DOJ awards $9.3M for litigation support, with Leidos Inc. securing the contract
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $9,374,890 ($9.4M)
Contractor: Leidos, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2020-12-01
End Date: 2026-05-31
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: MEGA5 LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20190
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $9.4 million to LEIDOS, INC. for work described as: MEGA5 LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the 5-year duration and specialized nature of litigation support. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a full and open competition, suggesting potential for price discovery. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, with a Time and Materials contract type potentially leading to cost overruns if not managed closely. 4. Performance context is within the legal services sector, supporting the Department of Justice's operational needs. 5. Sector positioning is within professional services, specifically legal support, a critical function for federal agencies.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $9.3M over approximately five years averages to about $1.86M annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale litigation support contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure necessitates careful monitoring to ensure it remains cost-effective and does not exceed the anticipated value. The award to a single contractor, Leidos, Inc., suggests they were deemed the best value under the competitive process.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a robust competitive environment. A full and open competition generally allows for the widest possible range of solutions and pricing, potentially leading to more favorable terms for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the potential for competitive pricing and encourages a broader pool of qualified contractors to vie for the work, driving down costs.
Public Impact
The Department of Justice benefits from essential litigation support services, enabling efficient case management and legal operations. Services delivered include a range of legal support functions crucial for the functioning of the Offices, Boards and Divisions. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting federal legal activities across the United States. Workforce implications may include specialized legal professionals and support staff employed by the contractor.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost uncertainty and potential overruns if not closely managed and monitored.
- Lack of specific details on the number of bidders in the full and open competition makes it difficult to fully assess the intensity of price discovery.
- The duration of the contract (over 5 years) requires sustained oversight to ensure continued value and performance.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that likely yielded a fair price.
- Leidos, Inc. is a large, established government contractor with a broad range of capabilities, indicating a potentially reliable performer.
- The contract supports critical functions of the Department of Justice, aligning with core government missions.
Sector Analysis
The legal services sector within the federal government encompasses a wide array of support functions, from administrative to highly specialized legal counsel. This contract falls under professional services, specifically legal support, which is a consistent area of federal spending. Comparable spending benchmarks for large-scale, multi-year litigation support services are difficult to pinpoint without more granular data on the specific tasks performed, but the overall value is substantial for this niche.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false and there was no small business set-aside (ss). This suggests that the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses, and larger prime contractors like Leidos, Inc. were the primary focus of the competition. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist but are not explicitly detailed in the provided information.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the contract terms, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Justice Litigation Support
- Federal Legal Services Contracts
- Professional Services Contracts
- Time and Materials Contracts
- Large Prime Contractor Awards
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
- Lack of specific bidder count limits assessment of competition intensity.
- Contract duration requires sustained oversight for value realization.
Tags
department-of-justice, litigation-support, professional-services, time-and-materials, full-and-open-competition, leidos-inc, legal-services, delivery-order, virginia, federal-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $9.4 million to LEIDOS, INC.. MEGA5 LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LEIDOS, 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 $9.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-12-01. End: 2026-05-31.
What is the historical spending pattern for litigation support services by the Department of Justice?
Historical spending on litigation support by the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been substantial and varied, reflecting the agency's extensive legal caseload. While specific figures for 'litigation support' as a distinct category can fluctuate based on how services are classified, the DOJ consistently procures a wide range of legal and administrative support services. This includes everything from document review and e-discovery to expert witness services and paralegal support. Major contracts in this area often run into millions of dollars annually, supporting various divisions within the DOJ, such as the Civil Division, Criminal Division, and the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Analyzing past awards reveals a trend towards consolidating support services under larger, multi-year contracts with prime vendors, often awarded through full and open competition, to achieve economies of scale and streamline procurement. However, the specific nature and volume of litigation can lead to significant year-over-year variations in spending.
How does the awarded amount compare to similar litigation support contracts awarded by other federal agencies?
Comparing the $9.3 million award for MEGA5 Litigation Support Services to similar contracts across federal agencies requires careful consideration of scope, duration, and specific services. Contracts for litigation support can vary widely. For instance, the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security might have contracts for similar services but potentially at higher dollar values due to the scale and complexity of their legal needs. Conversely, smaller agencies or those with less litigation-intensive missions might award smaller contracts. The five-year duration of this DOJ contract (December 2020 to May 2026) means the average annual value is approximately $1.86 million. This figure is significant but not extraordinary within the realm of large federal professional services contracts. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to identify contracts with comparable service descriptions (e.g., e-discovery, document management, case preparation) and similar contract types (e.g., Time and Materials, Firm-Fixed Price) awarded within a similar timeframe.
What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for litigation support?
The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for litigation support is the potential for cost overruns and a lack of definitive cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts pay the contractor for the actual labor hours and materials used. If the scope of work is not well-defined, or if the contractor's efficiency is low, the total cost can escalate significantly beyond initial estimates. For litigation support, this could manifest as extended research times, inefficient document review processes, or unforeseen material needs. To mitigate these risks, the government must implement robust oversight, closely monitor labor hours and material costs, establish clear performance standards, and ensure that the contract includes appropriate ceiling limitations and incentives for efficiency. Without diligent management, T&M contracts can become more expensive than initially anticipated, diminishing the overall value for the taxpayer.
What is Leidos, Inc.'s track record with federal litigation support contracts?
Leidos, Inc. has a substantial track record of performing a wide array of professional services for the federal government, including those related to legal and litigation support. As a large, established government contractor, Leidos has experience across numerous agencies and contract types. Their portfolio often includes complex IT solutions, but also extends to mission support services that can encompass aspects of legal administration, document management, and data analysis relevant to litigation. While specific details of their past litigation support contracts would require a deeper dive into contract databases, their general presence in the federal contracting space suggests they possess the infrastructure, personnel, and experience to handle significant government requirements. Performance history on specific contracts, including past performance evaluations and any disputes or claims, would be crucial for a complete assessment of their track record in this specific domain.
How does the 'All Other Legal Services' NAICS code (541199) inform the scope of this contract?
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541199, 'All Other Legal Services,' indicates that this contract covers legal services that do not fall into more specific categories like legal counsel, patent law, or title searching. This broad classification suggests the contract is likely for a range of support functions essential to the operation of the Department of Justice's legal activities. These could include services such as paralegal support, legal research assistance, document preparation and management, e-discovery services, administrative support for legal proceedings, and potentially expert witness coordination or background investigations. The 'all other' nature implies flexibility in the types of legal support that can be procured, allowing the DOJ to adapt to evolving needs within its various divisions and offices without needing to re-compete for every specialized service. It signifies a broad mandate for support that underpins the agency's core legal functions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Legal Services › All Other Legal Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT 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: Leidos Holdings, Inc.
Address: 1750 PRESIDENTS ST, RESTON, VA, 20190
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,616,862
Exercised Options: $13,830,941
Current Obligation: $9,374,890
Actual Outlays: $8,013,167
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS20D00000372
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-12-01
Current End Date: 2026-05-31
Potential End Date: 2026-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-13
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