Commerce Dept. Pays $69M for Patent Data Capture and Printing Services to Reed Technology
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $69,156,065 ($69.2M)
Contractor: Reed Technology and Information Services LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2012-12-30
End Date: 2013-11-30
Contract Duration: 335 days
Daily Burn Rate: $206.4K/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 $69.2 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 $69.16 million. 2. The contract covers patent data capture and printing database services. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 4. The contract duration was 335 days, ending November 30, 2013. 5. The NAICS code 511199 suggests a focus on 'All Other Publishers'.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $69.16 million for a 335-day period appears high for publishing services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for data capture and printing is difficult without more specific service details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting multiple bidders participated. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives fair market value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were used for this contract. The value suggests a significant investment in patent data management and dissemination.
Public Impact
Ensures the accurate capture and printing of patent data, crucial for intellectual property records. Supports the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's mission to process and publish patents. Provides essential services for the dissemination of patent information to the public and businesses.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- High contract value for a relatively short duration.
- Lack of detailed service description makes value assessment difficult.
- Potential for cost overruns if not managed tightly.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Clear contract end date.
- Fixed price contract type limits cost uncertainty.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the publishing and information services sector. Spending benchmarks for this specific niche of patent data capture and printing are not readily available, but the value suggests a substantial operational requirement.
Small Business Impact
No specific information is provided regarding small business participation in this contract. The awardee, Reed Technology and Information Services LLC, is likely a large business.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Commerce, specifically the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Oversight would typically involve contract officers and program managers ensuring performance and adherence to terms.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Publishers
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- High cost relative to contract duration.
- Limited transparency on specific services provided.
- Potential for data integrity issues.
- Vendor lock-in risk if processes are highly specialized.
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 $69.2 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 $69.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-12-30. End: 2013-11-30.
Was the $69.16 million price justified for the services rendered over 335 days?
Assessing the justification of the $69.16 million price is challenging without a detailed breakdown of services, including data volume, complexity of capture, printing specifications, and quality control measures. The firm fixed-price nature suggests the contractor assumed the risk, but the per-day cost is substantial, necessitating robust oversight to ensure value.
What were the primary risks associated with this patent data capture and printing contract?
Key risks likely included data accuracy and integrity during capture, timely printing and delivery of patent documents, potential for technological obsolescence in printing processes, and vendor performance issues. Ensuring the security and confidentiality of sensitive patent data would also be a critical risk area.
How effective was this contract in supporting the USPTO's mission?
The contract's effectiveness hinges on its ability to ensure the accurate, timely, and efficient capture and printing of patent data. If these services were performed without significant errors or delays, it would have effectively supported the USPTO's core mission of managing and disseminating intellectual property information.
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: $69,156,065
Exercised Options: $69,156,065
Current Obligation: $69,156,065
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DOC50PAPT0410001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-12-30
Current End Date: 2013-11-30
Potential End Date: 2013-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-07-17
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