Merit Systems Protection Board awards $3.28M contract for court reporting services to ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,279 ($3.3K)

Contractor: ANN Thornton Berry, LLC

Awarding Agency: Merit Systems Protection Board

Start Date: 2026-04-09

End Date: 2026-04-09

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: COURT REPORTING SERVICES IN DALLAS REGIONAL OFFICE

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20036

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Merit Systems Protection Board obligated $3,279.09 to ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC for work described as: COURT REPORTING SERVICES IN DALLAS REGIONAL OFFICE Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price competition. 2. The contract duration is less than one year, suggesting a need for immediate services. 3. The award is a BPA Call, indicating a pre-negotiated agreement for specific services. 4. The contractor is a single entity, ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC. 5. The service is court reporting, a specialized administrative support function.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value for this specific contract is challenging due to its sole-source nature and limited public data. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if the pricing reflects fair market value. The contract is for court reporting services, which can vary significantly in cost based on location, duration, and specific requirements. Further analysis would require comparing rates to similar services procured competitively in the Dallas region or by other federal agencies.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and was awarded on a sole-source basis. This means that only one vendor, ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC, was solicited for the services. The lack of competition limits the agency's ability to explore alternative vendors and potentially secure more favorable pricing or terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no competitive pressure to drive down prices. This limits the government's ability to achieve best value.

Public Impact

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) benefits from essential court reporting services for its proceedings. This contract ensures accurate and timely transcription of hearings and appeals. The services are geographically focused on the Dallas Regional Office. The contract supports the administrative functions of the MSPB, indirectly impacting federal employees involved in appeals.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing and potentially increases cost to taxpayers.
Lack of competition may reduce incentive for contractor to offer best value.
Limited public data makes independent value assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

Contract ensures essential court reporting services are available for MSPB operations.
BPA Call award suggests a pre-existing relationship or framework for efficient service delivery.

Sector Analysis

Court reporting services fall under the broader administrative and professional services sector. This sector is characterized by a mix of small and large businesses providing specialized support functions to government agencies. The market size for court reporting is influenced by the volume of legal and administrative proceedings requiring verbatim transcription. Benchmarking this contract's value is difficult without competitive data, but it represents a small portion of overall federal spending on professional services.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC, and there is no indication of a small business set-aside. Information regarding subcontracting opportunities for small businesses is not available from the provided data. The sole-source nature of the award further limits the potential for small business participation through subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract would primarily fall under the Merit Systems Protection Board's internal procurement and program management offices. As a sole-source award, the justification for not competing the contract would be subject to internal review and potentially external audits if flagged. Transparency is limited due to the non-competitive nature of the award.

Related Government Programs

Federal Court Reporting Services
Administrative Support Services
Merit Systems Protection Board Operations

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Merit Systems Protection Board awarded $3,279.09 to ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC. COURT REPORTING SERVICES IN DALLAS REGIONAL OFFICE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Merit Systems Protection Board (Merit Systems Protection Board).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3,279.09.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-09. End: 2026-04-09.

What is the track record of ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC with federal contracts?

Information regarding the specific track record of ANN THORNTON BERRY, LLC with federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. The award notice indicates this is a sole-source contract. To assess their track record, one would typically look at past performance evaluations, previous contract awards, and any history of performance issues or successes with government agencies. Without this additional data, it is difficult to provide a comprehensive assessment of their reliability and past performance in fulfilling federal requirements.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar court reporting services?

Direct comparison of pricing for this contract is difficult due to its sole-source nature and the limited data provided. Typically, value-for-money is assessed by benchmarking against competitively awarded contracts for similar services in the same geographic region or against established government-wide contract vehicles. Since this award was not competed, there is no baseline from other bidders to gauge if the price is optimal. Further analysis would require obtaining pricing data from other MSPB regional offices or similar agencies that have procured court reporting services competitively.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for court reporting services?

The primary risks associated with a sole-source award for court reporting services include potential overpayment due to lack of price competition, limited vendor options if performance issues arise, and reduced incentive for the contractor to innovate or provide exceptional service. Taxpayers may bear a higher cost compared to a competitive procurement. Additionally, the agency might miss out on potentially better service offerings or more cost-effective solutions that could have been identified through a competitive process. The lack of transparency in the procurement process can also raise concerns about fairness and efficiency.

How effective is the Merit Systems Protection Board in managing its court reporting contracts?

The provided data does not offer sufficient information to assess the overall effectiveness of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) in managing its court reporting contracts. Effectiveness would typically be evaluated based on factors such as contractor performance metrics, timely delivery of services, accuracy of transcripts, adherence to budget, and overall satisfaction with the services provided. While this specific contract is for court reporting, its sole-source nature makes it harder to judge the MSPB's procurement strategy effectiveness in securing best value. A broader review of MSPB's contracting history and performance reviews would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment.

What are the historical spending patterns for court reporting services by the MSPB?

Historical spending patterns for court reporting services by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) are not detailed in the provided data. To analyze this, one would need access to historical contract databases or agency procurement reports. Such an analysis would typically involve examining the total amount spent on court reporting services over several fiscal years, the number of contracts awarded, the types of procurement methods used (competitive vs. sole-source), and the primary contractors. Understanding these patterns can reveal trends in service needs, cost fluctuations, and the agency's procurement strategies over time.

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: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1533 VZ COUNTY ROAD 4810, CHANDLER, TX, 75758

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,279

Exercised Options: $3,279

Current Obligation: $3,279

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 41311423A0003MSP

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline