Trademark ADP System: Patent Office Should Analyze Alternatives Before Contract Award

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the need and justification for the Department of Commerce's Patent and Trademark Office's (PTO) procurement of replacement hardware and software for its automated trademark system.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Commerce	The Secretary of Commerce should require the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to properly analyze the PTO alternatives and their related costs to determine the best solution for meeting the PTO computer capacity problems before awarding a contract.	Closed – Implemented PTO performed the analysis of alternatives and their related costs in compliance with regulations and this recommendation. The contract was awarded after completion of this formal analysis of alternatives by PTO and review by Commerce's Office of Inspector General.
Department of Commerce	The Secretary of Commerce should require the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to establish a computer capacity planning and performance management program to better ensure efficient and effective use of PTO automatic data processing resources and to help avoid future performance problems such as those experienced with the Burroughs-7700 computer system.	Closed – Implemented Staffing activities for a configuration and capacity management program are underway. The Mitre Corporation is installing a performance and capacity management system for PTO.

Full Report

Full Report (20 pages)

Media Inquiries

Sarah Kaczmarek

Managing Director

Office of Public Affairs

media@gao.gov

Public Inquiries

Topics

Information Technology

Computer equipment contractsComputer equipment managementInformation resources managementInformation systemsSystems managementIT acquisitionsComputer capacityProcurementTrademarksComputers