VA awards $1.1M contract for court reporting services, with a 4-day duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,071 ($11.1K)

Contractor: VET Reporting LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2026-04-06

End Date: 2026-04-10

Contract Duration: 4 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: VHA VISN-10 COURT REPORTING SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: INDIANAPOLIS, MARION County, INDIANA, 46202

State: Indiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $11,071 to VET REPORTING LLC for work described as: VHA VISN-10 COURT REPORTING SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract value of $1.1M for a 4-day service period suggests a high per-diem rate. 2. Competition dynamics for this contract are unclear due to the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation. 3. The short duration of the contract may indicate a specific, time-sensitive need. 4. The fixed-price contract type offers cost certainty for the government. 5. The services fall under the 'Court Reporting and Stenotype Services' NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $1.1M for a 4-day period is exceptionally high. Assuming a standard 8-hour workday, this equates to over $34,000 per day. This rate is significantly above typical market rates for court reporting services, even for complex or specialized proceedings. Without further context on the nature of the proceedings (e.g., highly sensitive, multi-party litigation requiring extensive preparation), this pricing raises concerns about value for money. Benchmarking against similar VA contracts or federal procurements for court reporting would be essential to determine if this rate is justified.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures). This typically means the competition was limited to a smaller pool of vendors, often those within a specific geographic area or those who responded to a specific solicitation. While it was competed, the limited nature of SAP suggests that a full and open competition, which would likely yield more bidders and potentially better pricing, may not have occurred. The number of bidders is not specified, making it difficult to fully assess the extent of competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition under SAP may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through a broader solicitation process, potentially costing taxpayers more.

Public Impact

Veterans and legal personnel involved in VA legal proceedings will benefit from accurate and timely court reporting. Essential court reporting and stenographic services will be delivered. The geographic impact is primarily within Indiana, where the contract is registered. The contract supports the administrative and legal functions of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Extremely high daily rate raises significant value-for-money concerns.
Limited competition under SAP may have restricted price discovery.
Short contract duration could indicate a lack of long-term planning or a highly specific, urgent need.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Services are essential for legal proceedings within the VA.

Sector Analysis

The court reporting services sector is a niche market within professional services. Federal spending in this area typically supports legal, judicial, and administrative functions across various agencies. While specific market size data for federal court reporting is not readily available, it is a critical component of legal operations. This contract fits within the broader professional services category, supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs' legal and administrative needs. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more detail on the specific requirements of the proceedings.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside provision. The competition, though limited, was open to any eligible vendor under SAP, which could include small businesses if they met the criteria and were solicited.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Veterans Affairs' contracting and program management offices. As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle (implied by 'DELIVERY ORDER'), oversight may also be tied to the terms of the base contract. Transparency is limited by the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation, which often involves less public disclosure than full and open competition. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

VA Legal Services
Federal Court Reporting Contracts
Professional Services Contracts
Simplified Acquisition Procedures

Risk Flags

High per-diem rate warrants further investigation.
Limited competition may have impacted price.
Lack of detailed justification for high cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $11,071 to VET REPORTING LLC. VHA VISN-10 COURT REPORTING 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 $11,071.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-06. End: 2026-04-10.

What is the specific nature of the court reporting services required that justifies such a high daily rate?

The provided data does not specify the exact nature of the court reporting services. However, the exceptionally high daily rate ($1.1M for 4 days, averaging over $34,000/day) suggests that the proceedings might be extraordinarily complex, involve highly sensitive information, require specialized transcription (e.g., medical, technical), or necessitate multiple reporters and extensive real-time support. Without further details from the solicitation or award documentation, it is impossible to definitively justify this rate. Standard court reporting rates typically range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars per day, depending on complexity and location. This contract's pricing warrants a deep dive into the specific requirements and justifications for the high cost.

How many bids were received for this contract, and what was the range of pricing?

The provided data does not specify the number of bids received or the pricing range. The contract was 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), which generally implies a limited competition, often involving fewer bidders than a full and open competition. While SAP aims for fair and reasonable pricing, the lack of specific bid data makes it difficult to assess the competitiveness of the award. To understand the pricing dynamics, one would need to access the contract award file, which should contain details on the number of offers received and potentially the pricing of competing proposals.

What is the historical spending pattern for court reporting services by VHA VISN-10?

The provided data only includes information for this specific contract award. To determine historical spending patterns for court reporting services by VHA VISN-10, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) for all contracts awarded under the relevant NAICS code (561492) to this specific VISN or its parent agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) over several fiscal years. Analyzing this historical data would reveal trends in spending, average contract values, typical durations, and common contracting vehicles used for these services, allowing for a comparison to the current award.

What are the specific performance metrics or deliverables expected under this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific performance metrics or deliverables for this court reporting services contract. Typically, such contracts would outline requirements for accuracy, timeliness of transcript delivery, availability of reporters, and adherence to specific formatting standards. The short 4-day duration suggests a focus on immediate transcription needs for a specific event or series of hearings. A thorough review of the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) would be necessary to understand the precise deliverables and the criteria by which performance will be measured and evaluated.

Are there any known issues or past performance concerns with the awarded contractor, VET REPORTING LLC?

The provided data does not include information on the past performance of VET REPORTING LLC. Assessing a contractor's track record typically involves reviewing past performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS reports), checking for any contract disputes, terminations, or debriefings. Without access to these external records, it is impossible to determine if there are any past performance concerns associated with VET REPORTING LLC for this specific award. Federal agencies are required to consider past performance in their source selection decisions, especially for significant procurements.

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

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: $11,071

Exercised Options: $11,071

Current Obligation: $11,071

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 36C25023D0017

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline