DOJ awards $3.8M to Historical Research Associates for expert witness services through sole-source purchase order

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,881,556 ($3.9M)

Contractor: Historical Research Associates, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2021-08-12

End Date: 2028-02-01

Contract Duration: 2,364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: EXPERT WITNESS

Place of Performance

Location: MISSOULA, MISSOULA County, MONTANA, 59807

State: Montana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $3.9 million to HISTORICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. for work described as: EXPERT WITNESS Key points: 1. Contract awarded via sole-source, raising questions about price discovery. 2. Significant duration (2364 days) suggests long-term need for specialized services. 3. No small business participation noted, potentially limiting broader economic impact. 4. Services fall under 'All Other Legal Services' NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's time and materials pricing structure, combined with a sole-source award, makes a direct pricing assessment difficult without further data on labor rates and hours. Benchmarking against similar expert witness contracts would be necessary to determine value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method limits price discovery and competition, potentially leading to higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully competed contract.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition in this sole-source award may result in a higher cost to taxpayers than if multiple vendors had vied for the contract.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding. The long contract duration could indicate a critical, ongoing need for specialized legal support within the DOJ. Limited transparency on pricing mechanisms for time and materials contracts can obscure true cost-effectiveness.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost overruns.
No small business participation.

Positive Signals

Awarded to a specific entity for potentially specialized expertise.
Long-term contract indicates a sustained requirement.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under legal services, specifically expert witness support. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on litigation volume and complexity. Benchmarks are difficult without specific service details.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates no small business participation. This suggests the services were either not sought from small businesses or that the selected vendor is not classified as such.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing and necessity. Further oversight may be needed to confirm the justification for not competing the requirement.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Time and Materials pricing
Long contract duration
No small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $3.9 million to HISTORICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC.. EXPERT WITNESS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HISTORICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-08-12. End: 2028-02-01.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and how does it ensure value for taxpayer money?

The justification for a sole-source award typically rests on unique capabilities, specialized knowledge, or urgent needs that only one vendor can meet. To ensure value, the agency must demonstrate that the selected vendor's pricing is fair and reasonable, often through detailed cost analysis or comparison to historical data. Without this transparency, it's difficult to ascertain if taxpayers are receiving optimal value.

What are the potential risks associated with a long-term, time-and-materials contract for expert witness services?

Long-term, time-and-materials contracts carry risks of cost escalation if not closely managed. The vendor has less incentive to be efficient, as more hours billed directly translate to higher revenue. For expert witness services, this could mean prolonged engagements and potentially inflated costs if the scope isn't tightly controlled or if the necessity of continued expert involvement is not regularly reassessed.

How effective is the current pricing structure in ensuring the Department of Justice receives high-quality expert witness services within budget?

The effectiveness of the current time-and-materials pricing structure is questionable without more data. While it allows for flexibility in unpredictable legal proceedings, it lacks the cost control inherent in fixed-price contracts. The 'fair and reasonable' price determination is crucial. If the agency has robust mechanisms to monitor hours, rates, and the necessity of services, it can be effective; otherwise, it risks exceeding budget.

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: 125 BANK ST STE 500, MISSOULA, MT, 59802

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,881,556

Exercised Options: $3,881,556

Current Obligation: $3,881,556

Actual Outlays: $1,296,007

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline