Commerce Department's $34.1M ProQuest/Dialog Subscription Renewal for Patent and Trademark Office Information Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $34,108,267 ($34.1M)

Contractor: Proquest LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2019-09-28

End Date: 2025-03-27

Contract Duration: 2,007 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.0K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROQUEST ACADEMIC AND DIALOG ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22313

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $34.1 million to PROQUEST LLC for work described as: PROQUEST ACADEMIC AND DIALOG ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL Key points: 1. Value for money is assessed through benchmarking against similar information service contracts. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a competed contract, suggesting potential for price discovery. 3. Risk indicators include the long duration of the contract and reliance on a single vendor. 4. Performance context is tied to the critical need for patent and trademark research. 5. Sector positioning places this within the broader information services market for government agencies.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value is considered good, given the essential nature of the information services provided by ProQuest and Dialog to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Benchmarking against similar government subscriptions for academic and research databases suggests that the pricing is competitive, especially considering the breadth of access and the specialized content offered. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the agency. While the total value is substantial, it aligns with the typical expenditure for comprehensive research tools in this sector.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a competitive process was utilized. While specific details on the number of bidders are not provided, the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation suggests that multiple offers were solicited and considered. This level of competition, even within SAP, generally allows for price discovery and ensures the government receives a fair market price for the services. The use of SAP implies the value was below certain thresholds, making full and open competition feasible.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award, even under SAP, is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely resulted in a more favorable price compared to a sole-source acquisition. It ensures that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by leveraging market forces.

Public Impact

USPTO patent examiners and trademark attorneys benefit from access to critical research databases. The services delivered support the examination and registration of intellectual property in the United States. Geographic impact is national, supporting USPTO operations regardless of examiner location. Workforce implications include enabling USPTO staff to perform their duties effectively and efficiently.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to the specialized nature of the subscription content.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical research tools could pose a risk if service levels decline.
The long contract duration (over 20 years of history) may indicate a lack of recent competitive re-evaluation.

Positive Signals

The contract was competed, suggesting a degree of market responsiveness.
Firm fixed-price contract provides budget certainty for the agency.
The services are essential for the core mission of the USPTO.

Sector Analysis

The information services sector for government agencies is characterized by a wide range of providers offering databases, research tools, and data analytics. This contract falls within the segment of academic and specialized research subscriptions, crucial for entities like the USPTO. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar government-wide contracts for research databases often run into tens of millions of dollars annually, reflecting the high cost of maintaining comprehensive, up-to-date information resources. The market is competitive, but specialized content can lead to reliance on specific vendors.

Small Business Impact

Analysis of small business impact is limited as this appears to be a direct renewal with a large established vendor, ProQuest LLC. There is no explicit indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements within the provided data. The focus is on acquiring specialized information services, which are typically provided by larger firms with extensive content libraries. Future procurements could explore opportunities for small businesses in data aggregation or specialized research support roles.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract is primarily managed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability is ensured through the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified subscription services. Transparency is facilitated by the contract's public availability through federal procurement databases. While no specific Inspector General jurisdiction is mentioned, the Department of Commerce's IG would have oversight over agency spending and contract management.

Related Government Programs

Government-wide Information Technology Contracts
Federal Research and Development Support Services
Intellectual Property Information Systems
Academic Database Subscriptions
Knowledge Management Systems

Risk Flags

Long-term contract duration may indicate limited recent competition.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical information services.
Potential for price increases upon renewal without robust market checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $34.1 million to PROQUEST LLC. PROQUEST ACADEMIC AND DIALOG ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PROQUEST LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $34.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-09-28. End: 2025-03-27.

What is the historical spending trend for ProQuest and Dialog subscriptions at the USPTO?

The provided data indicates a long history for this contract, with a duration of 2007 years, suggesting a continuous relationship. While the exact year-over-year spending is not detailed, the current award of $34.1 million for a period ending in March 2025 implies a significant and consistent investment. Annual spending likely hovers around this figure, adjusted for inflation and potential scope changes over the years. Understanding the precise historical trend would require analyzing individual award modifications and renewals over the entire contract lifecycle to identify any significant escalations or de-escalations in cost relative to service scope.

How does the per-unit cost of this subscription compare to commercial rates or other federal agency rates?

A direct per-unit cost comparison is challenging without defining a 'unit' (e.g., per user, per database access, per search). However, the total contract value of $34.1 million for approximately 6 years of service suggests a substantial annual expenditure. Benchmarking against commercial enterprise licenses for similar comprehensive research platforms indicates that government pricing, especially when procured competitively, often aligns with or is slightly below market rates due to volume and negotiation power. Without specific usage metrics or detailed service breakdowns, a precise per-unit comparison to other federal agencies or commercial entities remains difficult, but the overall value appears reasonable for the scope of services.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the performance of ProQuest LLC under this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this specific contract. However, for information service contracts of this nature, typical KPIs would likely include metrics related to database uptime and availability, search response times, accuracy and completeness of information, user satisfaction surveys, and adherence to data security protocols. The USPTO would monitor these to ensure the ProQuest and Dialog services consistently meet the needs of patent examiners and trademark attorneys for reliable and comprehensive research.

What is the risk associated with relying on a single vendor for such critical information resources?

The primary risk associated with relying on a single vendor like ProQuest for critical information resources is vendor lock-in and potential disruption of services. If ProQuest were to experience significant service outages, increase prices substantially upon renewal, or discontinue key databases, the USPTO would face considerable challenges in transitioning to an alternative provider due to the specialized nature and integration of these research tools. This reliance necessitates strong vendor management, clear performance expectations, and contingency planning to mitigate potential impacts on USPTO operations.

Has the USPTO explored alternative information service providers or open-source research tools?

The data indicates this contract was competed under SAP, suggesting that alternative providers were considered during the procurement process. However, the long-standing nature of the relationship and the specific, comprehensive content offered by ProQuest and Dialog might make direct substitution with open-source tools or other commercial providers difficult without significant effort and potential loss of specialized data. The USPTO likely evaluates alternatives periodically, but the depth and breadth of the ProQuest/Dialog offerings may currently represent the most efficient and effective solution for their specific research needs.

What is the potential impact on USPTO operations if these subscription services were suddenly unavailable?

A sudden unavailability of ProQuest and Dialog subscription services would severely impact USPTO operations. Patent examiners rely heavily on these databases for prior art searches, which are fundamental to determining the novelty and non-obviousness of patent applications. Trademark attorneys use them for clearance searches and to assess potential conflicts. Without access, the examination process would be significantly delayed, potentially leading to backlogs, increased processing times for applications, and a diminished ability to protect intellectual property rights effectively, thereby undermining a core function of the USPTO.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Other Information Services › All Other Information Services

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Clarivate PLC

Address: 789 E EISENHOWER PKWY, ANN ARBOR, MI, 48108

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $34,108,269

Exercised Options: $34,108,267

Current Obligation: $34,108,267

Actual Outlays: $-351,482

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 03310318DL19C0013

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline