Patent and Trademark Office, Office of Procurement, Box 6, Washington, DC 20231

R -- PATENT DATA CAPTURE SERVICES SOL 50-PAPT-7-00031 POC Susan B. Messina, (703) 305-8448 WEB: Click here to download a copy of the Project Agreement, http://www.conops.doc.gov. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via e-mail, susan.messina@uspto.gov. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has a requirement for Patent Data Capture services. These services will produce deliverables that include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) conversion of allowed patent application files from paper into electronic format (PostScript) for the publication of the Official Gazette each Tuesday (issue day) for PTO and its customers; and (2) conversion of allowed patent application files from paper into electronic format (PostScript) for the dissemination of various patent paper copies, and ASCII text, and image files to PTO and its customers. Any resultant contract(s) may include the following optional requirement pending legislative approval: Pre-Grant Publication covering the publication of patent applications 18 months after the effective filing date via an Official Gazette of Patent Applications and other possible publications. The PTO anticipates the period of performance of this acquisition to be for a one year base period, and four one-year option periods. Any contract(s) awarded as a result of this acquisition are anticipated to be fixed price, requirements type. The PTO issues approximately 2,500 patents each Tuesday. This acquisition will be conducted using a new streamlined acquisition process described in a document entitled "Department of Commerce Acquisition Process Case for Change" which may be found on the internet at http: www.conops.doc.gov. The intent of this new process is to provide an improved acquisition environment which will benefit both the vendor community and the Government. As part of this process, a Project Agreement will be made available on the Internet at http://www.conops.doc.gov, on or about July 21, 1997. The purpose of this Project Agreement is to identify, collect, and analyze information about innovative approaches and new technologies that are currently available within the market to satisfy agency needs. Interested parties are able to obtain a general descritpion of the acquisition and engage in an open exchange of ideas, comments, and suggestions with the PTO Patent Data Capture Project Team on innovative approaches, technological advances, PTO acquisition strategy, and evaluation methodologies. In Phase II, the Project Team will develop and issue a Statement of Need (SON) based upon the input received in response to this Project Agreement. The SON will serve as the solicitation for this requirement. This acquisition is expected to be awarded under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code 2741 on the basis of full and open competition, but small business opportunities may be considered. In accordance with FAR 14.205-1(a), electronic commerce methods will be used to transmit the Project Agreement; therefore, a solicitation mailing list will not be established. QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCUREMENT WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED AT THIS TIME. Questions will be entertained following issuance of the Project Agreement utilizing the procedures specified in the Project Agreement. (0197)

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