ITC Awards $177K Order to West Publishing for Legal Periodicals, Sole-Source

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $176,882 ($176.9K)

Contractor: West Publishing Corporation

Awarding Agency: International Trade Commission

Start Date: 2023-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $162/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: WEST PRINT ORDER FOR OGC AND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT PAUL, DAKOTA County, MINNESOTA, 55123

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

International Trade Commission obligated $176,882.24 to WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION for work described as: WEST PRINT ORDER FOR OGC AND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY Key points: 1. Spending is concentrated with a single vendor, West Publishing Corporation. 2. The contract is for legal periodicals, a niche but essential service. 3. Sole-source procurement raises questions about price discovery and potential overpayment. 4. The sector is dominated by established legal information providers.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $176,882.24 over three years for periodical subscriptions appears high given the sole-source nature. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to benchmark against market rates for similar legal information services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in the government paying a premium compared to a competitive environment.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the lack of competition, as the full value of the award is not being tested against market alternatives.

Public Impact

Access to legal research materials is crucial for the International Trade Commission's operations. The sole-source award limits transparency in how the price was determined. Potential for higher costs impacts the efficient use of taxpayer funds for essential services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

Essential service provided
Established vendor

Sector Analysis

The legal information services sector is characterized by high barriers to entry and a few dominant players like West Publishing. Spending benchmarks are difficult to establish due to proprietary data and the specialized nature of legal research.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to West Publishing Corporation, a large, established firm. There is no indication that small businesses were considered or involved in this procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants further oversight to ensure the pricing is fair and reasonable. A review of past sole-source justifications would be beneficial.

Related Government Programs

Periodical Publishers
International Trade Commission Contracting
International Trade Commission Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source justification unclear
Lack of competitive pricing
Potential for overpayment
Limited small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

International Trade Commission awarded $176,882.24 to WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION. WEST PRINT ORDER FOR OGC AND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: International Trade Commission (International Trade Commission).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $176,882.24.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the justification for awarding this contract sole-source?

The justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source contracts are justified when only one vendor can provide the required goods or services due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent needs. Without this information, it's impossible to assess the validity of the sole-source determination and its impact on value for money.

How does the per-unit cost compare to similar legal periodical subscriptions?

A direct per-unit cost comparison is not feasible with the provided data. The contract is for a broad range of legal periodicals and services from West Publishing. Benchmarking would require detailed knowledge of the specific publications and subscription tiers included, as well as access to pricing data from competitors, which is unavailable for this sole-source award.

What is the risk of vendor lock-in and inflated prices?

The risk of vendor lock-in and inflated prices is significant in sole-source contracts. By awarding to West Publishing without competition, the ITC may be subject to their pricing terms without recourse. This can lead to higher costs over time, especially if the agency becomes dependent on West's specific platform and content.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › Periodical Publishers

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Thomson Company Inc, the

Address: 610 OPPERMAN DR, EAGAN, MN, 55123

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $301,012

Exercised Options: $176,882

Current Obligation: $176,882

Actual Outlays: $174,983

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline