Treasury's IRS Contracts Seth Blumsack for Expert Witness Services Through 2030
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $118,825 ($118.8K)
Contractor: Seth Blumsack
Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury
Start Date: 2025-01-28
End Date: 2030-01-27
Sector: Other
Official Description: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Treasury obligated $118,825 to SETH BLUMSACK for work described as: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for specialized expert witness services. 2. Long-term engagement suggests ongoing need for specialized legal/technical support. 3. Potential for significant cost if litigation is extensive or complex. 4. Sole-source award warrants scrutiny for competition and value.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value is not explicitly stated, making it difficult to assess value for money. The duration of the contract (over 5 years) suggests a potentially significant but unquantified investment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The award is sole-source, indicating that the IRS identified Seth Blumsack as the only capable provider. This limits competition and raises questions about whether other qualified experts were considered.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may bear the cost of this contract through IRS operational funding, especially if it supports enforcement activities.
Public Impact
Ensures IRS has specialized expertise for legal proceedings. May impact the efficiency and outcomes of tax litigation. Transparency in sole-source awards is crucial for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition due to sole-source award.
- Potential for cost overruns if litigation scope expands.
- Need for clear performance metrics to ensure effectiveness.
Positive Signals
- Secures specialized, potentially unique, expertise.
- Provides continuity of service for critical legal support.
- Long-term contract allows for predictable budgeting.
Sector Analysis
Expert witness services are crucial in legal and regulatory environments, particularly for agencies like the IRS that engage in complex litigation. This contract falls within professional services supporting government operations.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded sole-source and does not appear to include specific provisions for small businesses or set-asides. The focus is on specialized individual expertise.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight should focus on the justification for the sole-source award and the IRS's process for monitoring the contractor's performance and expenditures to ensure the services are necessary and cost-effective.
Related Government Programs
- Expert Witness Services
- Legal Support Services
- Professional Services
Risk Flags
- Sole-source justification
- Lack of stated total contract value
- Long contract duration
Tags
expert-witness, irs, treasury, sole-source, legal-services, government-contracting, tax-litigation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Treasury awarded $118,825 to SETH BLUMSACK. EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SETH BLUMSACK.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Internal Revenue Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $118,825.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-01-28. End: 2030-01-27.
Analysis insight 1
The total contract value is not provided, making a direct cost-effectiveness analysis challenging.
Analysis insight 2
The justification for a sole-source award needs to be thoroughly reviewed to ensure no viable alternatives were overlooked.
Analysis insight 3
Performance metrics and deliverables should be clearly defined to measure the impact of the expert witness services.