GAO awards $240K contract for legal services to Alden Law Group PLLC, citing sole-source justification

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $240,508 ($240.5K)

Contractor: Alden LAW Group PLLC

Awarding Agency: Government Accountability Office

Start Date: 2025-06-16

End Date: 2026-06-15

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $661/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: LEGAL SERVICES FROM NON-FEDERAL SOURCE FOR PAB IN SUPPORT OF IDIQ SOW TASK 2.

Place of Performance

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

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Government Accountability Office obligated $240,508.3 to ALDEN LAW GROUP PLLC for work described as: LEGAL SERVICES FROM NON-FEDERAL SOURCE FOR PAB IN SUPPORT OF IDIQ SOW TASK 2. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for specialized legal support to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). 2. The contract is for a duration of one year, ending June 15, 2026. 3. Services fall under 'All Other Legal Services' NAICS code 541199. 4. The award was made on a sole-source basis, raising questions about competition. 5. The contract type is 'Labor Hours', indicating payment based on time spent. 6. No small business set-aside was applied to this procurement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $240,508.30 for one year of legal services appears within a reasonable range for specialized legal support. However, without detailed task descriptions and comparison to similar sole-source awards for GAO's specific needs, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The 'Labor Hours' pricing structure can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not carefully managed and monitored.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. The justification for this approach is not detailed in the provided data, but typically sole-source awards are made when only one vendor can provide the required services due to unique capabilities, urgency, or other specific circumstances. The lack of competition means GAO did not solicit bids from other qualified law firms.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards limit the government's ability to leverage competitive pricing, potentially resulting in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully competed procurement.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which will receive essential legal support. The services delivered will aid GAO in fulfilling its oversight and auditing responsibilities. The contract's geographic impact is limited to the District of Columbia, where GAO is headquartered. The contract does not appear to have significant direct workforce implications beyond the specific legal professionals engaged.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Sole-source justification needs further scrutiny to ensure necessity.
Potential for scope creep in labor-hour contracts if not tightly managed.

Positive Signals

Award to a specific firm suggests specialized expertise is available.
Contract duration of one year allows for performance evaluation before potential extension.

Sector Analysis

Legal services represent a critical support function across all federal agencies. The market for legal services is diverse, ranging from large law firms to specialized boutique practices. Federal agencies often procure legal services for litigation, regulatory compliance, contract review, and advisory roles. Benchmarking this contract's value is difficult without knowing the specific legal domain and complexity, but the amount is moderate for specialized counsel.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it indicate any subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, it does not directly impact the small business ecosystem or provide opportunities for small business participation in this specific procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract will primarily fall under the Government Accountability Office's internal procurement and legal departments. The Comptroller General, as the head of GAO, holds ultimate accountability. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature, but GAO's public reporting and Inspector General activities may provide some level of oversight on its overall operations and spending.

Related Government Programs

GAO Legal Services
Federal Legal Counsel Procurement
Government Contract Law Support

Risk Flags

Sole-source justification requires verification.
Potential for cost overruns due to 'Labor Hours' pricing.
Lack of competitive bidding limits price discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Government Accountability Office awarded $240,508.3 to ALDEN LAW GROUP PLLC. LEGAL SERVICES FROM NON-FEDERAL SOURCE FOR PAB IN SUPPORT OF IDIQ SOW TASK 2.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALDEN LAW GROUP PLLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Government Accountability Office (GAO, Except Comptroller General).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $240,508.3.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-06-16. End: 2026-06-15.

What specific legal expertise does Alden Law Group PLLC possess that justifies a sole-source award from GAO?

The provided data does not specify the exact legal expertise of Alden Law Group PLLC that led to this sole-source award. Typically, sole-source justifications are based on unique qualifications, specialized knowledge in a niche area of law, or a pre-existing relationship where the contractor has already developed deep institutional knowledge of GAO's specific needs. Without further documentation from GAO, such as a Justification and Approval (J&A) document, the precise reasons for selecting Alden Law Group without competition remain unclear. This lack of transparency is a common concern with sole-source procurements.

How does the $240,508.30 contract value compare to typical legal service contracts awarded by GAO or similar oversight agencies?

Comparing this contract's value requires context regarding the specific legal services rendered. For specialized, short-term legal support, $240,508.30 for a one-year period is a moderate amount. However, GAO, as a large federal agency, likely engages in a wide range of legal support contracts, some of which could be significantly larger for complex litigation or long-term advisory roles. Without knowing the scope of work (e.g., advice on specific legislation, contract disputes, internal investigations), it's difficult to benchmark accurately. Generally, federal agencies aim for competitive bidding to secure the best value, making sole-source awards like this an exception that warrants scrutiny.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for legal services, particularly in terms of cost and quality?

The primary risk of a sole-source award is the absence of competitive pressure, which can lead to inflated pricing as the contractor may not feel compelled to offer the most cost-effective solution. There's also a potential risk that the chosen contractor, while believed to be the only source, may not be the absolute best fit in terms of quality or efficiency compared to what a competitive process might uncover. Furthermore, the lack of transparency inherent in sole-source awards can raise concerns about fairness and potential favoritism. Effective contract management, including clear performance metrics and vigilant oversight, becomes even more critical to mitigate these risks.

What is the significance of the 'Labor Hours' contract type (PT: LABOR HOURS) for this legal services procurement?

The 'Labor Hours' contract type means that payment is based on the actual hours worked by the contractor's personnel at agreed-upon hourly rates, rather than a fixed price for a defined scope of work. For legal services, this can be advantageous when the exact amount of time required is uncertain at the outset, such as for ongoing advisory or research tasks. However, it also introduces risk for the government, as the total cost can escalate if the work takes longer than anticipated. Robust monitoring of hours billed and task progress is essential to control costs and ensure efficiency under a labor-hour contract.

Are there any historical spending patterns with Alden Law Group PLLC by GAO or other federal agencies that provide context for this award?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns with Alden Law Group PLLC. To assess this, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending) for previous awards to this contractor by GAO or other agencies. Understanding past performance, contract values, and competition levels for similar services could provide valuable context for evaluating the current sole-source award. A history of successful, competitively won contracts might lend more confidence, while a pattern of sole-source awards could raise further questions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Legal Services › All Other Legal Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 05GA0A24Q0049

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1850 M ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20036

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $240,508

Exercised Options: $240,508

Current Obligation: $240,508

Actual Outlays: $50,293

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 05GA0A24D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline