Arbitrator Services
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- ACQ-26-0672
- Agency
-
US Patent and Trademark Office
Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541199 All Other Legal Services
- PSC
- R418 Support- Professional: Legal
- Place of performance
- Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a division of the Department of Commerce, has published a Special Notice announcing its intention to award a sole-source Purchase Order for Arbitration Services. This Notice of Intent, posted on January 16, 2026, identifies Eric Fine as the selected arbitrator to provide services under NAICS Code 541199 (All Other Legal Services). The USPTO is exercising an exemption from the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) under the Alternative Competition Method, as permitted by the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidelines and the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act. The anticipated award date is January 29, 2026, with a contract period of twelve months. This procurement does not constitute a request for competitive proposals.
The purpose of this procurement is to retain Mr. Eric Fine to serve on a standing arbitration panel to hear grievances as part of an ongoing alternative dispute resolution process. The deadline for this Special Notice is January 20, 2026. Mr. Fine is deemed the only qualified source due to his prior joint selection by both parties involved in the dispute, and his continuity in the role is deemed essential to maintain consistency and integrity of the proceedings. The USPTO justifies the sole-source award under FAR 6.302-3(b)(3)(ii), which specifically permits procurement of neutral persons such as arbitrators to facilitate alternative dispute resolution without full and open competition. No competitive solicitation will be issued, and this notice is not a request for proposals from other contractors.
Notice text
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 Mr. Eric Fine, 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 Eric Fine (UEI: JA7FJRN4V8V9) 1333 Winding Wayne Ln, Silver Spring Maryland, 20902, for an estimated period of performance comprised of twelve (12) months. The anticipated award date is January 29, 2026.
For this instance, Mr. Fine is the only known qualified source since he has already been agreed to by 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 January 20, 2026. 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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| Opportunity | Agency | Set-aside | Responses due |
|---|---|---|---|
| PTOEA Intent to Sole Source (Patent Examination Review Assistant) | US Patent and Trademark Office | No set-aside |
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