SAM #ACQ-27-0160

USPTO Sole Source Electronic Gift Card Services to Tango Card, Inc.

This notice announces the USPTO's intent to award a sole source contract to Tango Card, Inc. for electronic gift card services supporting the Employee On-The-Spot Award Program (EOTSAP). - Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of Human Resources (OCAO/OHR) - Sole source procurement to Tango Card, Inc. for electronic/virtual gift card services - Purpose: Employee On-The-Spot Award Program (EOTSAP) - Tango Card provides a platform for employees to select gift cards from multiple merchants - Features include digital delivery, real-time activation, and automated audit trail generation - Integration with USPTO's existing administrative portal for tracking and management - Tango Card is the only identified vendor with the required integrated tracking, administrative, and fraud mitigation capabilities - Procurement is conducted under USPTO's unique authority using the Alternative Competition Method (PTAG) - No other vendors or OEMs identified as capable of meeting all requirements - Commercial opportunity is limited to Tango Card, Inc. due to sole source justification

Description

PTAG Intent to Sole Source – Tango “On-the-Spot” Award Cards

(ACQ-27-0160)

PTAG Part 6.1.1 Synopsis – Intent to Sole Source

The USPTO is conducting this procurement using its unique procurement authority under the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act 35 U.S.C. § 2(b)(4)(A) and the implementing guidelines of the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidelines (PTAG). https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-24316. Specifically, the USPTO is using the Alternative Competition Method.  When using its unique procurement authority, the USPTO is exempted from a large number of procurement statutes and various FAR parts. 

As an integral part of “The Employee On-The-Spot Award” program (EOTSAP), The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), /Office of Human Resources (OCAO/OHR), intends to award on a sole source basis a FAR 12 Purchase Order to TANGO CARD, INC. of 4700 42ND AVE SW STE 430A Seattle, WA 981164589. UEI: D872VAJFUCN5. to provide electronic/virtual gift cards and allow the individual employee to select the gift card of their choice from a wide variety of options (merchants), allow for distribution of the gift cards virtually/electronically and allow Human Capital program administrators the ability to administer the overall purchase and distribution of the gift cards on-line.

EOTSAP is an employee recognition program where the employee is awarded a gift card from the available selection on hand, for the specified award dollar amount to recognize the specified employee for day-to-day efforts that exceed their normal performance and is not connected to their annual performance appraisal.

Tango Card, Inc. is the only vendor identified with the capability to permit employee selection of the specific gift card from a variety of businesses and electronically transmit that selected gift card to the employee via email

Tango Card Inc. previously provided gift cards in support of EOTSAP. Through that effort, a centralized administrative portal was established to track all gift card activity, including issuance dates, access dates, and balance changes. Procuring additional cards through Tango Card will allow the new purchases to be incorporated into the existing portal without the need incur associated setup costs.

Using the current active portal also preserves continuity of data across which is critical for consistent tracking, reporting, and oversight. The portal’s existing administrative capabilities, including real-time activation, immediate digital delivery, and automated audit trail generation, are necessary to support strict federal accounting requirements for participant incentives.

Market research indicates that alternative vendors do not offer the same integrated tracking functionality needed to mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse without significant manual workarounds. Transitioning to another vendor would require duplicative administrative setup, creation of redundant tracking systems, and additional transition-related costs.

In addition, the contractor’s proprietary portal has already been reviewed and authorized for use. As a result, Tango Card is uniquely positioned to fulfill this requirement efficiently and without disruption to ongoing operations.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals, nor will a solicitation be issued to the public.  Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to the following point of contact (POC) and alternate point of contact no later than 9:00 AM ET on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

POC: Kendall Jones at Kendall.jones1@uspto.gov Alternate POC: Christopher Ward at  Christopher.ward@uspto.gov NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

PTAG SYNOPSIS STATEMENT

The subject requirement is being procured using 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)

DISCLAIMER

All information received in response to this Special Notice that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this special notice.

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