SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION SUPPORT FOR THE US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
- Notice Date
- 1/15/2002
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), Office of Procurement, Box 6, Washington, DC, 20231
- ZIP Code
- 20231
- Solicitation Number
- SS-PAPT-2-10001
- Response Due
- 2/20/2002
- Archive Date
- 3/7/2002
- Point of Contact
- Todd Richards, Contracting Officer, Phone (703) 305-8016, Fax (703) 305-8294,
- E-Mail Address
-
todd.richards@uspto.gov
- Description
- SUBJECT: R--DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION SUPPORT FOR THE US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE INTRODUCTION: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is conducting market research to identify organizations that have the technical capabilities to perform document classification for the USPTO. This market research shall be conducted at NO COST TO THE GOVERNMENT. This announcement is a Request For Information (RFI), not a solicitation announcement for proposals, and accordingly, no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. No telephone calls requesting a solicitation will be accepted or acknowledged. There is no solicitation available at this time nor is there any guarantee or promise of a solicitation in the future. Any information provided to USPTO as a result of this announcement shall focus on the capability to provide scientific and technical services, as defined below. Strong relationships with industry is a top priority of USPTO, and USPTO wishes to express its appreciation in advance to all industry entities that choose to provide information in accordance with this announcement. BACKGROUND: Currently, patent applications receive a security screening and are classified during initial processing according to US standards (reflected in the US Patent Classification [USPC] Handbook) and/or international standards (reflected in the International Patent Classification [IPC] Handbook). Patent applications are loosely grouped within one of three disciplines: Chemical, Electrical, or Mechanical. Each application is assigned an initial or routing classification sufficient to ensure its direction to the appropriate Tech Center and Art Unit for purposes of examination. This initial classification consists of a class and, when necessary, a subclass indicative of the appropriate Art Unit. Following its receipt in the Tech Center, each application determined to be eligible for pre-grant publication (PGPub) is assigned Mandatory and Discretionary Classifications (both US and IPC) and a representative figure (based on the application's claims) is selected for use in the PGPub publication cycle. All classification information is entered into the Patent Application Locating and Monitoring system (PALM). The USPTO is considering acquiring contract services to perform security screening, initial and PGPub classification, and designation of a representative figure for patent applications. Determining the appropriate classification(s) for an application requires knowledge and understanding of the U.S. and International Patent Classification Systems as well as technical knowledge sufficient to understand and analyze the technical patent application. U.S. classifications are assigned by class/subclass; international classifications are assigned to the subgroup level. USPTO is also seeking industry opinions concerning performance-based contracting measurements. Specifically, USPTO would like to gather opinions as to what measurements a contractor might feel would be applicable for a potential contract for services described in this announcement. Additionally, USPTO is seeking industry opinion as to what would be a fair and accurate methodology for assessing past performance for a potential solicitation regarding these services. SCOPE: Any potential contractor would provide services to determine an initial (routing) classification for each application and enter this data into PALM. If required, security screening of an application must be completed prior to assigning an initial classification. Assignment of PGPub classification(s) and indication of the drawing figure that is most descriptive of the claimed subject matter must also be completed and entered into PALM. The assignment of initial and PGPub classifications may be consolidated into one step in the initial processing of applications. The USPTO would require contract services to meet classification standards and other guidance for completeness and accuracy established by the USPTO, to submit periodic performance reports, and to provide feedback to the USPTO regarding unclassifiable applications and classification system problems. Source documents may be provided electronically which may require a contractor to be in close proximity to USPTO facilities. Approximately 350,000 applications will require either initial and/or PGPub classification in FY 02. REFERENCE SOURCES: The following web sites may be accessed for information pertaining to this market research: Manual of Classification (US) and US/IPC Concordance: http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/ Examiner's Handbook on the US Patent Classification system: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/sir/co/examhbk/index.htm International Patent Classification (IPC): http://classifications.wipo.int/fulltext/new_ipc/index.ht IPC Guide: http://www.wipo.org/classifications/en/ipc/manual/index.htm. INSTRUCTIONS: Businesses with the capability of providing these services are invited to submit, in writing, sufficient information that demonstrates the ability to fulfill this requirement, information concerning performance-based contract measurement recommendations, and information concerning past performance evaluation recommendations. Responses shall not exceed 40 pages, and standard company brochures are not desired. Questions regarding this RFI should be submitted via email to: classificationteam@uspto.gov. Please do not call with questions. Questions and answers, along with this announcement, will be continually updated and made available at the following web site: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/comp/proc/docclass/docclsrfi.htm. Responses, including the vendor's business status (e.g.: small, small disadvantaged, minority-owned, 8(a), etc.) should be mailed via U.S. Postal Service to the following address: Responses to this RFI are due back to PTO by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2002. Please mail all information to: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Attn: Todd Richards Office of Procurement Box 6 Washington, DC 20231 Or hand carry/courier to: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Attn: Todd Richards Office of Procurement 2011 Crystal Drive, PK1, Ste. 810 Arlington, VA 22202 SUMMARY: Again, PTO appreciates your assistance with this market research and emphasizes that this effort is for PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY and the information submitted WILL NOT be treated as a Request for Proposal.
- Record
- SN20020117/00014644-020116090144 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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