Fraud Identification, Unsupervised AI, and Preventing Impersonations

The USPTO is conducting market research through a Request for Information (RFI) under solicitation number 135-0034 to identify vendors capable of delivering AI-driven solutions focused on fraud identification, unsupervised anomaly detection, and impersonation prevention within its trademark examination system. The RFI, issued on April 29, 2026, with a response deadline of May 6, 2026, seeks innovative technical approaches that align with the agency’s goals of reducing first-action pendency to 2.5–5 months and disposal pendency to approximately 11 months while maintaining quality compliance rates above 95.5% for first actions and 97% for final actions. Respondents must demonstrate the ability to develop FedRAMP-ready, NIST AI RMF-compliant systems that integrate with existing USPTO infrastructure, support annual processing volumes of 700,000 new applications and 300,000 post-registration filings, and ensure real-time validation of attorney credentials through integration with all state bar associations. Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format via email to designated USPTO contacts and are structured into four mandatory tables: Corporate Overview (3 pages), Prior and Current Experience (3 pages per example), Corporate Capabilities and Approaches (8 pages), and Cost (2 pages), with a minimum 10-point font requirement. Eligible respondents must hold a valid Unique Entity Identifier, certify their small business status under NAICS 519290 if applicable, and provide evidence of FedRAMP certification to be considered — a failure to do so renders responses ineligible. Vendor submissions must also include three references where the firm served as prime contractor within the past five years, a current Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), and attest to having an adequate cost accounting and purchasing system. Demonstrations must occur in a government-provided sandbox environment using only publicly available data, with no access to internal USPTO systems permitted. While the acquisition is currently in the market research phase and no formal contract type, value, or award basis has been determined, the USPTO has indicated a preference for non-price-based selection considering innovation, technical capability, and staged competition under 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(4)(A), suggesting a potential trade-off approach in future solicitations. All performance is expected to occur at the USPTO’s headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and while no contract clauses