USDA, ARS, PPD, Contracts Branch, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm. 3-2126-C, Beltsville, MD 20775-5100

R -- FOREIGN PATENT FILING AND PROSECUTION SERVICES SOL RFP 09-3K06-98 DUE 062298 POC Contact Darleen Masten, Tel. No. (301)504-1709 or FAX No. (301)504-1717 or E-MAIL: dmasten@ars.usda.gov The Agricultural Research Service is seeking small business firms capable of providing patent-related legal services to file patent applications on intellectual properties in countries other than the United States. The contract will be for the period of October 1, 1998, through September 30, 1999, with four (4) one year options. Patent services will include the filing of patents including amendments, briefs, appeals, petitions, responses, and other documents related to the prosecution, of patents and the payment of annuities and nominal workings as authorized by the Contracting Officer. The countries include, but are not limited to, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, USSR, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, Greece, Brazil, South Africa, China, South Korea,and Denmark. The research inventions fall into the categories of Soil, Water, Air; Plant Productivity; Animal Productivity; Commodity Conversion and Delivery; Human Nutrition and Well-Being; Production, Processing and Marketing; Biology; Chemistry; Mechanical; Electrical; etc. This is a 100 percent set-aside for small business concerns. To qualify as a small business an individual or contractor must have had no more than $5.0 million average annual receipts for the preceding 3 fiscal years under Standard Industrial Code 8111. Requests for the solicitation can be mailed, faxed, or emailed. It is anticipated that the solicitation will be released 15 days after publication of this synopsis. (0125)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0068 19980507\R-0005.SOL)