DOJ awards $423K for Expert Witness Services to SIKICH CPA LLC via Purchase Order

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $423,741 ($423.7K)

Contractor: Sikich CPA LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2020-01-27

End Date: 2026-02-26

Contract Duration: 2,222 days

Daily Burn Rate: $191/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22314

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $423,741.4 to SIKICH CPA LLC for work described as: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES Key points: 1. Spending focused on legal services, specifically expert witness support. 2. Contract awarded to a single entity, SIKICH CPA LLC. 3. The contract duration extends to February 2026. 4. This is a Time and Materials contract type.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value is $423,741.40. Without specific benchmarks for expert witness services in 'All Other Legal Services' (NAICS 541199), it's difficult to definitively assess pricing. However, the lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no competitive pressure to obtain the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for this $423K contract may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for expert witness services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding. The Department of Justice relies on this service for legal proceedings. The extended contract duration suggests a long-term need for these services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Time and Materials contract type
Extended contract duration

Positive Signals

Specific service provider identified
Clear contract end date

Sector Analysis

The legal services sector, particularly specialized areas like expert witness testimony, can command high fees. Benchmarking is challenging without detailed service descriptions and comparable contract data.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses could have provided similar services.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'NOT COMPETED' status warrants further oversight to ensure the justification for a sole-source award was robust and that the pricing is reasonable.

Related Government Programs

All Other Legal Services
Department of Justice Contracting
Offices, Boards and Divisions Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Time and Materials contract
Lack of clear value assessment
No small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $423,741.4 to SIKICH CPA LLC. EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SIKICH CPA LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Offices, Boards and Divisions).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $423,741.4.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-01-27. End: 2026-02-26.

What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The justification for a sole-source award is crucial for understanding why competition was bypassed. Without this information, it's impossible to assess if the government received fair value or if there were legitimate reasons, such as unique capabilities or urgent needs, that precluded a competitive process.

How does the hourly rate for SIKICH CPA LLC compare to industry standards for similar expert witness services?

Benchmarking the hourly rate against industry standards is essential for evaluating value. If SIKICH's rates are significantly higher than comparable firms for similar expertise and services, it indicates potential overpayment and a failure to secure competitive pricing, impacting taxpayer funds.

What is the potential impact of the Time and Materials contract type on the total cost to the government?

Time and Materials contracts can lead to cost overruns if not carefully managed and monitored. The government bears the risk of fluctuating labor costs and material expenses, making robust oversight critical to controlling the final expenditure and ensuring it aligns with the initial $423K estimate.

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: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 333 JOHN CARLYLE ST STE 500, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314

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: $423,741

Exercised Options: $423,741

Current Obligation: $423,741

Actual Outlays: $323,747

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $75,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline