DOE Spends $30.4M on Yucca Mountain Legal Services via Sole-Source Contract
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $30,356,600 ($30.4M)
Contractor: Hunton & Williams LLP
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2004-03-24
End Date: 2014-06-30
Contract Duration: 3,750 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: LEGAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL IN THE LICENSING PROCESS OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $30.4 million to HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP for work described as: LEGAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL IN THE LICENSING PROCESS OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN Key points: 1. Significant expenditure on specialized legal support for a controversial project. 2. Lack of competition raises concerns about price discovery and potential overspending. 3. Long contract duration (10 years) suggests sustained, high-value legal needs. 4. The 'All Other Business Support Services' NAICS code is broad, potentially masking specific service costs.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $30.4 million over 10 years is substantial for legal services. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to benchmark against similar contracts for specialized legal support in complex regulatory environments.
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 potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no market pressure to offer the best price.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a $30.4 million contract means taxpayers may have paid a premium for these legal services.
Public Impact
Public funds allocated to a highly debated nuclear waste repository project. Legal services procured without competitive bidding, impacting transparency. Long-term commitment to a single contractor for essential project support.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source procurement
- Long contract duration
- High contract value
- Lack of small business participation
Positive Signals
- Provided essential legal support for a complex federal project.
Sector Analysis
Legal services for complex federal projects, especially those with significant regulatory and public opposition like Yucca Mountain, can be highly specialized and costly. Benchmarks are difficult without competitive data.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates no small business participation (sb: false). This suggests the services were either not suitable for small businesses or outreach efforts were insufficient.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this contract warrants scrutiny regarding the justification for not seeking competitive bids and ensuring fair pricing was achieved.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Business Support Services
- Department of Energy Contracting
- Department of Energy Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for cost overruns
- Limited transparency in pricing
- No small business participation
- Long-term commitment to a single vendor
Tags
all-other-business-support-services, department-of-energy, dc, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $30.4 million to HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP. LEGAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL IN THE LICENSING PROCESS OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $30.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-03-24. End: 2014-06-30.
What specific legal expertise was required that necessitated a sole-source award for such a lengthy period?
The specific legal expertise likely involved navigating complex federal regulations, environmental law, administrative procedures, and potentially litigation related to the licensing and construction of the Yucca Mountain repository. The long duration suggests a sustained need for this specialized knowledge throughout the project's lifecycle, which may have been difficult to find competitively.
How was the 'fair and reasonable' price determined for this sole-source contract?
Without a competitive process, determining a 'fair and reasonable' price typically relies on historical pricing data for similar services, cost analysis of the contractor's proposed expenses, or comparison to industry standards. However, the lack of competition makes independent verification challenging and raises questions about whether the government secured the best possible price.
What was the ultimate effectiveness of these legal services in advancing or resolving issues related to the Yucca Mountain project?
The effectiveness is difficult to assess solely from contract data. While the services were provided, the Yucca Mountain project itself faced significant political and technical hurdles, and its future remains uncertain. The legal support may have been crucial for navigating regulatory processes, but its ultimate impact on the project's success is intertwined with broader policy decisions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Business Support Services › All Other Business Support Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (UEI: 074751827)
Address: 1900 K STREET, N.W.,, WASHINGTON, DC, 20006
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $63,112,846
Exercised Options: $63,112,846
Current Obligation: $30,356,600
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-03-24
Current End Date: 2014-06-30
Potential End Date: 2014-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2015-04-27
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