DOJ's FBI Spends $2M on Audit Liaison Support via BPA Call with Keystone Advisors LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,052,823 ($2.1M)

Contractor: Keystone Advisors LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2022-09-09

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,481 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: AUDIT LIAISON SUPPORT FOR ACCOUNTING AND TECHNOLOGY SECTION

Place of Performance

Location: SOUTH HOLLAND, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60473

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $2.1 million to KEYSTONE ADVISORS LLC for work described as: AUDIT LIAISON SUPPORT FOR ACCOUNTING AND TECHNOLOGY SECTION Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential audit liaison support, indicating a need for specialized accounting and technology expertise. 2. The use of a BPA Call suggests a streamlined procurement process for ongoing support needs. 3. Potential risk lies in the reliance on a single vendor for critical support functions. 4. The 'Other Accounting Services' NAICS code points to a niche but important service area.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.05M over approximately 4 years (1481 days) for labor hours is difficult to benchmark without specific hourly rates. The award type (BPA Call) implies pre-negotiated rates, but transparency on these rates is needed for a full assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the use of a BPA Call indicates that the initial competition was for establishing the BPA, and this call might have had limited competition among BPA holders.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers, aiming to secure the best value. The specific impact depends on the negotiated rates and the efficiency of the services provided.

Public Impact

Ensures continuity and compliance in accounting and technology functions for the FBI. Supports critical audit processes, potentially impacting financial integrity and accountability. The contract's duration suggests a long-term need for these specialized services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the BPA holder is the sole provider for extended periods.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical liaison support could pose a risk if performance issues arise.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating an effort to achieve competitive pricing.
BPA Call mechanism can streamline procurement and potentially reduce administrative costs.

Sector Analysis

The accounting services sector is broad, but this contract falls under specialized support functions. Spending benchmarks for 'Other Accounting Services' (NAICS 541219) vary widely based on the specific services and agency needs. The FBI's requirement suggests a significant scale of operations.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the primary awardee, Keystone Advisors LLC, is a large business, and opportunities for small business subcontracting were not explicitly detailed in this data.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Oversight would involve monitoring vendor performance against contract requirements and ensuring adherence to labor hour billing and service delivery standards.

Related Government Programs

Other Accounting Services
Department of Justice Contracting
Federal Bureau of Investigation Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of specific hourly rate data for benchmarking.
Potential for limited competition if the BPA was not widely competed.
No indication of small business subcontracting participation.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical support functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $2.1 million to KEYSTONE ADVISORS LLC. AUDIT LIAISON SUPPORT FOR ACCOUNTING AND TECHNOLOGY SECTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is KEYSTONE ADVISORS 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 $2.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-09. End: 2026-09-29.

What specific expertise does Keystone Advisors LLC provide as 'Audit Liaison Support' that justifies the contract value and duration?

The contract likely involves specialized knowledge in navigating federal audit processes, liaising between agency accounting/technology teams and external auditors, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. This could include expertise in financial reporting, internal controls, IT systems relevant to accounting, and audit preparation.

How does the use of a BPA Call impact the overall cost-effectiveness and competitive landscape for this service?

A BPA Call typically leverages pre-negotiated rates from an established Best Practices Agreement (BPA), potentially offering cost savings and faster procurement. However, if the initial BPA competition was limited or if Keystone Advisors is the sole provider under the BPA, it could reduce price discovery compared to a new full and open competition for each task order.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness of Keystone Advisors LLC's support to the FBI?

Effectiveness would likely be measured by factors such as timely audit support, successful resolution of audit findings, accuracy of liaison activities, adherence to deadlines, and positive feedback from both internal agency personnel and external auditors. Specific KPIs would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services › Other Accounting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15F06722Q0000247

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 16000 VAN DRUNEN RD, SOUTH HOLLAND, IL, 60473

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,809,441

Exercised Options: $2,192,872

Current Obligation: $2,052,823

Actual Outlays: $1,696,388

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15F06722A0000177

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline