Inactive

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in Beltsville, MD, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis a contract with Computer Packages Inc. (CPI), 11... The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in Beltsville, MD, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis a contract with Computer Packages Inc. (CPI), 11 N Washington St Ste 300, Rockville, MD, 20850-4263, for patent annuity services. The Contractor shall provide docketing, tracking, payment and reporting services for non-domestic (foreign) applications/patents. The Contractor shall perform the following patent-related services and purchases as may be required to maintain patents in effect: Anticipated Date of Award: November 30, 2022 THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Vendors that believe they can provide the services listed above are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. The Contractor shall docket, track, and report on the status of foreign patents including the payment of requisition annuities, maintenance fees and taxes. The contractor shall utilize country data to verify accuracy. The services to docket/track, and report annuities are services that will support the payment of annuities, maintenance fees and taxes under any resulting Purchase Order or Contract. The Contractor shall provide docketing, tracking, payment and reporting services for non-domestic (foreign) applications/patents. The Contractor shall perform the following patent-related services and purchases as may be required to maintain patents in effect: The Contractor shall maintain a current case docket to ensure that fees for annuities and taxes are paid on a timely basis. The Contractor shall enter information in its docketing system from Government-furnished and publically available records to effect the payment of annuities, taxes, and maintenance fees. The Contractor shall have a required already established computerized docketing, tracking, and payment database system with the capabilities to calculate and administer different country by country patent regulations in regards to payment of annuities, taxes, and maintenance fees. Safeguards in place to reduce or eliminate errors are a requirement, without the need of restorations. The Contractor shall provide the use of patent office electronic data to verify data. The Contractor shall provide a real time paperless (online) annuity management, including the capability to instruct the contractor online, via fax/phone and by email. Patent annuity services shall include electronic due diligence audit of patents and due diligence audits. Contractor shall provide online electronic management which allows the Government to monitor costs, and Contractor shall guarantee the exchange rate. Contractor shall have the capability to pay accumulated annuities upon grant. The Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), a Tax Maintenance Report identifying all cases with a payment due within the quarter. Reports will be submitted 5 months prior to the start of each calendar quarter. The report shall include the following: Filing, issue, or publication dates either supplied by the Government or available through public records, estimated payment cost of each case in U.S. dollars. The contractor shall provide the following documentation to the COR: (i) Monthly annuity confirmation of payments made. (ii) Receipts from each patent office as the contractor receive them. The contractor agrees that all information disclosed by the Government to the Contractor in connection with this requirement shall be confidential and that all such information and data on the media in which it is stored shall be the exclusive property of the Government. The Contractor shall not disclosure, either during the term of the Purchase Order or Contract or thereafter, any information provided by the Government without the prior written consent of the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall take all precautions necessary to prevent disclosure of such information. In performance of the Purchase Order or Contract, the Contractor shall comply with applicable laws and legal authorities of the country in which the annuity payment or tax is being made. The contractor shall provide the following deliverables to the COR. (a) Tax Maintenance Report. The written report shall cover all cases with a payment due within the quarter. The report shall include the estimated payment cost of each case in US dollars, the filing, issue or publication dates, and shall be submitted to the COR 5 months prior to the start of each quarter. (b) Monthly annuity confirmations; and receipts from each Patent Office as the Contractor receive them. Anticipated Date of Award: November 30, 2022 THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Vendors that believe they can provide the services listed above are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.