RFI: Trademark Flexible Workforce Reserve

The U.S. Patent and Trademarks Office (USPTO) Trademarks and Corporate Service Division is releasing this Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of Trademarks. The purpose of this RFI is to assist the Government in conducting market research focused on identifying potential sources. This information will be used for market research only. The Government is not obligated to release a future solicitation. This notice is issued solely for Market Research and information and planning purposes. It is not a solicitation and does not constitute a request for quotation or proposal. Telephone calls requesting a solicitation will not be accepted or acknowledged. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested respondent’s expense. Responses and submissions will become Government’s property and will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any Request for Proposal/Quote (RFP/RFQ), if any is issued. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. Interested parties should have current registration in the System for Award Management database at https://beta.SAM.gov. Vendors should mark all confidential and/or proprietary information in the response as applicable. Proprietary information submitted in response to this RFI will be protected from unauthorized disclosure as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Information provided by vendors will only be shared with USPTO employees and contractors with signed confidentiality agreements involved with market research. The USPTO reserves the right to review responses to this RFI and issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) / Request for Quote (RFQ) to vendors using the Alternative Competition Method in accordance with the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidance (PTAG), and the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act 35 U.S.C 2(b)(4)(A). The mission of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is to foster innovation, competitiveness and economic growth, domestically and abroad, by delivering high quality and timely examination of patent and trademark application, guiding domestic and international intellectual property policy, and delivering intellectual property information and education worldwide, with a highly skilled, diverse workforce. The Trademark business unit of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (the “Trademark Office” or the “Office”) registers trademarks in the United States and maintains the nation’s trademark register (the “Register”). For the past two years, the Office has experienced unprecedented events, such as a surge in trademark applications, petitions challenging proposed or register marks, and ever-changing forms of improper behavior. This activity requires the office to prioritize work to fulfill the office’s mission and meet the expectations of our stakeholders. This has resulted in some non-examination activities not being completed in the Office expected time standards.