DOJ awards $3M for legal services to Forfeiture Support Associates LLC, a Time and Materials contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,995,819 ($3.0M)

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: $8.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TITLE: FY26 FSA REQUESTOR: SHELLYE L BURROW AFT#: AFT25-CC-005233 REF AWARD/BPA: 15JPSS20D00000271 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 $3.0 million to FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC for work described as: TITLE: FY26 FSA REQUESTOR: SHELLYE L BURROW AFT#: AFT25-CC-005233 REF AWARD/BPA: 15JPSS20D00000271 POP DATES: 10/01/2025 TO 09/30/2026 FUND TO DATE: 09/30/2026 Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not managed closely. 3. The award is a Delivery Order against a larger BPA, indicating it's part of an existing framework. 4. The services are categorized under 'All Other Legal Services', a broad classification. 5. The contract duration is one year, aligning with typical federal fiscal year cycles. 6. The specific value of this delivery order is $2,995,819.40.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific delivery order is challenging without knowing the scope of services and the underlying BPA's pricing structure. Time and Materials contracts inherently carry a risk of cost escalation if not meticulously monitored. Comparing this to other legal services contracts is difficult due to the broad NAICS code and the specific nature of forfeiture support.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION', indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this method generally promotes price discovery and allows the government to select the best value offering.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages multiple vendors to compete, potentially driving down costs and improving service quality.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice, specifically the Drug Enforcement Administration, is the primary beneficiary of these legal support services. The services are expected to support forfeiture operations, which are critical for law enforcement and asset recovery. The contract is geographically located in Virginia, suggesting a concentration of operations or administrative support in that state. The contract supports the legal and administrative functions within the DEA, indirectly impacting law enforcement personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Risk of cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Broad service category ('All Other Legal Services') may lack specific performance metrics.
Dependence on a single delivery order within a larger BPA could limit flexibility if needs change significantly.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.
Contract is part of an existing BPA, suggesting established procurement channels.
Supports critical law enforcement functions within the DEA.

Sector Analysis

Legal services represent a significant sector within federal procurement, encompassing a wide range of support functions from litigation to administrative assistance. The market for legal services is diverse, with many firms capable of providing specialized support. This contract falls under the 'All Other Legal Services' category, which is broad and can include niche support functions like those related to asset forfeiture. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific service details.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) is false for this specific award. There is no explicit mention of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements for this delivery order. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular contract appears minimal.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General, as well as the contracting officers and program managers within the Drug Enforcement Administration. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards, though detailed performance metrics and cost breakdowns may be internal.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice - Legal Services
Drug Enforcement Administration - Support Services
Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG)
Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) and Basic Ordering Agreements (BOA)

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
Broad NAICS code may obscure specific service performance and value.
Limited information on the number of bidders in the full and open competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $3.0 million to FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC. TITLE: FY26 FSA REQUESTOR: SHELLYE L BURROW AFT#: AFT25-CC-005233 REF AWARD/BPA: 15JPSS20D00000271 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 $3.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

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

What is the specific nature of the 'Forfeiture Support' services provided under this contract?

The provided data classifies this contract under NAICS code 541199 (All Other Legal Services) and identifies the contractor as FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC. While the title suggests support for forfeiture operations, the exact services are not detailed. These could range from administrative processing of seized assets, legal research related to forfeiture cases, managing forfeited property, or providing expert testimony. Without further details from the contract award or the underlying BPA, the precise scope remains ambiguous. However, given the agency (DEA) and the nature of forfeiture, it likely involves complex legal and administrative tasks associated with asset seizure and disposition.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type compare to other legal services contracts awarded by the DEA?

Time and Materials contracts are often used when the scope of work is not clearly defined or is expected to change, allowing flexibility. However, they carry a higher risk of cost overruns compared to fixed-price contracts, as the government pays for the labor hours and materials used. For legal services, T&M might be employed for investigations or case support where the duration and effort are uncertain. Fixed-price contracts are generally preferred for well-defined services. A comparison would require analyzing the mix of contract types used by the DEA for similar legal support functions and assessing the historical cost performance of their T&M awards in this category.

What is the historical spending pattern for 'All Other Legal Services' by the Drug Enforcement Administration?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for NAICS code 541199 by the DEA would require accessing comprehensive federal procurement databases like FPDS-NG. This would involve filtering awards by the agency (DEA), the specific NAICS code, and potentially by contract type or fiscal year. Such an analysis could reveal trends in the volume and value of contracts awarded for these services, identify key contractors, and indicate whether spending has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. This context is crucial for understanding if the current $3M award is an outlier or part of a consistent spending trend.

What is the track record of Forfeiture Support Associates LLC in performing government contracts, particularly with the DEA?

To assess the track record of Forfeiture Support Associates LLC, one would need to query federal procurement databases for their past contract awards. This would involve looking at the types of contracts they have held, their performance ratings (if available), the agencies they have served, and the value and duration of those contracts. Specifically, examining their history with the DEA or other law enforcement agencies for similar forfeiture support services would provide the most relevant insight into their capabilities and reliability. A review of past performance could highlight successful project completions or any documented issues.

What are the potential risks associated with a $3 million Time and Materials contract for legal services?

The primary risk with a $3 million Time and Materials contract for legal services is cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements pay the contractor for the actual time and materials expended. If the scope of work is not tightly managed, or if the contractor's efficiency is low, costs can escalate beyond initial expectations. For legal services, this could manifest as extended research hours, prolonged case preparation, or inefficient administrative processes. Robust oversight, clear task orders, and regular performance reviews are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives value for its expenditure.

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: $3,992,266

Exercised Options: $3,992,266

Current Obligation: $2,995,819

Actual Outlays: $797,577

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $913,478

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS20D00000271

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline