GeneSeq Database Service Sole Source Notice

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), under the Department of Commerce, plans to award a sole source contract to Thomson Reuters (Scientific) for exclusive access to its gene sequence database. This contract, anticipated to be awarded on January 1, 2010, is valued at $252,528 for a one-year period. The sole source justification is based on the agency’s determination that the required supplies or services are available from only one responsible source, and no alternative offerings meet the agency’s specific needs. This exemption is supported by the Patent and Trademark Acquisition Guidelines, which exclude the USPTO from the Competition in Contracting Act requirements. The contract relates to NAICS code 511120 and will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia. The USPTO’s Contract Specialist, Heather M. Bakos, is the point of contact for this acquisition. The sole source nature underscores the unique value of Thomson Reuters’ gene sequence database and its critical role in fulfilling the USPTO’s operational requirements for genetic sequence data access over the contract term.