DOJ's $14.3M litigation support contract awarded to PAE Labat-Anderson LLC for 5 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,303,503 ($14.3M)

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: $7.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

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 $14.3 million to PAE LABAT-ANDERSON LLC for work described as: MEGA5 AUTOMATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract provides essential legal support services to the Department of Justice. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration of five years allows for sustained support. 4. Services are categorized under 'All Other Legal Services,' indicating a broad scope. 5. Virginia is the primary location for contract performance. 6. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $14.3 million over five years averages to approximately $2.86 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale litigation support contracts is difficult without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure, while flexible, can lead to higher costs if not closely managed, potentially impacting overall value for money compared to fixed-price contracts for well-defined scopes.

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 bids. The presence of 5 bids suggests a reasonable level of competition, which typically helps in achieving fair market prices. However, the specific number of bidders does not guarantee the most competitive outcome without further analysis of the bids received.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down prices and improve service quality.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from consistent and reliable litigation support services. Legal professionals within the DOJ can focus on core legal strategies with outsourced support. The contract supports legal operations primarily within Virginia. Potential indirect workforce implications for legal support professionals in the Virginia area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not diligently managed.
The broad 'All Other Legal Services' category may lack specific performance metrics for precise evaluation.
Long-term contracts can sometimes reduce the incentive for continuous innovation or cost reduction.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
The contract duration of five years provides stability and predictability for DOJ's legal operations.
PAE Labat-Anderson LLC's established presence suggests experience in delivering such services.

Sector Analysis

The legal services sector within government contracting is diverse, encompassing a wide range of support functions. This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically legal services. The market for litigation support is competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized services. Government contracts in this area often involve significant dollar values due to the complexity and volume of legal work undertaken by federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses. Given the nature and potential scale of litigation support services, it is likely that larger, established firms were the primary bidders. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist, but are not explicitly detailed in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's internal contracting and legal departments. Performance reviews, audits, and compliance checks are standard mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency. The specific Inspector General jurisdiction would be that of the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Legal Services Contracts
Federal Litigation Support Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Broad 'All Other Legal Services' classification may lack specificity.
Need for robust government oversight to manage scope and costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $14.3 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 $14.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

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

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

Historical spending on litigation support services by the Department of Justice can vary significantly year over year, influenced by caseloads, legislative priorities, and the complexity of ongoing litigation. While specific aggregate data for 'litigation support' is not readily available in a single public repository, agencies like the DOJ often procure a wide array of legal services through various contract vehicles. These can range from specialized research and document review to expert witness services and e-discovery. Analyzing past contract awards for similar services, such as those under NAICS code 541199 (All Other Legal Services), can provide insights. For instance, comparing the current $14.3 million award over five years to previous awards of similar scope and duration would reveal trends in contract values and the types of firms being engaged. Fluctuations might indicate shifts in litigation strategy or increased reliance on external support.

How does the pricing structure of this Time and Materials (T&M) contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar legal support services?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are inherently flexible but can be less predictable in terms of final cost compared to fixed-price contracts. For legal support services, T&M pricing is typically based on hourly rates for different labor categories (e.g., paralegals, junior attorneys, senior consultants) and the cost of materials used. Benchmarking requires comparing these hourly rates against market data for comparable skill sets and experience levels in the relevant geographic area (Virginia, in this case). Industry benchmarks often show a wide variance based on the contractor's reputation, the specific expertise required, and the complexity of the tasks. Without detailed rate breakdowns for this specific contract, a precise comparison is challenging. However, government agencies often negotiate ceiling rates and require contractors to provide justifications for their rates to ensure they are fair and reasonable, aiming to keep them competitive with market norms.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the performance of PAE Labat-Anderson LLC under this contract?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a contract like MEGA5 AUTOMATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES are crucial for ensuring the quality and efficiency of the services provided. While the specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, typical metrics for litigation support contracts often include timeliness of document review and production, accuracy rates in data extraction and analysis, adherence to discovery protocols, and responsiveness to attorney requests. For a Time and Materials contract, KPIs might also focus on efficient resource utilization and managing costs within agreed-upon parameters or ceilings. Performance is usually assessed through regular progress reports, client feedback from the DOJ attorneys utilizing the services, and potentially through formal quality assurance reviews conducted by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). Meeting these KPIs is essential for successful contract performance and potential future awards.

What is the track record of PAE Labat-Anderson LLC in delivering similar automated litigation support services to federal agencies?

PAE Labat-Anderson LLC, as a contractor, likely has a substantial track record in providing professional services, including litigation support, to various government agencies. To assess their specific performance on similar contracts, one would typically review past performance information available through federal procurement databases like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). These systems often contain ratings and feedback from previous government clients regarding timeliness, quality, cost control, and overall customer satisfaction. A review of their contract history would reveal the types of litigation support services they have provided, the agencies they have served, and the value and duration of those contracts. A strong past performance record is a significant factor in contract awards, suggesting that PAE Labat-Anderson LLC likely demonstrated capability and reliability in previous engagements.

What are the potential risks associated with the 'All Other Legal Services' classification and the Time and Materials contract type?

The 'All Other Legal Services' classification (NAICS 541199) is broad and can encompass a wide range of activities, which presents a risk of scope creep or unclear deliverables if not tightly managed through a detailed Statement of Work (SOW). This ambiguity can make performance measurement more challenging. Coupled with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, there's an inherent risk of cost overruns. T&M contracts pay the contractor for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials and subcontracts. Without robust oversight, including strict monitoring of labor hours, verification of work performed, and competitive bidding for any materials or subcontracts, the costs can escalate beyond initial estimates. This necessitates diligent contract administration by the government to ensure fair pricing and efficient service delivery.

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: 5

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: $17,978,152

Exercised Options: $14,794,201

Current Obligation: $14,303,503

Actual Outlays: $13,136,321

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS20D00000373

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline