The Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) intends to award a sole source contract to First Federal Corporation, 75 West Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg, MD 22313-4021. The USPTO has a continuing requirement for the pickup, storage and scheduled return of back-up magnetic media from the USPTO Data Center. First Federal Corporation is currently the incumbent of this contract and is a woman-owned small business that provides off-site data storage services utilizing the most sophisticated facilities in the region. First Federal offers and uses an automated bar-code controlled accounting system for USPTO back-up tapes that interfaces with USPTO bar-coded tape back-up systems. Two major requirements of this service are that the contractor must be located outside a 25 mile radius from the Patent and Trademark Facilities, which is located in Old Town Alexandria and must comply with the ?Certification of Compliance of Vault With Specified Technical Requirements?.This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals; nor will a solicitation be issued. This contract will consist of one (1) base year and two (2) option years. The USPTO has determined that in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 253(c ) (1), ?Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.? It is noted that the USPTO is exempt from the requirement to meet the test of ?full and open competition? as defined in FAR Part 6 but does endeavor to acquire products and services to the maximum extent possible in all acquisitions on a competitive basis. An uninterrupted continuation of the critical data pick-up and storage support services currently being performed by First Federal Corporation is required to avoid seriously undermining and delaying the attainment of critical program objectives described in the USPTO?s Strategic Plan. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Marva Brown or
[email protected] or the technical point of contact Pat Patterson or
[email protected]. Telephone questions or inquires will not be honored.