USPTO Seeks Video Production, Motion Graphics & Content Strategies Services

REVISION 1 (1/5/2023): All the questions received to this notice by the 1/3 deadline have been answered in the attached titled QUESTIONS-ANSWERS_Video Production Sources Sought_final (in both Excel & PDF) This PTAG 6.1.1 Sources Sought Notice is strictly for market research ONLY. It is for informational and planning purposes and shall NOT be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government at this time.PTAGThe Government intends utilizing the Alternative Competition Method in accordance with the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidelines (PTAG) and the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(4)(A). This Sources sought notice is intended as preliminary market information gathering which the USPTO will use to determine which Small Business vendor(s) is/are the most likely to successfully meet the agency’s needs and are thereby eligible to participate in an alternative competition. As a result of this market research, the

solicitation will only be issued to those qualified small business vendor(s) that are deemed most likely to successfully meet the agency’s requirement as stated below.Requirement:Seeking Small Business sources located within 75 miles of Alexandria, VA 22314 for Five-year FAR 13 Open Market Blanket Purchase Agreement(s) BPA(s) (single or multiple) for Video Production, Motion Graphics and Content Strategies Services at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to initially include The Office of the Chief Communications Officer (OCCO) and the Office of Human Resources (OHR) with the flexibility to add additional Office’s as applicable to the mission of USPTO. BackgroundThe USPTO is a federal agency under Department of Commerce. Its mission is to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts” by protecting the Intellectual Property of independent inventors and entrepreneurs -- the makers—whose innovations help to fuel the American economy. If innovation is the fuel, then USPTO is the engine.Through the issuance of patents, the USPTO encourages technological advancement by providing incentives to invent, invest in, and disclose new technology globally. Through the registration of trademarks, the agency assists businesses in protecting their investments, promoting goods and services, and safeguarding consumers against confusion and deception in the marketplace. By disseminating both patent and trademark information, the USPTO promotes an understanding of intellectual property protection and facilitates the development and sharing of new technologies worldwide.As America’s Innovation Agency, the USPTO continually seeks to improve and broaden engagement and accessibility across the intellectual property ecosystem by enhancing strategic communications with existing communities, while also attracting and connecting with new ones. By creating impactful video content that is consistent with best practices in communicating complex concepts in easily understandable and engaging way - using compelling, narrative storytelling - the USPTO has the opportunity to reach, include and positively impact broader segments of society and correctly target audiences.Now more than ever in the country’s protection of American ingenuity for nearly two centuries, new measures are needed to build awareness of and access to:IP education programs and outreach initiatives related to the fundamentals of intellectual property protection, participation and impact on the American economy;Targeted initiatives to broaden access through diversity, equity, inclusion strategies to reach inventors and entrepreneurs in underrepresented populations; andRecruitment and hiring efforts that prepare, attract, retain and develop a highly qualified and diverse workforce of professionals with specialized talent.OCCO oversees internal and external communications on behalf of the Agency. Part of its many responsibilities is to communicate with the public and work to achieve agency strategic goals and objectives. OHR seeks to use video driven storytelling content to develop and launch custom, innovative strategies to promote high-profile positions and attract demographic-targeted, high-demand candidate segments (i.e. STEM women, Veterans and minorities).OCCO and OHR share common goals in strategic communication and are working to ensure that our outreach efforts are aligned.PurposeThe purpose of the Agency Video Production services is to further the mission of the USPTO by leveraging video storytelling to inform the public about what we do and why it is so important to American innovation. The existing content that the agency has is outdated and not up to the quality that we require.The partnering with one or more innovative and forward-focused video production companies will enable the USPTO to realize it’s potential to achieve the depth of engagement and call-to-action through state-of-the-art video production on par with the kind of content that leads the industry (i.e. enhanced graphics and imagery, narrative storytelling, and concise, resonant messaging). The agency does not currently have the in-house capacity nor resources to fully accomplish this vision.By leveraging external video production, we can meet stated goals within allotted budgets, timelines and scope that would make an immediate impact on target audiences.ScopeThe USPTO seeks to be able to award to one or more skilled video production contractor(s) to facilitate the production of mission-critical videos from concept to final output including (initially) but not limited to:Two (2) inspirational videos each year focused on why innovation is of such critical importance to culture, society, and the economy;Two (2) informational videos each year focused on raising awareness to the mission and key role of the USPTO in fostering innovation; andTwo (2) resonant videos each year that strike a visceral reaction to conveying the journey of an employee in order to attract, engage and convert top talent into applicants.The number of videos each year may vary. Each video may range in length from 15 seconds, not to exceed -5 minutes in length unless agreed upon by all parties during phase one scope as the project objectives and subject matter may dictate the ultimate length.Note: If more than one contractor is awarded a BPA, making this effort anchored by a multi-award Blanket Purchase Agreement, the creative elements required for each project may be so disparate, it requires the USPTO, reserve discretion to either compete each project or sole source it at the task order level.Period of PerformanceFive years. A base year + four (4) one-year options.Place of PerformanceThe Agency anticipates that the large majority of the work will take place in the immediate area of the USPTO main campus located, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.Note: Because of this, each project will necessitate a face-to-face collaborative effort between the contractor and USPTO in the creation of the video content, the Agency is limiting the pool to those video production companies that reside within 75 Miles of Alexandria, Virginia 22314.HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICENote: The Government will not utilize formal evaluation criteria for market research associated with PTAG 6.1.1. The Government will review these sources sought responses to help determine which (if any) small business vendors are most likely to successfully meet the agency’s requirements for Video Production ServicesDEADLINE:Responses are due no later than January 13, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST and are to be submitted via email to Kendall.jones1@uspto.gov and Christopher.ward@uspto.govNO PHONE CALLS PLEASEQUESTIONSQuestions regarding this sources sought notice are due no later than January 3, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST and are to be submitted via email to Kendall.jones1@uspto.gov and Christopher.ward@uspto.govNO PHONE CALLS PLEASESmall Business ResponsesResponses should include:a capability statement (including other supporting info showing the ability to meet this requirement as requested below),the name of your firm,The Small Business Socio-Economic sub-category of your firm (if applicable)complete address, email and phone of the primary contact.Your SAM.gov UEI number (if available). Note: you must be registered in the SAM.gov database prior to any award of a contract or agreement.Video Production Capabilities:In response to this source sought notice, please provide enough detail to show:a mastery of video production from rough concept to highly-professional finished product that balances the nuances of exceptional storytelling and technical mastery.A proven track record that is evident in their existing body of work that is representative of the highest quality in the industry.Describe a well-organized and communicated discovery and pre-production process from concept to finished product.Note: The size of attachments sent to USPTO via email is severely limited (no more than 20mb) so for anything that cannot be emailed, please feel free to provide us with links to your website or links to any other content you want the USPTO to review as part of your response to this source sought notice.(Note: all private links provided will be considered proprietary and the link nor its contents will be shared with anyone outside those USPTO employees required to review this market research and develop our procurement strategy) Key PersonnelIn your response to this source sought, please identify any Key Personnel that would likely be involved in fulfilling the requirements, and include any relevant background information on those individuals.All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.This PTAG 6.1.1 Sources Sought Notice is strictly for market research ONLY. It is for informational and planning purposes and shall NOT be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government at this time.###