USPTO: ~$44M to improve patent search with AI — a contract with Accenture Federal (USAspending)
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO / Department of Commerce) awarded a ~$44 million ($44,076,744) contract to Accenture Federal Services LLC to improve patent search with artificial intelligence — a leading example of AI use outside defense (making patent examination more efficient).
Contract key facts
- RecipientACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC
- Contract value$44,076,745 (≈$44.1M)
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Commerce
- Awarding sub-agencyU.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Award typeDELIVERY ORDER
- Period of performance2019-10-31 〜 2023-04-30
- Contract ID (PIID)1333BJ20F00280017
Contract scope (original)
IMPROVE PATENT SEARCH WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CONTRACTOR SUPPORT FOR RFI PROTOTYPE POP&FPOP: 6 MONTHS FROM DOA. EPMS ID 102001
Key points
- USPTO (Department of Commerce) contracted to improve patent search with AI
- Recipient Accenture Federal Services LLC (Accenture's federal subsidiary)
- ~$44M ($44,076,744), delivery order, October 2019–April 2023
- A leading example of practical AI use outside defense (more efficient patent examination)
This contract is a good example of AI being put to practical use at non-defense federal agencies. In patent examination, "patent search" — finding prior art among vast literature — is a core task, and applying AI is expected to improve examination efficiency and quality. The USPTO has continuously worked on advancing AI-assisted patent search, and this is part of that effort.
Why it matters
A concrete example of AI use advancing at non-defense agencies (more efficient patent examination). For vendors in legal tech, patents, and document-search AI, a useful read on U.S. government demand areas.
FAQ
What is patent search?
What is Accenture Federal Services?
Sources (primary)
This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.
- USAspending (award details)
- Contract ID (PIID)：1333BJ20F00280017