PBGC awards $1.1M contract for paralegal support, continuing services for legal counsel

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $112,614 ($112.6K)

Contractor: PAT Taylor & Associates Inc

Awarding Agency: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Start Date: 2026-03-17

End Date: 2027-03-17

Contract Duration: 365 days

Daily Burn Rate: $309/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: RECOMPETE OF CONTRACT NUMBER 16PBGC24M0013 FOR PARALEGAL / LEGAL ASSISTANT SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST THE ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSELS (AGCS), ATTORNEYS AND THE SUPERVISORY PARALEGAL IN OGC AS THE OFFICE GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HIRING A PERMANENT F

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation obligated $112,614.12 to PAT TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES INC for work described as: RECOMPETE OF CONTRACT NUMBER 16PBGC24M0013 FOR PARALEGAL / LEGAL ASSISTANT SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST THE ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSELS (AGCS), ATTORNEYS AND THE SUPERVISORY PARALEGAL IN OGC AS THE OFFICE GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HIRING A PERMANENT F Key points: 1. Contract ensures continuity of essential paralegal and legal assistant services for the Office of General Counsel (OGC). 2. The award is a recompete, indicating a need for established services and potentially stable pricing. 3. Services are critical for supporting Assistant General Counsels, Attorneys, and the Supervisory Paralegal during hiring processes. 4. The contract value suggests a focused scope of support rather than broad legal representation. 5. Fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the agency. 6. The duration of the contract is one year, with potential for extension.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $1.13 million for a one-year term appears reasonable for specialized paralegal and legal assistant support services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for legal support within federal agencies is challenging without more granular data on the specific tasks and seniority levels required. However, the recompete nature suggests the previous pricing was acceptable to the agency. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The fact that it is a recompete suggests that the incumbent contractor, PAT TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES INC, was likely among the bidders, and potentially faced competition from other firms. The level of competition for this specific award is not detailed, but full and open competition generally promotes price discovery and encourages competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition as it is designed to secure the best value by allowing all qualified sources to compete, potentially leading to lower prices and higher quality services.

Public Impact

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's Office of General Counsel (OGC) benefits directly from this contract. Essential paralegal and legal assistant services are delivered to support attorneys and legal staff. The services aid in the efficient functioning of the OGC, particularly during periods of staff transition. The contract supports legal operations within the District of Columbia, where the PBGC is headquartered.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for over-reliance on incumbent if competition was not robust.
Scope creep could increase costs beyond the initial award amount if not managed carefully.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical support functions carries inherent risk.

Positive Signals

Recompete indicates satisfaction with previous service delivery.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process.

Sector Analysis

The legal services sector within the federal government is substantial, encompassing a wide range of support functions from administrative to highly specialized legal advice. Contracts for paralegal and legal assistant support are common across many agencies, particularly those with significant litigation, regulatory, or advisory roles. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) requires such support to manage its legal operations effectively. This contract fits within the broader category of professional services procurement, where agencies often seek external expertise to supplement internal capabilities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business set-aside was not utilized for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary focus was on full and open competition. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral in terms of direct set-aside, but larger prime contractors may engage small businesses for specialized support if it aligns with their strategy.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's contracting officer and program managers within the Office of General Counsel. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award notice. The Inspector General's office for the PBGC would have jurisdiction for audits and investigations related to potential fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Legal Services Contracts
Paralegal Support Services
Professional and Management Support Services
Office of General Counsel Support

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to recompete nature.
Service continuity risk if contractor faces operational challenges.
Need for diligent contract oversight to ensure quality and value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation awarded $112,614.12 to PAT TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES INC. RECOMPETE OF CONTRACT NUMBER 16PBGC24M0013 FOR PARALEGAL / LEGAL ASSISTANT SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST THE ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSELS (AGCS), ATTORNEYS AND THE SUPERVISORY PARALEGAL IN OGC AS THE OFFICE GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HIRING A PERMANENT F

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PAT TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $112,614.12.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-03-17. End: 2027-03-17.

What is the historical spending pattern for paralegal and legal assistant support services at the PBGC?

Analyzing historical spending for paralegal and legal assistant support at the PBGC requires access to detailed contract databases beyond the provided data. However, the fact that this is a recompete of contract number 16PBGC24M0013 suggests a continuous need for these services. Typically, agencies like the PBGC procure such support through a mix of contract vehicles, including task orders under larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts or direct awards for specific needs. The annual value of this current award ($1.13M) provides a benchmark for recent spending. To understand the full historical pattern, one would need to examine prior contract awards for similar services, their values, durations, and the contractors involved over several fiscal years to identify trends in spending, potential increases or decreases, and the evolution of service requirements.

How does the pricing of PAT TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES INC compare to market rates for similar paralegal services?

Directly comparing the pricing of PAT TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES INC to precise market rates for paralegal services is challenging without detailed task breakdowns and labor categories specific to this contract. The provided data indicates a total award amount of $1,126,141.12 for a 365-day period. To benchmark effectively, one would need to analyze the proposed hourly rates for paralegals, legal assistants, and potentially supervisory roles against industry surveys (e.g., from the Bureau of Labor Statistics or private legal staffing firms) and against rates awarded in similar federal contracts. Given this is a recompete under full and open competition, it suggests the agency found the previous pricing competitive. However, a thorough analysis would involve comparing the average loaded labor rates against a defined market basket of comparable services.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the performance of PAT TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES INC under this contract?

The provided contract data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this specific award. However, in federal contracts for professional services like paralegal support, KPIs typically revolve around timeliness, accuracy, responsiveness, and adherence to legal procedures and agency guidelines. For paralegals, this could include metrics such as the percentage of documents filed by deadlines, accuracy rates in legal research summaries, turnaround time for document preparation requests, and client satisfaction feedback from the attorneys and OGC staff they support. The contract's performance standards, often detailed in the Statement of Work (SOW), would outline these expectations and the methods for measuring performance, which would then inform any incentive or penalty clauses.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the PBGC's overall legal workload and efficiency?

This contract is designed to directly support the PBGC's Office of General Counsel (OGC) by providing essential paralegal and legal assistant services. The award aims to ensure the continuity of operations, particularly during the process of hiring permanent staff. By outsourcing these critical support functions, the OGC can maintain its workflow without being hindered by staffing gaps or the administrative burden of managing a larger in-house support team during transitions. This allows the attorneys and Assistant General Counsels to focus on higher-level legal strategy and decision-making, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and responsiveness of the OGC to the PBGC's legal needs.

Are there any specific risks associated with relying on a single contractor for these legal support services?

Yes, there are potential risks associated with relying on a single contractor for critical legal support services. One primary risk is vendor lock-in, where the agency becomes heavily dependent on the incumbent contractor, potentially reducing leverage in future negotiations. Another risk is service disruption; if the contractor experiences financial difficulties, staffing shortages, or operational issues, it could directly impact the PBGC's legal operations. Furthermore, a lack of continuous competitive pressure might lead to complacency or a decline in service quality over time, although the recompete process aims to mitigate this. Ensuring robust contract management, clear performance expectations, and contingency planning are crucial to managing these risks.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Legal Services › Offices of Lawyers

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 16PBGC26Q0010

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1725 I ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20006

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $594,447

Exercised Options: $594,447

Current Obligation: $112,614

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA20D001Q

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline