DOJ's FBI awards $41M for forfeiture program support, with 37.5% of contract value potentially going to a single vendor

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $41,090,590 ($41.1M)

Contractor: Forfeiture Support Associates LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2020-10-01

End Date: 2023-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $37.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: THIS EFFORT IS FOR CONTRACT EMPLOYEES WHO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF THE FBIS ASSET FORFEITURE PROGRAM FOR FY21. CONTRACT EMPLOYEES ARE LOCATED AT FBIHQ AND IN THE FIELD.

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $41.1 million to FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC for work described as: THIS EFFORT IS FOR CONTRACT EMPLOYEES WHO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF THE FBIS ASSET FORFEITURE PROGRAM FOR FY21. CONTRACT EMPLOYEES ARE LOCATED AT FBIHQ AND IN THE FIELD. Key points: 1. The contract focuses on essential support for the FBI's Asset Forfeiture Program, indicating a critical operational need. 2. A significant portion of the contract value is concentrated with one vendor, raising questions about market concentration. 3. The contract duration of nearly three years suggests a stable, long-term requirement for these support services. 4. The use of Time and Materials pricing may lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. 5. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a broad market was considered. 6. The specific NAICS code (541199) points to specialized legal support services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award of $41,090,589.53 over three years averages approximately $13.7 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for operational support services within the Department of Justice or other law enforcement agencies is difficult without more specific service details. However, the concentration of a large portion of the contract value with a single vendor (Forfeiture Support Associates LLC) warrants scrutiny regarding potential price advantages or disadvantages compared to a more fragmented market.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded using full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The data does not specify the number of bids received, which would provide a clearer picture of the actual competitive landscape. A robust competition typically leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best value through a wide range of offers, potentially driving down prices.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the FBI's Asset Forfeiture Program, which receives crucial operational support. Services delivered include contract employees supporting the program's operations at FBI Headquarters and in field offices. The geographic impact is national, covering FBIHQ and various field locations across the United States. Workforce implications include the provision of contract employees to augment FBI staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost creep due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Concentration of a significant portion of the contract value with a single vendor could limit future competition or indicate a lack of broader market alternatives.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the support services.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a fair process.
The contract duration indicates a stable and predictable need for these services.
Support is directly tied to a critical law enforcement program (Asset Forfeiture).

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically legal services. The FBI's Asset Forfeiture Program is a significant component of law enforcement efforts to seize and forfeit assets derived from criminal activity. The market for such specialized support services can be niche, with a few key players often dominating.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications mandated by small business set-asides. The impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless small businesses were subcontractors to the primary awardee.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms would typically be managed by the FBI contracting officers and program managers responsible for the Asset Forfeiture Program. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance requirements outlined in the contract's statement of work. Transparency is facilitated through contract award data, but detailed performance reporting is often internal.

Related Government Programs

FBI Asset Forfeiture Program
Department of Justice Operational Support Contracts
Federal Law Enforcement Support Services
Legal Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M contract type.
Vendor concentration risk.
Lack of specific performance metrics in summary data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $41.1 million to FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC. THIS EFFORT IS FOR CONTRACT EMPLOYEES WHO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF THE FBIS ASSET FORFEITURE PROGRAM FOR FY21. CONTRACT EMPLOYEES ARE LOCATED AT FBIHQ AND IN THE FIELD.

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 (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $41.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-10-01. End: 2023-09-30.

What is the specific nature of the 'support' provided by contract employees to the Asset Forfeiture Program?

The provided data indicates that contract employees support the 'operation' of the FBI's Asset Forfeiture Program. This likely encompasses a range of administrative, analytical, and potentially paralegal functions necessary for managing seized assets, processing forfeiture cases, maintaining records, and coordinating with law enforcement agents and prosecutors. Without a detailed statement of work, the precise duties remain general, but the focus is on enabling the program's day-to-day functioning rather than direct law enforcement activities.

How does the $41 million contract value compare to historical spending on similar support services for the FBI's Asset Forfeiture Program?

The provided data does not include historical spending figures for this specific contract or similar support services for the FBI's Asset Forfeiture Program. To conduct a meaningful comparison, one would need to access historical contract databases (e.g., FPDS, USASpending.gov) and identify contracts with similar scope, duration, and agency for the Asset Forfeiture Program or related functions. The current award of $41 million over three years represents an average annual spend of approximately $13.7 million, which serves as a baseline for future historical analysis.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the effectiveness of Forfeiture Support Associates LLC's services?

The provided data summary does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance metrics for this contract. Typically, such contracts would outline measurable objectives related to timeliness of support, accuracy of work, responsiveness, and adherence to program guidelines. The effectiveness of Forfeiture Support Associates LLC would be assessed by the FBI's contracting officer's representative (COR) and program managers against the requirements detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW).

What is the risk associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for this requirement?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, such as this one, is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials. If the effort required is greater than anticipated, or if labor hours are not diligently monitored and controlled, the total cost can exceed initial estimates. Effective government oversight, including detailed tracking of labor hours and material costs, is crucial to mitigate this risk.

What does the concentration of contract value with Forfeiture Support Associates LLC imply about the market for these services?

The data indicates that Forfeiture Support Associates LLC is associated with a significant portion of the contract value (37.5% is mentioned in the headline, implying a large single award or task order). This concentration could suggest several market dynamics: the company may possess specialized expertise or capabilities highly valued by the FBI for this program; there might be limited competition in this niche; or it could reflect a strategic decision by the agency to consolidate support with a proven vendor. Further analysis would be needed to determine if this concentration limits future competitive opportunities or reflects the most efficient way to procure these specialized services.

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: $47,910,750

Exercised Options: $41,090,590

Current Obligation: $41,090,590

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $9,278,574

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS20D00000271

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline