DOJ's DEA awards $4.55M for forfeiture support services to Forfeiture Support Associates LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,550,167 ($4.6M)

Contractor: Forfeiture Support Associates LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TITLE: FSA FEDERAL FY 2026 - NORTH CENTRAL REGION DEA02 REQUESTOR: CHRISTINA W FULTZ AFT#: AFT25-OM-005072 POP DATES: 10/01/2025 TO 09/30/2026 FUND TO DATE: 09/30/2026

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $4.6 million to FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC for work described as: TITLE: FSA FEDERAL FY 2026 - NORTH CENTRAL REGION DEA02 REQUESTOR: CHRISTINA W FULTZ AFT#: AFT25-OM-005072 POP DATES: 10/01/2025 TO 09/30/2026 FUND TO DATE: 09/30/2026 Key points: 1. The contract is for forfeiture support services, a niche but critical function for law enforcement. 2. Forfeiture Support Associates LLC is the sole awardee, raising questions about competition. 3. The contract's Time and Materials pricing structure could pose a risk for cost overruns. 4. The legal services sector is generally competitive, but specific support functions may have fewer providers.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's Time and Materials (T&M) pricing with no ceiling on labor hours is a concern. While the base award is $4.55M, the potential for cost escalation without a fixed price or clear cap makes direct comparison difficult. Benchmarking T&M contracts in legal services requires careful analysis of labor rates and estimated hours.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

Although listed as 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION', the award to a single entity, Forfeiture Support Associates LLC, suggests that either only one offer was received or the evaluation process led to a sole awardee. This limits price discovery and may not reflect the best possible pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition status is positive for taxpayer value, but the T&M structure and single awardee warrant scrutiny to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Public Impact

Supports the Drug Enforcement Administration's mission in asset forfeiture. Provides specialized legal and administrative support services. Impacts the efficiency of law enforcement operations related to seized assets.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type
Single awardee despite full and open competition
No clear cost ceiling for labor

Positive Signals

Supports critical law enforcement function
Awarded under full and open competition

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under legal services, specifically supporting forfeiture operations. Spending in this niche area is often tied to law enforcement budgets and the volume of asset seizures. Benchmarks are difficult to establish due to the specialized nature of the services.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and the awardee, Forfeiture Support Associates LLC, is not explicitly identified as a small business. Further investigation would be needed to confirm their size status.

Oversight & Accountability

The award is a Delivery Order under a larger contract vehicle. Oversight would involve monitoring performance against the contract requirements and ensuring adherence to the Time and Materials terms to prevent cost overruns.

Related Government Programs

All Other Legal Services
Department of Justice Contracting
Drug Enforcement Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Time and Materials pricing structure
Potential for cost overruns
Limited competition despite 'full and open' status
Lack of clear cost ceiling
Specialized service with potentially few qualified bidders

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $4.6 million to FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC. TITLE: FSA FEDERAL FY 2026 - NORTH CENTRAL REGION DEA02 REQUESTOR: CHRISTINA W FULTZ AFT#: AFT25-OM-005072 POP DATES: 10/01/2025 TO 09/30/2026 FUND TO DATE: 09/30/2026

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What was the competitive landscape for this specific forfeiture support service, and why did only one offeror ultimately receive the award despite being listed as full and open competition?

The 'full and open competition' designation suggests the opportunity was broadly advertised. However, the single award to Forfeiture Support Associates LLC could indicate a highly specialized service where few entities possess the required expertise, or that other bids were deemed non-responsive or technically unacceptable. Further analysis of the solicitation and award documents would clarify the specific reasons for the limited number of successful proposals.

What are the specific risks associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for this forfeiture support service, and how can the DEA mitigate potential cost overruns?

The primary risk of T&M contracts is the potential for uncontrolled cost escalation, as the government pays for labor hours and materials used without a fixed ceiling. For forfeiture support, this could lead to inflated costs if tasks are not well-defined or if labor hours are not diligently tracked and managed. Mitigation strategies include establishing clear labor hour estimates, implementing strict oversight of timesheets, defining specific task orders with not-to-exceed amounts, and negotiating favorable hourly rates.

How effectively does this contract support the DEA's forfeiture operations, and what metrics are in place to measure the value and success of Forfeiture Support Associates LLC's services?

The effectiveness of this contract hinges on the quality and efficiency of the forfeiture support provided by Forfeiture Support Associates LLC. Key performance indicators (KPIs) should be established to measure aspects like case processing times, accuracy of documentation, cost savings achieved through efficient asset management, and overall contribution to the success of forfeiture investigations. Without defined KPIs and regular performance reviews, it is difficult to ascertain the true value and effectiveness of the services rendered.

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

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Science Applications International Corporation

Address: 20110 ASHBROOK PL STE 220, ASHBURN, VA, 20147

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,149,305

Exercised Options: $7,149,305

Current Obligation: $4,550,167

Actual Outlays: $1,978,726

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $4,213,155

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS20D00000271

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline