DOJ's $10.8M litigation support contract awarded to PAE Labat-Anderson LLC for 5 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,883,274 ($10.9M)

Contractor: PAE Labat-Anderson LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2021-06-01

End Date: 2026-05-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: MEGA5 AUTOMATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $10.9 million to PAE LABAT-ANDERSON LLC for work described as: MEGA5 AUTOMATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment. 2. Time and Materials contract type introduces potential for cost overruns if not managed closely. 3. The contract duration of 5 years provides long-term stability for the awarded vendor. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541199 indicates a focus on legal services. 5. The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract, indicating a phased approach to service delivery. 6. The vendor, PAE Labat-Anderson LLC, has a significant contract value, implying substantial operational capacity.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $10.8 million over five years averages to approximately $2.16 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale litigation support contracts for federal agencies is challenging without more specific service details. However, the full and open competition suggests that pricing was likely vetted against market rates. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while common, requires diligent oversight to ensure value for money, as costs can escalate based on labor hours and material usage.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 4 bids suggests a healthy level of competition for this requirement. A competitive bidding process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition ensures that taxpayer dollars are likely being used efficiently, as multiple vendors vied to offer the best value. This process helps prevent inflated pricing and encourages cost-effectiveness.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from consistent and reliable automated litigation support services. Legal teams within the DOJ will receive support for case management, document review, and discovery processes. The services provided are crucial for the efficient functioning of the federal justice system. The contract supports a workforce involved in legal support services, primarily in Virginia. Improved efficiency in litigation processes can lead to faster resolution of legal cases.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The Time and Materials (T&M) contract type carries inherent risk of cost escalation if not closely monitored for labor hours and material consumption.
The duration of the contract (5 years) means that potential inefficiencies or overpricing could persist for an extended period if not addressed proactively.
Reliance on a single delivery order under a larger contract may obscure the full scope and cost of the overall requirement.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process and likely competitive pricing.
The contract value suggests a significant investment in critical legal support services for the Department of Justice.
The vendor, PAE Labat-Anderson LLC, is likely experienced in providing these types of services, given the contract size and duration.

Sector Analysis

The legal services sector within the federal government is substantial, encompassing a wide range of support functions. This contract falls under the 'All Other Legal Services' category (NAICS 541199), which includes services like litigation support, paralegal services, and document management. Federal spending in this area is driven by the extensive legal needs of various agencies, including investigations, enforcement actions, and civil litigation. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other large contracts for similar litigation support services awarded to major legal service providers.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract included a small business set-aside, nor is there information suggesting specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The award to PAE Labat-Anderson LLC, a large entity, suggests that the primary focus was on capability and capacity rather than small business participation. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities exist within the awarded firm's operations.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Justice's Offices, Boards and Divisions. The Time and Materials nature of the contract necessitates close monitoring of labor hours, rates, and material costs to ensure compliance and prevent overspending. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed performance metrics and specific oversight reports are typically internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Litigation Support
Federal Legal Services Contracts
Automated Litigation Support Services
Contracting for Professional Services
Time and Materials Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials Contract Type
Potential for Cost Overruns
Contract Duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $10.9 million to PAE LABAT-ANDERSON LLC. MEGA5 AUTOMATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PAE LABAT-ANDERSON 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 $10.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-06-01. End: 2026-05-31.

What is the track record of PAE Labat-Anderson LLC in providing federal litigation support services?

PAE Labat-Anderson LLC has a history of providing professional services, including litigation support, to various federal agencies. Their experience often involves large-scale contract support, encompassing areas like document management, e-discovery, and case preparation. Analyzing past performance evaluations and contract awards for similar services would provide a clearer picture of their reliability, quality of service, and ability to meet demanding federal requirements. Specific details on their performance on previous DOJ contracts or similar large-scale legal support endeavors would be crucial for a comprehensive assessment.

How does the $10.8 million contract value compare to similar federal litigation support contracts?

The $10.8 million contract value over five years, averaging $2.16 million annually, places this contract in the mid-to-large tier for federal litigation support services. Comparable contracts can vary significantly based on the scope of services, agency needs, and duration. For instance, contracts supporting major litigation efforts or large-scale e-discovery for agencies like the FBI or SEC could range from several million to tens of millions of dollars annually. The full and open competition suggests this value is aligned with market rates for the specified services, but a direct comparison requires detailed service scope analysis.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for litigation support?

The primary risk with a T&M contract for litigation support is the potential for cost escalation due to uncontrolled labor hours and material usage. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements do not set a ceiling on the total cost, making effective oversight critical. For litigation support, this could manifest as extended review times, inefficient processes, or the use of higher-than-necessary labor categories. The government must actively manage and monitor the contractor's effort to ensure that the hours billed are reasonable and directly related to the work performed, preventing budget overruns and ensuring value for money.

How effective is automated litigation support in improving the efficiency of the Department of Justice?

Automated litigation support is generally considered highly effective in improving the efficiency of the Department of Justice by streamlining complex and labor-intensive legal processes. Technologies for e-discovery, document review, case management, and data analysis can significantly reduce the time and resources required compared to manual methods. This allows legal teams to focus on substantive legal arguments rather than administrative tasks. The ability to quickly search, organize, and analyze vast amounts of electronic data is crucial for managing large caseloads and meeting discovery deadlines, ultimately contributing to faster case resolutions and more effective legal representation.

What is the historical spending pattern for automated litigation support services within the Department of Justice?

Historical spending on automated litigation support services by the Department of Justice has generally trended upwards, reflecting the increasing volume of electronic data in legal cases and the adoption of advanced e-discovery tools. While specific annual figures fluctuate based on major litigation initiatives and agency priorities, the DOJ consistently invests significant resources in these services. Analyzing past contract awards and spending reports for similar services would reveal trends in contract values, vendor choices, and the evolution of service requirements over time, indicating a sustained need for such support.

What are the implications of awarding a delivery order under a larger contract for this litigation support service?

Awarding a delivery order (DO) under a larger contract signifies that the Department of Justice is exercising an option or placing a specific order against a pre-existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) or similar type of contract. This approach allows for flexibility and phased acquisition of services. For this litigation support contract, it means the $10.8 million represents a specific task order with defined scope, duration, and funding, rather than the total potential value of the parent contract. It implies that the parent contract likely established terms and conditions, and potentially competed the overall requirement, with this DO representing a specific call for services.

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: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Amentum Services, Inc.

Address: 7799 LEESBURG PIKE STE 300N, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22043

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $15,086,259

Exercised Options: $12,427,289

Current Obligation: $10,883,274

Actual Outlays: $10,822,642

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS20D00000373

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline