AI Driven Image Search Tool

The Department of Commerce, United States Patent and Trademark Office, is conducting a sources-sought market research effort under solicitation number ACQ-27-0033 to identify potential vendors capable of providing an AI-driven image search platform to enhance prior art search capabilities for approximately 12,000 patent examiners. The desired solution is a FedRAMP-authorized Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that integrates with existing USPTO enterprise systems to support image-based searches across global Design and Utility patent collections from over 64 authorities, updated weekly, with functionality including lasso tools, similarity ranking, and CPC suggestion features. The platform must be fully compliant with federal cybersecurity standards including FISMA, FIPS, and NIST SP 800-37 and SP 800-53, maintain a minimum 99.9% monthly uptime, deliver sub-second response times for 95% of transactions, and operate under a full USPTO Authorization to Operate. The system must automatically delete uploaded images and derived data at the end of each user session, encrypt all data at rest and in transit, and ensure all personnel handling nonpublic data are U.S. citizens located within the Continental United States. AI components must adhere to Executive Orders 13960 and 14110, requiring full transparency, explainability, and auditability of model training, data sources, bias-mitigation efforts, and limitations. The contracting process is structured in two phases: Phase 1 requires vendors to submit a completed RFI Response Template via email by June 19, 2026, including corporate profile details, UEI, business size status under NAICS 518210, FedRAMP authorization status, and responses to three specific questions. Marketing materials or unsolicited content will not be considered, and no reimbursement will be provided for response costs. Respondents who fail to submit a Phase 1 response will be ineligible for Phase 2, anticipated for mid-July 2026, which will include virtual product demonstrations for selected vendors. Intellectual property rights for the base SaaS platform remain with the contractor as a commercial off-the-shelf solution, with the government receiving a non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable license to use it. Any software, algorithms, interfaces, or configurations custom-developed for this contract are designated as Special Works, with exclusive ownership retained by the government and no commercial use permitted by