DOE's $20.2M Legal Services Contract for Radioactive Waste Management Awarded to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $20,227,550 ($20.2M)
Contractor: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2007-09-27
End Date: 2017-06-30
Contract Duration: 3,564 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: Other
Official Description: PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, INVOLVING LEGAL MATTERS TO THE LICENSING ACTIVITIES OF THE DOE OFFICE OF CIVILIAN RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT (OCRWM).
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $20.2 million to MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP for work described as: PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, INVOLVING LEGAL MATTERS TO THE LICENSING ACTIVITIES OF THE DOE OFFICE OF CIVILIAN RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT (OCRWM). Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single large law firm, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. 2. Services provided to the Department of Energy's Office of General Counsel. 3. Focuses on legal advice for the licensing activities of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. 4. Contract duration spanned 10 years, from 2007 to 2017.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $20.2 million over 10 years suggests a significant but potentially fair price for specialized legal counsel. Benchmarking is difficult without specific task orders and comparable legal service rates.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have paid a premium due to the lack of competition for these specialized legal services.
Public Impact
Ensures legal compliance for critical radioactive waste management operations. Supports the Department of Energy's mission in handling sensitive nuclear materials. Potential for long-term implications on environmental and safety regulations. Public trust in government oversight of nuclear waste is indirectly affected.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Long contract duration
- Sole-source award
Positive Signals
- Specialized legal expertise provided
- Support for critical government function
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under business support services, specifically legal counsel for a highly specialized government function. Spending benchmarks for such niche legal services are difficult to establish due to unique requirements and firm-specific rates.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to a large law firm and did not involve small businesses. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Energy's Office of General Counsel. Oversight details are not provided, but the long duration and sole-source nature warrant scrutiny.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Business Support Services
- Department of Energy Contracting
- Department of Energy Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for overpayment due to sole-source award
- Limited transparency on performance metrics
- Long-term commitment without re-evaluation
Tags
all-other-business-support-services, department-of-energy, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $20.2 million to MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP. PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, INVOLVING LEGAL MATTERS TO THE LICENSING ACTIVITIES OF THE DOE OFFICE OF CIVILIAN RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT (OCRWM).
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $20.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-09-27. End: 2017-06-30.
Was the sole-source justification for this contract robust, considering the specialized nature of the legal services required for radioactive waste management?
The justification for a sole-source award typically relies on unique capabilities or circumstances. For specialized legal advice on radioactive waste management, it's plausible that a specific firm possessed unparalleled expertise or prior involvement that made competition impractical or detrimental to continuity. However, without the documented justification, it's difficult to definitively assess its robustness.
What was the impact of the 10-year contract duration on the cost-effectiveness of the legal services provided?
A long contract duration, especially when not subject to periodic re-competition, can lead to price escalation or a lack of incentive for the contractor to offer the most competitive rates. While it provides continuity, it also removes opportunities to leverage market changes or new entrants that could drive down costs for the taxpayer over time.
How effectively did Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP's legal advice contribute to the DOE's licensing activities and overall mission success in radioactive waste management?
Assessing the effectiveness of legal advice is challenging without access to internal DOE performance reviews or specific outcomes of the licensing activities. However, the continued engagement over a decade suggests a level of satisfaction with the services rendered. The ultimate measure of effectiveness would be the successful and compliant navigation of complex regulatory and legal landscapes by the OCRWM.
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
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: DE-RP01-07GC30822
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1701 MARKET ST FL 2, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19103
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $108,743,792
Exercised Options: $47,534,484
Current Obligation: $20,227,550
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-09-27
Current End Date: 2017-06-30
Potential End Date: 2017-10-13 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-11-30
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