Commerce Dept. Spends $50.9M on Patent Data Capture and Printing Services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $50,926,249 ($50.9M)
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: $138.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PATENT DATA CAPTURE - PATENT PRINTING DATABASE
Place of Performance
Location: HORSHAM, MONTGOMERY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19044
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $50.9 million to REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC for work described as: PATENT DATA CAPTURE - PATENT PRINTING DATABASE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC for patent data capture and printing. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract value of $50.9M over approximately one year represents a significant investment. 4. The service category falls under 'All Other Publishers' (NAICS 511199).
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $50.9M for a one-year period appears substantial for data capture and printing services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for publishing and data management services would be necessary to assess pricing efficiency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for this contract. The effectiveness of the competition in securing a fair price will determine the overall taxpayer impact.
Public Impact
Ensures the accurate capture and printing of patent data, crucial for intellectual property management. Supports the operational efficiency of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The large contract value may indicate a significant volume of patent activity or complex data requirements.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- High contract value warrants scrutiny for potential cost efficiencies.
- Limited detail on specific deliverables and performance metrics.
- Potential for vendor lock-in if services are highly specialized.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Firm fixed price contract provides cost certainty.
- Clear contract duration of approximately one year.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the publishing and information services sector. Spending benchmarks for government contracts in this area can vary widely based on the scope and complexity of data management and printing requirements.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically be managed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to ensure contract compliance and performance. The firm fixed price nature of the contract provides some level of cost control.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Publishers
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- High contract value.
- Potential for data security and integrity risks.
- Dependence on a single vendor for critical patent data processing.
- Need for detailed performance metrics and oversight.
Tags
all-other-publishers, department-of-commerce, pa, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $50.9 million to REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC. PATENT DATA CAPTURE - PATENT PRINTING DATABASE
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 $50.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-12-29. End: 2011-12-31.
What specific services are included in 'PATENT DATA CAPTURE - PATENT PRINTING DATABASE' and how do they align with USPTO's core mission?
This likely encompasses the digitization of paper patent documents, data entry and validation, and the physical printing of patent publications. These services are fundamental to maintaining the official record of intellectual property, ensuring accessibility for the public and legal professionals, and supporting the USPTO's mandate to grant and publish patents.
Given the $50.9M value, what are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and quality control measures in place to ensure effective service delivery?
Effective service delivery would be measured by accuracy rates in data capture, timeliness of printing, and adherence to specified formatting standards. Robust quality control would involve regular audits, error tracking, and performance reviews by the contracting officer's representative to ensure the integrity and reliability of the patent data.
How does the firm fixed price contract mitigate risks associated with fluctuating costs in data processing and printing over the contract period?
A firm fixed price contract shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC. This means the government pays a set price regardless of the contractor's actual costs. This structure incentivizes the contractor to manage their expenses efficiently and mitigates the risk of unexpected price increases for the government.
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, 19044
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $50,926,249
Exercised Options: $50,926,249
Current Obligation: $50,926,249
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
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: 2015-12-02
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