Justice Department awards $15M purchase order for expert witness services to Benjamin Allen Jones

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,991 ($15.0K)

Contractor: Benjamin Allen Jones

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2029-04-06

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: EXPERT WITNESS/LITIGATIVE CASE SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: HOOVER, JEFFERSON County, ALABAMA, 35226

State: Alabama Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $14,991 to BENJAMIN ALLEN JONES for work described as: EXPERT WITNESS/LITIGATIVE CASE SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price competition. 2. The contract duration of 1095 days suggests a need for sustained support. 3. Services fall under 'All Other Legal Services,' a broad category. 4. The award was a purchase order, often used for simpler acquisitions. 5. No small business set-aside was applied to this procurement. 6. The contract value of $14.99M is significant for specialized legal support.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value for this specific expert witness service is challenging due to the specialized nature and sole-source award. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if the pricing reflects fair market value. The 'time and materials' pricing structure can also lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored. Compared to similar sole-source legal support contracts, the price appears substantial, warranting scrutiny.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning only one vendor, Benjamin Allen Jones, was solicited. This approach bypasses the standard competitive bidding process, which typically involves multiple vendors submitting proposals. The lack of competition means the government did not benefit from potentially lower prices or innovative solutions that might arise from a bidding war.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have paid a premium due to the absence of competition. Without competing offers, there's less assurance that the negotiated price represents the best possible value for the government.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from specialized expert witness testimony for litigation. This contract supports legal cases requiring specific expertise, potentially impacting case outcomes. The services are geographically focused within Alabama, where the contractor is located. The contract may indirectly support legal professionals and administrative staff within the DOJ.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing and potentially increases cost to taxpayers.
Lack of transparency in the justification for sole-source award.
Potential for cost overruns with 'time and materials' pricing without strong oversight.

Positive Signals

Award to a specific expert suggests specialized skills are required and available.
Long contract duration indicates a recognized need for ongoing support.
Contract is for essential legal support services for the Department of Justice.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically under legal services. The market for expert witness support is highly specialized, often involving niche expertise. While overall legal services spending by the federal government is substantial, individual expert witness contracts can vary widely in value. Benchmarking is difficult without knowing the specific expertise required.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements mentioned. The award to a single entity suggests that small business participation was not a primary consideration in this specific procurement action. This may limit opportunities for small businesses to engage in providing these specialized legal support services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Justice's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be tied to the delivery of expert witness services as per the contract terms. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud or mismanagement is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Litigation Support Contracts
Federal Expert Witness Services
Legal Services Procurement
Time and Materials Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may not represent best value.
Lack of competition could lead to higher costs.
Time and materials pricing requires diligent oversight to control costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $14,991 to BENJAMIN ALLEN JONES. EXPERT WITNESS/LITIGATIVE CASE SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BENJAMIN ALLEN JONES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14,991.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2029-04-06.

What specific expertise does Benjamin Allen Jones provide as an expert witness?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'EXPERT WITNESS/LITIGATIVE CASE SUPPORT' under the NAICS code 541199 ('All Other Legal Services'). However, the specific area of expertise is not detailed in the procurement data. This could range from forensic accounting, engineering, medical, to various other specialized fields crucial for litigation. To understand the specific expertise, one would need to review the contract's statement of work (SOW) or justification for sole-source award, which would outline the unique qualifications and experience required from Benjamin Allen Jones that presumably could not be met by other sources.

How does the $15M value compare to similar expert witness contracts within the Department of Justice?

Comparing the $14.99 million value of this purchase order to similar expert witness contracts within the Department of Justice (DOJ) is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of all DOJ legal support procurements, especially those awarded on a sole-source basis. However, $15 million is a substantial sum for a single contract, even for complex litigation. Typically, expert witness costs are driven by the complexity of the case, the duration of the engagement, and the rarity of the required expertise. If this contract supports a single, high-profile, or protracted litigation matter, the cost might be justifiable. Conversely, if it represents routine support across multiple cases, it could indicate a higher-than-average cost per case or per expert hour.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for expert witness services?

The primary risks associated with a sole-source award for expert witness services include a lack of price competition, potentially leading to inflated costs for the government. Without multiple bids, the government cannot be assured it is receiving the best value or the most competitive pricing available in the market. There's also a risk of reduced innovation, as vendors are not incentivized to propose unique or cost-saving approaches. Furthermore, sole-source awards can raise concerns about fairness and transparency in the procurement process, potentially leading to perceptions of favoritism or a failure to adequately explore the marketplace for qualified providers. Finally, if the sole-source provider fails to perform adequately, the government has limited recourse without re-initiating a potentially lengthy sole-source justification process.

What is the historical spending pattern for expert witness services by the Department of Justice?

Analyzing the historical spending patterns for expert witness services by the Department of Justice (DOJ) requires access to historical contract data over several fiscal years. This specific contract, valued at $14.99 million and awarded as a purchase order with a duration of nearly three years, suggests a significant, ongoing need for specialized legal support. Without broader data, it's difficult to establish a trend. However, large federal agencies like the DOJ frequently engage expert witnesses across various litigation areas, and spending in this category can fluctuate based on caseloads, legislative changes, and the nature of ongoing legal challenges. A review of past DOJ spending reports or contract databases would be necessary to identify trends in contract values, types of services procured, and the prevalence of sole-source versus competitive awards.

How does the 'time and materials' contract type impact cost control for this expert witness service?

The 'time and materials' (T&M) contract type for expert witness services presents inherent challenges for cost control. Under T&M, the government pays the contractor for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials and other direct expenses. While this can be flexible for services where the scope is not well-defined upfront, it shifts much of the cost risk to the government. Without robust oversight, including detailed timesheets, verification of hours worked, and justification for materials purchased, costs can escalate beyond initial expectations. For a contract valued at $14.99 million, effective monitoring by the contracting officer's representative (COR) is crucial to ensure that labor hours are reasonable and necessary, and that material costs are fair and directly related to the services provided.

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: 409 PARK AVE, HOOVER, AL, 35226

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,991

Exercised Options: $14,991

Current Obligation: $14,991

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline