Department of the Interior awards $2.3M task order for tribal court legal services to TIGER LAW, PLLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,324,449 ($2.3M)

Contractor: Tiger LAW, PLLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2022-02-01

End Date: 2027-01-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TRIBAL COURT ASSESSMENT TASK ORDER EASTERN AND MIDWEST REGIONS

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20240

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $2.3 million to TIGER LAW, PLLC for work described as: TRIBAL COURT ASSESSMENT TASK ORDER EASTERN AND MIDWEST REGIONS Key points: 1. The contract value represents a modest investment within the broader legal services sector. 2. Competition was conducted under a 'full and open' framework, suggesting a broad outreach for bidders. 3. The fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for the government. 4. The duration of the task order extends over five years, indicating a need for sustained support. 5. The specific legal services required are categorized under 'All Other Legal Services'. 6. The awardee, TIGER LAW, PLLC, is a single entity providing these specialized services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific task order is challenging without more granular data on the scope of legal services required. However, the total award of $2.3 million over five years, averaging approximately $465,000 annually, appears reasonable for specialized legal support. Comparisons to similar task orders for tribal court services would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The firm-fixed-price structure helps control costs, but the ultimate value depends on the effectiveness and efficiency of the legal services rendered.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This task order was awarded under a 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' solicitation. This indicates that while the initial pool of potential contractors might have been narrowed, the final competition was open to all eligible sources. The fact that it was competed suggests that multiple firms likely had the opportunity to bid, which generally promotes competitive pricing. The number of bids received would further clarify the level of competition and its impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition, even after initial exclusions, is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of receiving competitive bids and potentially lower prices compared to sole-source or limited competitions.

Public Impact

Tribal courts in the Eastern and Midwest regions will benefit from enhanced legal support services. The contract aims to ensure the effective functioning of judicial processes within these tribal communities. Services delivered will likely include legal research, advice, and potentially representation related to tribal law. The geographic impact is focused on tribal lands within the Eastern and Midwest regions of the United States. The contract supports the administration of justice and legal frameworks for Native American tribes.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited contractor pool if 'exclusion of sources' significantly narrowed initial outreach.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical legal services could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
The broad 'All Other Legal Services' category might obscure specific performance metrics.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition, even with exclusions, suggests an effort to maximize bidder participation.
The five-year duration indicates a stable, long-term need for these services, allowing for relationship building and efficiency gains.

Sector Analysis

The legal services sector is diverse, encompassing a wide range of specialized areas. This contract falls under the 'All Other Legal Services' NAICS code (541199), which is a broad category. Federal spending on legal services supports various government functions, from litigation and contract review to regulatory compliance and advisory roles. Benchmarking this specific task order against broader legal service contracts is difficult due to its specialized nature and focus on tribal court support. However, the overall federal expenditure on legal services is substantial, reflecting the government's reliance on external expertise.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses, nor is there information about subcontracting plans. The awardee, TIGER LAW, PLLC, is a single entity, and its size classification is not provided. Further analysis would be needed to determine the impact on the small business ecosystem and whether subcontracting opportunities were mandated or encouraged.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order would primarily fall under the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education within the Department of the Interior. The contracting officer and program managers are responsible for monitoring performance against the contract's terms and conditions. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Bureau of Indian Affairs Legal Services
Bureau of Indian Education Legal Support
Department of Justice Tribal Justice Support
Federal Indian Law Services
Tribal Court Administration Support

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to 'exclusion of sources'.
Broad 'All Other Legal Services' category may lack specific performance metrics.
Dependence on a single awardee for critical services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $2.3 million to TIGER LAW, PLLC. TRIBAL COURT ASSESSMENT TASK ORDER EASTERN AND MIDWEST REGIONS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TIGER LAW, PLLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-02-01. End: 2027-01-31.

What is the specific scope of work for TIGER LAW, PLLC under this task order, and how does it align with the needs of the Eastern and Midwest tribal courts?

The task order falls under the broad category of 'All Other Legal Services' (NAICS 541199). While the specific statement of work (SOW) is not detailed in the provided data, it is intended to support the legal needs of tribal courts in the Eastern and Midwest regions, managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education. This likely encompasses a range of activities such as providing legal advice on tribal law matters, assisting with the development or review of tribal ordinances, supporting judicial processes, and potentially offering research or analytical services related to federal Indian law and its intersection with tribal sovereignty. The alignment with specific tribal court needs would be assessed through ongoing performance monitoring and feedback from the serviced tribal jurisdictions.

How does the $2.3 million award compare to historical federal spending on similar legal services for tribal courts?

Directly comparing this $2.3 million task order to historical federal spending on similar tribal court legal services requires access to detailed historical contract data. The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has consistently funded legal support for tribal governments and courts. However, the specific amount and duration of this task order ($2.3M over 5 years) need to be contextualized against the number of tribal courts served, the complexity of legal issues, and the specific services procured in previous years. Without granular data on past procurements for comparable services (e.g., by region, by type of legal support), a precise historical benchmark is difficult. However, the award appears to be a significant, multi-year commitment for specialized legal support.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate TIGER LAW, PLLC's performance under this contract?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this task order are not explicitly detailed in the provided summary data. However, typical KPIs for legal services contracts often include metrics related to responsiveness (e.g., turnaround time for legal opinions or advice), quality of legal work (e.g., accuracy, thoroughness, adherence to legal standards), client satisfaction (feedback from tribal court officials), and adherence to budget and schedule. For a contract supporting tribal courts, KPIs might also focus on the effectiveness of legal support in facilitating judicial processes, contributing to the development of tribal law, and ensuring compliance with relevant federal and tribal regulations. Performance would likely be monitored through regular progress reports and formal reviews.

What is the track record of TIGER LAW, PLLC in providing legal services to federal agencies or tribal governments?

Information regarding the specific track record of TIGER LAW, PLLC in providing legal services to federal agencies or tribal governments is not included in the provided data. To assess their track record, one would typically review past performance evaluations on federal contracts (available through systems like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), examine their portfolio of work, and potentially seek references from previous clients, particularly those in the tribal legal or governmental sector. A firm's experience with federal Indian law, tribal court systems, and the specific regions covered by this task order would be critical factors in evaluating their suitability and past performance.

Given the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' method, what does this imply about the potential risks associated with contractor selection and pricing?

The 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' method suggests that while the initial solicitation may have excluded certain sources based on predefined criteria (e.g., specific capabilities, past performance, or geographic presence), the subsequent competition was open to all eligible offerors. This approach aims to balance the need for specialized capabilities with the benefits of broad competition. It implies a moderate level of risk regarding contractor selection; the exclusion criteria must be well-justified to avoid unduly limiting competition. For pricing, this method generally promotes competitive discovery, as multiple bidders are encouraged to participate. However, the risk remains that if the excluded sources represented a significant portion of the market or if the remaining pool is still limited, prices might not be as low as in a truly unrestricted full and open competition.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 140A1622Q0014

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2133 E 69TH ST STE A, TULSA, OK, 74136

Business Categories: American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,355,049

Exercised Options: $2,324,449

Current Obligation: $2,324,449

Actual Outlays: $1,833,605

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140A1621D0024

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline