United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Outreach and Engagement Efforts

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is issuing a sources sought Request for Information to identify qualified organizations with capabilities in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) outreach and engagement efforts, with RFI responses due October 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET. This is market research only and does not constitute a solicitation, commitment, or obligation by the Government; the Government will not reimburse preparation costs.

The RFI is issued under the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act using the Alternative Competition Method. USPTO intends to support a one-year initial period (subject to extension based on performance and funding availability) for a nationwide NIL outreach campaign targeting four priority audiences: college athletes, professional athletes, influencers and content creators, and supporting institutions and associations. Required deliverables include outreach strategy development, partnership identification and establishment with players' and influencer associations, awareness materials and messaging frameworks, and implementation support.

Respondents must address 13 required questions covering company overview and experience, organization size and locations, capabilities and limitations, experience with athletes and sports organizations, experience with influencers and public figures, NIL-related project experience, trademark and intellectual property experience, messaging and stakeholder engagement approaches, targeted NIL outreach strategy development, recommended outreach methods and channels, personnel and subject-matter expertise, performance metrics and evaluation measures, and potential risks and mitigation strategies. Responses must include a capability statement, company information (legal name, CAGE code, SAM.gov UEI, place of business, business size and socioeconomic status, GSA Schedule contract numbers if applicable), primary contact information, and relevant contract or project examples. Responses must not exceed five pages total, excluding cover pages and attachments, and must be submitted in searchable PDF format to Emalee.Gawrelski@uspto.gov and Jennifer.Springer@uspto.gov.

Questions are due October 12, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Small business primes may propose teaming arrangements with specialized subcontractors, though the prime remains solely responsible for overall performance and serves as the USPTO's single point of contact. SAM.gov registration is not required to submit an RFI response but will be required for any subsequent procurement. No budget has been disclosed.