exempted the USPTO from large parts of Title 41 of the US Code and has provided USPTO with considerable flexibilities in conducting market research and selecting vendors. This market research survey is intended as preliminary 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.

See Attachment A, DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) for details.

This market research effort is not a request for proposals or solicitation and may or may not lead to an award of an order. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary. No entitlement to payment will arise as a result of submission of a response to this market research survey. 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 survey, including any costs associated with 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 survey.

3. Market Research and Down-Select Process The USPTO intends to conduct a two-phased market research in order to determine which vendor(s) is/are most likely to be successfully meet the agency’s needs.

3.1 Initial phase of market research

During the initial phase, the USPTO will provide a four (4) question survey for interested vendors to respond. The USPTO will assess the submitted responses and determine which vendor(s) may be most likely to successfully meet the agency’s needs who can then participate in the second phase of market research.

3.2 Second phase of market research

TICCS Market Research Survey – Initial Phase

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The USPTO will provide a ten (10) question survey to the selected vendors from the initial phase of market research. The USPTO will assess the submitted responses to determine which vendor(s) are most likely to successfully meet the agency’s need and thereby eligible to participate in an alternative competition. Only selected vendor(s) during the second phase will be eligible to receive the solicitation for this acquisition.

4. Initial Phase Question Survey

4.1 The USPTO is undergoing a large transformation which includes ensuring that all software, service and infrastructure teams follow a Product Model. How would you help guide the senior leadership team through the necessary changes in mindset and culture needed to move from a feature-team based organization to empowered product teams in a product-based culture?

How would you ensure the Product teams are being supported via coaching as they undergo this transformation? Include examples of how you would approach resistant teams and resolve conflict that arises throughout the team’s transformation. How would your organization recommend the usage of pipeline to facilitate ATO?

4.2 The primary goal of DevOps is to optimize the delivery of the flow of value from idea to end user in a more efficient and effective manner. Please identify three of the most significant challenges that your organization has overcome while operating in an environment that is highly fragmented into a siloed group culture that implements DevOps. Provide a brief narrative of how you successfully overcame each of those challenges.

4.3 The Transformation Delivery Division continues to promote a culture of continuous learning through a variety of forums. Please provide several examples of ways to help drive a culture of continuous learning. How would you measure the effectiveness? Please then describe the key differences between immersive learning and traditional training.

4.4 OCIO is a learning organization and as such is in a state of constant change, whether it is related to technology, process improvement, organizational structure, or all three at the same time. We must ensure that change efforts are strategically aligned, clearly planned and communicated, along with ensuring that our staff have the support needed, in the form of training, resources, and culture to drive change to positive impact. Please describe your approach to managing change at an enterprise level.

NOTE: This is not a request for proposals or a solicitation for a task order or contract. Industry engagement/responses are discouraged from submitting proprietary or Trade Secret information in response to this market research request. Information provided may be used and discussed with other industry partners and public, and additionally, may be used in collaboratively co-creating solutions for USPTO as well as refining the agency's requirements or future market research efforts.

If a vendor submits any proprietary or Trade Secrets it must clearly mark, on a line-by-line basis, as sensitive information. Submitters are cautioned that submissions of overly broad assertions of proprietary or Trade Secret information could lead the USPTO to conclude that its submission is not going to be the most likely to successfully meet the agency’s needs and thereby could be ineligible to participate in further stages of the alternative competition. This is a market research request for information and not a request for proposals.

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5. Submission Instructions Submit response to Victor.Martinez@USPTO.gov, and Suyeon.Kim@USPTO.GOV) with Subject Line:

“TICCS Market Research Survey – Initial Phase [Company Name]”.

Survey Response Close Date: September 13, 2023, 5:00pm EST.

5.1 Market Survey Response Requirements

Market Survey respondents shall include the following in their submission:

a) Completion of the Attachment B – Company Profile. Please note that “Business Size Status,” refers to the prospective prime contractor or prime contractor teaming agreement team members. The information completed in the Company Profile need not include planned subcontractor information unless that subcontractor's experience is being leveraged in the Market Survey response. Respondents shall indicate whether their company is “small” or “other than small.”

b) Completion of responses for all survey questions #1-4 (see section 4). Companies that do not submit a response to this Market Survey will not be considered for participation in the forthcoming competitive solicitation.

Response Specifications

• Page limit: 3 (Excluding Title, and Table of Contents)

• All margins minimum: 1 inch

• Minimum size and type of font: 12 Times New Roman

• Document format: Microsoft Word or PDF

6. Frequently Asked Questions

a) Question: Does the PTAG 6.1.1 Alternative Competition approach allow for a down-select of vendors before receipt of proposals?

Answer: Yes. The PTAG 6.1.1 Alternative Competition Method permits the agency to use market research results to determine which vendors are most likely to successfully meet the agency’s requirements, and solicit directly to those vendors. The Government will review vendors’ survey responses, and if applicable, additional market research findings to determine which vendors are most likely to successfully meet the agency’s requirements. The selected pool of vendors will be invited to compete for the final solicitation.

b) Question: In responding to the survey questions, may vendors draw on experience of individual employees, or planned team members or sub-contractors?

Answer: In responding to survey questions, respondents may draw upon their own corporate experience in either performing as prime or subcontractors. Prime respondents may draw upon experience of planned team members or sub-contractors as long as the planned team member or subcontractor remains in the teaming arrangement for proposal submission.

mailto:Victor.Martinez@USPTO.gov mailto:Suyeon.Kim@USPTO.GOV

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c) Question: If my company does not submit a survey response, will we still be eligible to sub-contract or team with another prime offeror?

Answer: Only companies that submit a survey response will be considered for potential participation in the Alternative Competition as a prime offeror. However, companies that do not submit a survey response will not be restricted from participating in the competition as a sub-contractor or as a teaming partner to an approved respondent that is deemed most likely to successfully meet the needs of the agency.

d) Question: How many vendors will be invited to participate in the alternative competition?

Answer: The Government has not pre-determined a number of vendors that will be determined most likely to successfully meet the agency’s requirements. This will depend upon the number and quality of responses received, and the final assessment of all market research.

e) Question: What type of contract will result from this market research effort?

Answer: The USPTO anticipates awarding a single award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to fulfill its Transformation, Innovation, Communication and Culture Solutions (TICCS) requirement.

f) Question: Will the anticipated contract be set aside for small businesses?

Answer: Yes, the anticipated contract is expected to be set aside for small businesses. However, this is subject to change based on the results of this market research.

g) Question: When will business size status be determined for the purposes of award?

Answer: Size certification will be required at the time of proposal submission. However, to assist the USPTO in identifying the number of interested small businesses, it is required that current size status also be declared in the survey response.

h) Question: Will prime contractors have to re-certify their size status during the TICCS contract performance period?

Answer: Contractors will be required to re-certify their size within 60 to 120 days prior to the end of the fifth year of the contract, or as otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer.

i) Question: What kind of teaming arrangements will be permitted for prime contract awards?

Answer: Teaming will not be required for a vendor to respond to the survey. However, vendors may choose to consider teaming arrangements. If a teaming arrangement other than a traditional prime-sub is utilized, the proposed arrangement shall be identified, and vendor relationships fully disclosed in the vendor’s response, and in their subsequent proposal.

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Approved Teaming Arrangements for TICCS in addition to traditional prime-sub arrangements:

(a) Joint Ventures: Offerors proposing as a Joint Venture shall submit their agreements as part of their proposal submission. A Joint Venture is equivalent to a single entity and will be evaluated as one (1) vendor. In order to qualify as a Small Business, both vendors in the proposed Joint Venture shall be certified as small under NAICS 541512. A Joint Venture team which qualifies for a small business contract award shall be considered ‘small’ for task order competitions until which time a size recertification is required (5 years post award, or as required by the Contracting Officer).

(b) SBA Mentor-Protégé Agreements: Offerors proposing under the auspices of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor-Protégé Programs shall submit with their offer a copy of their welcome/acceptance letter from the SBA. A Mentor-Protégé team shall qualify as a small business.

j) Question: Will vendors be reimbursed for any portion of the survey or solicitation participation?

Answer: The Government will not reimburse companies for any aspect of their participation in the survey or solicitation, if issued.