VA awards $4.1M contract for stenographic services to Vet Reporting LLC, competing under SAP

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,069 ($4.1K)

Contractor: VET Reporting LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2026-02-02

End Date: 2026-03-06

Contract Duration: 32 days

Daily Burn Rate: $127/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: VISN 02 STENO SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: BATH, STEUBEN County, NEW YORK, 14810

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $4,068.55 to VET REPORTING LLC for work described as: VISN 02 STENO SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via BPA Call, indicating a pre-negotiated agreement. 2. Fixed-price contract type suggests cost certainty for the government. 3. Short duration of 32 days may indicate a specific, time-sensitive need. 4. Services fall under Court Reporting and Stenotype Services NAICS code. 5. Contract awarded to a single vendor, Vet Reporting LLC. 6. Geographic location of award is New York.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4.1 million for a 32-day period appears high for stenographic services. Without more context on the volume of services required (e.g., hours of transcription, number of proceedings), it's difficult to benchmark the per-unit cost effectively. However, the total award amount for such a short duration warrants scrutiny to ensure value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), which typically involves smaller dollar value procurements and may have fewer bidders than full and open competition. While the specific competition details are not provided, using SAP suggests a streamlined process that might limit the pool of potential offerors.

Taxpayer Impact: Using simplified acquisition procedures can lead to faster award times but may not always secure the lowest possible price due to potentially reduced competition compared to full and open solicitations.

Public Impact

Veterans Affairs beneficiaries will benefit from accurate and timely documentation of proceedings. Court reporting and stenotype services will be delivered. Services are geographically focused within New York. The contract supports the administrative functions of the VA healthcare system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High total award value for a short contract duration.
Limited competition due to SAP procedures.
Lack of detailed performance metrics or deliverables in the provided data.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability.
Awarded through a BPA Call, suggesting an existing relationship and potentially streamlined ordering process.
Services are essential for legal and administrative processes within the VA.

Sector Analysis

The market for court reporting and stenotype services is specialized, serving legal, medical, and government sectors. This contract falls within the administrative support services category for the federal government. Spending in this area is often driven by regulatory requirements and the need for official record-keeping. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without knowing the specific volume and complexity of the services required.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract included small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. Given the competition method (SAP), it's possible that opportunities for small businesses were limited, though not explicitly stated. Further investigation into the specific solicitation would be needed to determine the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Veterans Affairs' contracting and program management offices. As a BPA Call, the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement likely has its own oversight mechanisms. Transparency is dependent on the VA's reporting practices for BPA calls and simplified acquisitions. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

VA Medical Services Contracts
Federal Court Reporting Services
Administrative Support Services Contracts

Risk Flags

High total award value for short duration
Potential for limited competition under SAP

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $4,068.55 to VET REPORTING LLC. VISN 02 STENO SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VET REPORTING LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4,068.55.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-02-02. End: 2026-03-06.

What is the expected volume of services (e.g., hours, pages) to justify the $4.1 million award for a 32-day period?

The provided data does not specify the expected volume of stenographic services. The total award of $4.1 million for a mere 32 days is exceptionally high for standard court reporting services. This suggests either an extremely high volume of proceedings requiring transcription, a very complex or specialized type of reporting, or potentially an inflated price. Without details on the quantity of work, it is impossible to determine if the value is justified. Further analysis would require access to the specific task order details under the BPA Call, including service level agreements and expected deliverables.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar stenographic services procured by the VA or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking this contract's pricing is challenging without specific per-unit cost data (e.g., cost per hour, cost per page). The total award of $4.1 million for 32 days is a significant amount. Typically, court reporting services are priced based on the time spent in session and the number of pages transcribed. If this award represents a fixed price for a set duration, it would need to cover an extraordinary amount of work to be considered competitive. A review of historical VA procurements for similar services, especially those competed under full and open competition, would be necessary to establish a fair market price comparison.

What are the specific risks associated with a sole-source or limited competition award under SAP for critical stenographic services?

While this contract was competed under SAP, the data indicates only one awardee (Vet Reporting LLC), suggesting limited competition. Risks associated with limited competition include potentially higher prices than could be achieved through broader outreach, reduced innovation, and a smaller pool of qualified vendors. For critical services like stenography, which ensure accurate record-keeping, reliance on a single vendor under a streamlined process could also pose risks if that vendor experiences performance issues or capacity limitations. The VA should ensure robust performance monitoring and contingency plans are in place.

What is the track record of Vet Reporting LLC in providing federal contracting services, particularly for the Department of Veterans Affairs?

Information regarding the track record of Vet Reporting LLC is not detailed in the provided data snippet. To assess their reliability and past performance, a review of their contract history with the VA and other federal agencies would be necessary. This would include examining past performance evaluations, any documented issues or disputes, and their experience with similar types of services and contract values. A strong track record would provide greater confidence in their ability to meet the requirements of this significant award.

What is the historical spending pattern for stenographic services within VISN 02 or the VA overall?

The provided data only includes details for this specific contract award. To understand historical spending patterns for stenographic services within VISN 02 or the VA, a comprehensive analysis of past contract awards would be required. This would involve querying federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending) for similar NAICS codes (e.g., 561492) and contract types over several fiscal years. Examining trends in award values, number of competitors, and incumbent contractors would reveal patterns and potential changes in spending.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Business Support Services › Court Reporting and Stenotype Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1512 WAYNESBOROUGH CT, MARIETTA, GA, 30062

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,069

Exercised Options: $4,069

Current Obligation: $4,069

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 36C24222A0010

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline