Commerce awards $1.9M for Expert Witness Services to Expert Holdings, LLC via sole-source purchase order
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $192,500 ($192.5K)
Contractor: Expert Holdings, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2026-06-13
End Date: 2027-06-12
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $529/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: Other
Official Description: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR County, TEXAS, 78216
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $192,500 to EXPERT HOLDINGS, LLC for work described as: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract value is $1.925 million for one year. 2. The award was made on a sole-source basis, raising questions about competition. 3. The service category is 'All Other Legal Services', with a specific NAICS code of 541199. 4. The contract duration is one year, with a potential for extension.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $1.925 million for one year of expert witness services appears high without a competitive benchmark. Pricing assessment is difficult due to the sole-source nature and lack of comparable contract data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as competition is absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition on this $1.925 million contract may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for expert witness services.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying for legal support services due to the absence of competitive bidding. The USPTO's reliance on a single provider for critical expert witness services could pose a risk if the provider fails to perform. Transparency in government contracting is reduced when sole-source awards are utilized without clear justification.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- High contract value for a single year
Positive Signals
- Specific service requirement met
- Contract awarded to a single entity
Sector Analysis
The legal services sector, particularly specialized areas like expert witness testimony, can command high fees. Benchmarking is challenging without competitive data, but $1.9M for one year suggests a significant need or high hourly rates.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was considered or overlooked.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure the government received fair value and that competition was appropriately waived.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Legal Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks transparency.
- Potential for inflated pricing due to no competition.
- Risk of vendor lock-in.
- Limited opportunity for small business participation.
- High contract value for a single year.
Tags
all-other-legal-services, department-of-commerce, tx, purchase-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $192,500 to EXPERT HOLDINGS, LLC. EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EXPERT HOLDINGS, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $192,500.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-06-13. End: 2027-06-12.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies explored?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A sole-source award typically requires a documented justification, such as the unique capability of the vendor or an urgent need. Without this justification, it's unclear why a competitive process was bypassed, potentially impacting value for money.
How does the $1.925 million contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar expert witness services, especially given the lack of competition?
Benchmarking is difficult due to the sole-source nature. However, $1.925 million for one year of expert witness services is substantial. Without competitive bids, it's hard to ascertain if this price reflects fair market value or if taxpayers are incurring a premium due to the lack of competition.
What is the potential impact on the USPTO's operations if Expert Holdings, LLC is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations?
Given this is a sole-source award for critical expert witness services, a failure to perform by Expert Holdings, LLC could significantly disrupt USPTO operations. The lack of competition means there isn't an immediate alternative provider readily available, potentially leading to delays in patent and trademark processes.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Legal Services › All Other Legal Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 1333BJ26Q00120009
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 10101 REUNION PL STE 100, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78216
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $962,500
Exercised Options: $192,500
Current Obligation: $192,500
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-06-13
Current End Date: 2027-06-12
Potential End Date: 2031-06-12 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-13
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