Arbitration Services
Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- ACQ-26-0577
- Agency
-
US Patent and Trademark Office
Department of Commerce
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541199 All Other Legal Services
- Place of performance
- United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a civilian agency under the Department of Commerce, published this Special Notice on December 22, 2025, announcing its intent to award a sole-source contract for arbitration services. The notice pertains to a Purchase Order under NAICS Code 541199 (All Other Legal Services) to be awarded to Joyce Klein, a pre-selected arbitrator. The USPTO is proceeding with this procurement using the Alternative Competition Method under the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidelines and is exempt from the Competition in Contracting Act requirements. This special notice represents a Notice of Intent for Sole Source procurement and is not a request for competitive proposals.
The objective of this procurement is to retain Ms. Joyce Klein as an arbitrator to resolve grievances brought before a standing panel jointly selected by the parties involved in a matter before the Office of General Law. The anticipated award date is January 5, 2025, with a period of performance of twelve months. Ms. Klein is identified as the only qualified source for this requirement due to prior agreement by both parties and the necessity for continuity and consistency in the arbitration process; substituting an arbitrator at this stage would risk procedural integrity and duplicate efforts. The USPTO has designated this as a 100% Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set-aside award and is relying on FAR 6.302-3(b)(3)(ii), which permits non-competitive procurement of neutral persons such as arbitrators for alternative dispute resolution processes. This notice is not soliciting competitive proposals, and no additional contractor participation is anticipated.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
PTAG 6.1.1 Notice of Intent for Sole Source
The Office of General Law (OGL) provides general litigation and advisory services on matters concerning the administration and management of the USPTO. The parties have jointly selected arbitrators, including Ms. Joyce Klein, to serve on a standing panel to hear grievances brought by the parties.
For this procurement, the USPTO is exempt from the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) as the subject requirement is being 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). The full text is located here: https://federal register.gov/a/2013-24316.
The USPTO intends to negotiate and award a 100% Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) set aside Purchase Order for Arbitration Services under NAICS Code 541199 – All Other Legal Services to Joyce Klein, (UEI: F59NZDLNR8L7) 105 Mount Hermon Way, Ocean Grove, New Jersey 07756-1411, for an estimated period of performance comprised of twelve (12) months. The anticipated award date is January 5, 2025.
For this instance, Ms. Joyce Klein is the only known qualified source since she has already been agreed to both parties. Accordingly, for reasons of continuity, efficiency, and fairness to the parties, it is essential that this arbitrator be retained to complete the matter. Substitution at this stage would not only risk inconsistency and duplication of effort, but would also undermine the integrity of the process. It is the best interest of the Government and consistent with USPTO’s statutory authority to proceed with this arbitrator through the conclusion of this case. Moreover, FAR 6.302-3(b)(3)(ii) specifically allows for the use of other than full and open competition to procure, “A neutral person, e.g., mediators or arbitrators, to facilitate the resolution of issues in an alternative dispute resolution process.”
This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals nor will a solicitation be issued to the public. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to the following point of contact or alternate point of contact no later than 5:00pm EDT on December 24th. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
Points of Contact: Yen Nguyen, Contracting Officer, yen.nguyen1@uspto.gov
Alternate Point of Contact: Emalee Gawrelski, Contracting Officer, emalee.gawrelski@uspto.gov
Update #1 ·
PTAG 6.1.1 Notice of Intent for Sole Source
The Office of General Law (OGL) provides general litigation and advisory services on matters concerning the administration and management of the USPTO. The parties have jointly selected arbitrators, including Ms. Joyce Klein, to serve on a standing panel to hear grievances brought by the parties.
For this procurement, the USPTO is exempt from the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) as the subject requirement is being 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). The full text is located here: https://federal register.gov/a/2013-24316.
The USPTO intends to negotiate and award a Purchase Order for Arbitration Services under NAICS Code 541199 – All Other Legal Services to Joyce Klein, (UEI: F59NZDLNR8L7) 105 Mount Hermon Way, Ocean Grove, New Jersey 07756-1411, for an estimated period of performance comprised of twelve (12) months. The anticipated award date is January 5, 2025.
For this instance, Ms. Joyce Klein is the only known qualified source since she has already been agreed to both parties. Accordingly, for reasons of continuity, efficiency, and fairness to the parties, it is essential that this arbitrator be retained to complete the matter. Substitution at this stage would not only risk inconsistency and duplication of effort, but would also undermine the integrity of the process. It is the best interest of the Government and consistent with USPTO’s statutory authority to proceed with this arbitrator through the conclusion of this case. Moreover, FAR 6.302-3(b)(3)(ii) specifically allows for the use of other than full and open competition to procure, “A neutral person, e.g., mediators or arbitrators, to facilitate the resolution of issues in an alternative dispute resolution process.”
This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals nor will a solicitation be issued to the public. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to the following point of contact or alternate point of contact no later than 5:00pm EDT on December 24th. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
Points of Contact: Yen Nguyen, Contracting Officer, yen.nguyen1@uspto.gov
Alternate Point of Contact: Emalee Gawrelski, Contracting Officer, emalee.gawrelski@uspto.gov
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