Are you a small business owner interested in working with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)? We depend on contractors and vendors to carry out our mission at the highest level. We are committed to integrating small businesses into our operations and providing them with opportunities to contribute to the future of domestic and global intellectual property protection.
At the USPTO, we want to ensure maximum practicable small business opportunities for both prime contractors and subcontractors. This page is intended to provide small businesses with helpful resources and insights into the USPTO's acquisition process by advocating strategies in requirements, highlighting important policies, and with direct industry outreach.
| FY25 USPTO Small Business Prime Goals | |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 37.8% |
| Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) | 5% |
| Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) | 5% |
| Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) | 3% |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) | 5% |
| FY25 USPTO Small Business Subcontract Goals | |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 57.76% |
| Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) | 5% |
| Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) | 5% |
| Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) | 3% |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) | 5% |
10 Steps for doing business with the USPTO
What you should know to make doing business with the USPTO easier
- Our agency mission—knowing the key functions and driving principles of the USPTO will help you determine whether or not we can utilize your products or services.
- Understand what we procure. Prior to marketing your products or services, research historical procurement data. You can search this publicly available information on websites such as USA Spending and the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation.
- Do not market to us if we cannot utilize your products or services. For example, a company that manufactures uniforms, medicines, shoes, or missiles should not waste resources marketing to the USPTO, as we do not purchase these items.
Identify your product or service
- Know the Federal Supply Codes and Product Service Codes for your products or services
- Know the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes for your products or services
- Utilize the Small Business Administration (SBA) Table of Small Business Size Standards to determine your business size for that particular NAICS Code.
Register your business
- Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) - SAM.gov
- Obtain a Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (ID) from SAM.gov
- Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online – TAX ID
Identify our target market within USPTO
- Review the Contract Opportunities on the SAM.gov website
- Review the USPTO Procurement Forecast FY24-FY26
- Contact the Small Business Specialist and Industry Liaison for inquiries on a particular requirement
Write a good capability statement
You can have your company added to the USPTO's small business core capabilities list by emailing an attached copy of the Small Business Core Capabilities Input Form to the USPTO’s Small Business Specialist and Industry Liaison. The following information is important to include in your company’s capability statement:
- Name and company branding and slogan (if any)
- Contact information
- Summary description of the company
- Core capabilities
- Description of major services offered
- Federal small business certifications
- Contract vehicles in which you participate (federal and state)
- State certifications
- Local, quasi, and non-government agencies you have served (If you do not have any federal contracts)
- Major clients (list the most important), commercial and government
- NAICS codes, CAGE codes, and Unique Entity Identifier (ID)
- Partners and authorized resellers.
Additional guidance for capabilities statements:
- Make the capability statement visually appealing
- 1 page (front and back)
- Present information concisely
- Use bullets, simple tables, and highlighted sections for readability
- Have someone from outside your company read your statement and provide feedback before sharing with customers or potential customers
- Be sure to check spelling and grammar.
Become familiar with contracting regulations and procedures
Investigate Federal Supply Schedule contracts
- Receive information on how to obtain a Federal Supply Schedule contract
Seek additional assistance as needed
- Request training and counseling on marketing, financial, and contracting issues at minimal or no cost from Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
- Consult with the SBA’s Procurement Center Representatives
- Consult with the SBA’s Business Development Centers
- Get free and confidential mentoring by former CEOs through Service Corps of Retired Executives, (SCORE)
Pursue subcontracting opportunities
- Search the SBA’s Subcontracting Network (SUB-Net), a database where prime contractors post “solicitations” or “notice of sources sought” for small businesses.
Register for one-on-one counseling sessions
- Have a general working knowledge of USPTO’s requirements
- Register for a one-on-one counseling session with the USPTO's Small Business Specialist and Industry Liaison
- Be ready to tell us about your company
- Be able to provide examples of relevant past performance and capabilities at the prime and subcontract level
- Identify your company’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes
- Provide business cards
- Provide a one-page capability statement (print and electronic copies).
Market your firm well
After you have identified your customers, researched their requirements and familiarized yourself with USPTO’s procurement regulations and strategies. It is time to market your product or service. If the match is a good one, you can provide them with a cost-effective, quality solution to their requirements.
Statistics and forecasts
*As a result of Executive Order 14222 Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative, the requirements on this forecast may change.
| FY24: Top 10 NAICS by Total Obligations | ||
|---|---|---|
| NAICS Code | NAICS Description | Sum of Dollars Obligated |
| 541512 | COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES | $296,847,709.19 |
| 511199 | ALL OTHER PUBLISHERS | $192,909,896.86 |
| 541519 | OTHER COMPUTER RELATED SERVICES | $103,231,046.73 |
| 541990 | ALL OTHER PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND TECHNICAL SERVICES | $48,992,406.61 |
| 541511 | CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES | $43,860,897.10 |
| 519190 | ALL OTHER INFORMATION SERVICES | $39,405,528.96 |
| 541513 | COMPUTER FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES | $32,556,166.87 |
| 541611 | ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES) | $31,253,832.31 |
| 518210 | COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS, DATA PROCESSING, WEB HOSTING, AND RELATED SERVICES | $22,971,140.28 |
| 443120 | COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE STORES | $22,673,553.59 |
| Total: | $834,702,178.50 | |
| FY 24: Top 10 Products Service Codes (PSC) by Total Obligations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product Service Code Description | Product or Service Code | Sum of Dollars Obligated |
| PHOTO/MAP/PRINT/PUBLICATION- OTHER | T099 | $191,556,276.69 |
| SUPPORT- PROFESSIONAL: OTHER | R499 | $184,510,439.37 |
| IT AND TELECOM - BUSINESS APPLICATION/APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES | DA01 | $101,241,880.58 |
| IT AND TELECOM - APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE (PERPETUAL LICENSE SOFTWARE) | 7A20 | $49,802,458.95 |
| IT AND TELECOM - BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE (PERPETUAL LICENSE SOFTWARE) | 7A21 | $43,103,385.29 |
| IT AND TELECOM - BUSINESS APPLICATION/APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE | DA10 | $33,756,414.14 |
| IT AND TELECOM - STORAGE AS A SERVICE | DK10 | $32,859,730.81 |
| IT AND TELECOM - PLATFORM SUPPORT SERVICES: DATABASE, MAINFRAME, MIDDLEWARE | DH01 | $28,988,740.56 |
| SUPPORT- ADMINISTRATIVE: LIBRARY | R605 | $22,640,596.74 |
| IT AND TELECOM - SERVICE DELIVERY SUPPORT SERVICES | DD01 | $22,084,120.34 |
| Total: | $710,544,043.47 | |
Resources for small businesses
- SAM.gov Contract Opportunities
- Using FPDS.gov to research business opportunities with USPTO
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Program (VA PTAP)
- Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
- System for Award Management (SAM)
- General Services Administration
- Women’s Business Centers
- Small Business Development Centers
- National Women’s Business Council (NWBC)
- Small Business & Entrepreneur Council
- Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
- Veterans Affairs Webpage for VOSBs and SDVOSBs
Professional consultation services for small businesses
- SBA SubNet - A database where prime contractors post “solicitations” or “notice of sources sought” for small businesses.
- GSA Schedules - This website offers contractors, including small businesses, information on how to obtain Federal Supply Schedule contracts, including GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts.
- Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) - Small businesses can request training and counseling on marketing, financial, and contracting issues at minimal or no cost from Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs).
- SBA’s Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs) - Small businesses can consult with the SBA’s Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs).
- SBA's Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) - Small businesses can consult with the SBA’s Business Development Centers.
- Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) - Small businesses can receive free and confidential mentoring by former CEOs through Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).
Small business capabilities form
- Small Business Capabilities Input Form - Please email and attach your completed Small Business Capabilities Input Form to the Small Business Specialist and Industry Liaison.
Contact us
To request an onsite visit or for questions on business opportunities or to learn about upcoming outreach events, please email our Small Business Specialist and Industry Liaison.