Commerce Buys $674K Articulate Software for USPTO, Sole-Source Awarded
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $67,455 ($67.5K)
Contractor: Articulate Global, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2026-04-01
End Date: 2027-03-31
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $185/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: ARTICULATE STORYLINE 360
Place of Performance
Location: SAGAPONACK, SUFFOLK County, NEW YORK, 11962
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $67,455 to ARTICULATE GLOBAL, LLC for work described as: ARTICULATE STORYLINE 360 Key points: 1. Software acquisition for USPTO operations. 2. Sole-source award to Articulate Global, LLC. 3. Potential for limited competition due to specific software needs. 4. IT sector spending, focusing on software publishers.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award of $674,555 for Articulate Storyline 360 appears to be a standard price for this type of software. Benchmarking against similar enterprise software licenses would be necessary for a definitive assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed under SAP, indicating a sole-source or limited competition procurement. This method may lead to higher prices than a fully competed contract, as market pressure is reduced.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for this software acquisition. Without full competition, there's a risk of overpayment, impacting the efficient use of public funds.
Public Impact
USPTO employees will gain access to advanced e-learning software. Potential for improved training material development and delivery. Limited public visibility into the specific use cases and benefits.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits price competition.
- Lack of transparency on justification for sole-source.
- Potential for vendor lock-in.
Positive Signals
- Acquisition of specialized software for government function.
- Clear end-users identified (USPTO).
Sector Analysis
This purchase falls within the IT sector, specifically software publishing. Government spending on software licenses is substantial, with trends showing increased reliance on cloud-based solutions and specialized authoring tools for training.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded to Articulate Global, LLC, a known software vendor. There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was made via Purchase Order, which is a common procurement instrument. Oversight would focus on ensuring the justification for the sole-source award is valid and that the price is reasonable.
Related Government Programs
- Software Publishers
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award.
- Potential for lack of price competition.
- No small business participation noted.
- Limited public information on justification.
Tags
software-publishers, department-of-commerce, ny, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $67,455 to ARTICULATE GLOBAL, LLC. ARTICULATE STORYLINE 360
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ARTICULATE GLOBAL, 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 $67,455.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract sole-source?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves demonstrating that only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. For specialized software like Articulate Storyline 360, this could be due to unique features, existing organizational infrastructure, or specific integration requirements that only this vendor can meet. A thorough review of the agency's justification documentation is needed.
What is the risk associated with a sole-source software purchase?
The primary risk of a sole-source software purchase is the potential for inflated pricing due to the lack of competitive bidding. Additionally, it can lead to vendor lock-in, making it difficult and costly to switch to alternative solutions in the future. There's also a risk that the agency may not be receiving the best value or the most innovative solution available on the market.
How does this software purchase contribute to the USPTO's mission effectiveness?
Articulate Storyline 360 is a powerful e-learning authoring tool used to create interactive training modules and educational content. For the USPTO, this software likely supports the development of internal training for employees, compliance programs, or potentially public-facing educational materials related to patents and trademarks. Its effectiveness hinges on the quality and relevance of the content created.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Solicitation ID: 1333BJ26Q00280020
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 717 DANIELS LN STE 419, SAGAPONACK, NY, 11962
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $67,455
Exercised Options: $67,455
Current Obligation: $67,455
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-01
Current End Date: 2027-03-31
Potential End Date: 2027-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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