Solicitation: Training and Instructional Support Services

The Department of Commerce, through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), is soliciting Training and Instructional Support Services under solicitation number ACQ-25-0170-PSN, with an 8(a) small business competitive set-aside and NAICS code 611430 (Professional and Management Development Training). The contract is designed to provide comprehensive contractor support for the analysis, design, development, implementation, instruction, and evaluation of IT training services primarily for the Automation Training Services (ATS) division and the eContent and eLearning Development Services within the Digital Media Services (DMS) division at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The scope of work includes both on-site and telework performance modalities while adhering to accessibility (Section 508) requirements and USPTO standards. The contract period covers multiple years, with delivery locations including various regional USPTO offices. Services also encompass multimedia production and virtual event support, reflecting the evolving training needs within USPTO's Office of Information Technology for Patents (OITP). The solicitation follows a time-and-materials pricing structure with firm-fixed-price task areas and includes detailed requirements for contractor staffing, labor categories, and historic training workload based on prior years' activities, ensuring alignment with agency instructional needs. Key contract management features include a robust Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) to monitor contractor performance against established metrics, detailed deliverable and reporting requirements covering kick-off, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual training updates, and use of government-furnished equipment and software to support contractor tasks. Proposal submission is structured in two phases requiring recorded oral presentations and written volumes addressing quality control, staffing, transition plans, and past performance. Compliance with a wide range of FAR clauses governing ethics, labor standards, subcontracting, security, and reporting is mandated, with invoicing handled through the USPTO Vendor Portal using specific templates. The USPTO has established clear communication channels with points of contact for contracting officers and specialists. The contract aims to enhance the quality, accessibility, and delivery efficiency of IT-related training to support USPTO patent examiners and staff, driving agency digital transformation and operational excellence.