Commerce's USPTO Spends $38.6M on Patent Data Capture Services with Reed Technology
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $38,571,135 ($38.6M)
Contractor: Reed Technology and Information Services LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2010-12-29
End Date: 2011-12-31
Contract Duration: 367 days
Daily Burn Rate: $105.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PATENT DATA CAPTURE - PRE-GRANT PUBLICATION
Place of Performance
Location: HORSHAM, MONTGOMERY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19044
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $38.6 million to REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC for work described as: PATENT DATA CAPTURE - PRE-GRANT PUBLICATION Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Reed Technology and Information Services LLC for patent data capture. 2. The contract value is $38.6 million over approximately one year. 3. Full and open competition was utilized for this procurement. 4. The service category is 'All Other Publishers' (NAICS 511199).
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $38.6 million for a year of service appears reasonable given the specialized nature of patent data capture. Benchmarking against similar, albeit less specific, publishing or data processing contracts suggests this is within an expected range.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives fair market value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best price for essential patent data services.
Public Impact
Ensures timely access to pre-grant patent publications for public and industry use. Supports the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's mission of disseminating patent information. Facilitates innovation by making patent data readily available.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Contract duration is relatively short (approx. 1 year), potentially leading to frequent re-procurement costs.
- Specific performance metrics or quality standards are not detailed in the provided data.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Utilizes a firm-fixed-price contract type, providing cost certainty.
- Contractor has a history of providing similar services.
Sector Analysis
The IT and professional services sector, particularly data management and publishing, often involves specialized firms. Spending benchmarks for data capture services can vary widely based on complexity and volume, but $38.6M for a year suggests a significant scale of operation.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if specific small business goals were set for this contract. Further investigation would be needed to assess small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Commerce's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Standard government procurement oversight processes would apply, including contract management and performance monitoring.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Publishers
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract duration is short.
- Potential for vendor lock-in if competition is limited in future procurements.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
- Dependence on a single vendor for a critical function.
Tags
all-other-publishers, department-of-commerce, pa, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $38.6 million to REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC. PATENT DATA CAPTURE - PRE-GRANT PUBLICATION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $38.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-12-29. End: 2011-12-31.
What is the specific volume of patent data processed under this contract, and how does it compare to previous or subsequent contracts?
The provided data does not specify the exact volume of patent data processed. Understanding this volume is crucial for a precise cost-per-unit analysis and for benchmarking against industry standards. Comparing it to historical data would reveal trends in workload and efficiency.
Are there any identified risks associated with Reed Technology's ability to meet the contract's data capture requirements, such as data accuracy or timeliness?
The provided data does not highlight specific risks related to Reed Technology's performance. However, any contract of this magnitude carries inherent risks concerning data integrity, security, and timely delivery. A thorough review of past performance and contract monitoring would be necessary to assess these risks.
How effectively does this contract contribute to the USPTO's overall mission of disseminating patent information compared to alternative methods or vendors?
The effectiveness of this contract is tied to its ability to accurately and efficiently capture pre-grant patent publications. Its success contributes to the USPTO's mission by ensuring this vital information is accessible. Evaluating effectiveness would require metrics on data quality, processing speed, and user satisfaction with the disseminated data.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › All Other Publishers
Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Reed Elsevier Group PLC (UEI: 230792756)
Address: 275 GIBRALTAR RD, HORSHAM, PA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $38,571,135
Exercised Options: $38,571,135
Current Obligation: $38,571,135
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DOC50PAPT0410001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-12-29
Current End Date: 2011-12-31
Potential End Date: 2011-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-07-17
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