GAO awards $157,760 for transcription services, highlighting a short-term need for FAIS job code 108194

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,776 ($15.8K)

Contractor: Heritage Reporting Corporation

Awarding Agency: Government Accountability Office

Start Date: 2026-04-09

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 21 days

Daily Burn Rate: $751/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES FOR FAIS JOB CODE 108194 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE APRIL 9 2026 THROUGH APRIL 30 2026

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 $15,776 to HERITAGE REPORTING CORPORATION for work described as: TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES FOR FAIS JOB CODE 108194 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE APRIL 9 2026 THROUGH APRIL 30 2026 Key points: 1. The contract value of $157,760 for a 21-day period suggests a high daily rate for specialized transcription. 2. Competition was full and open, indicating a potentially competitive bidding process for this service. 3. The short performance period (April 9, 2026 - April 30, 2026) points to an immediate or urgent requirement. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 561320 for Temporary Help Services is broad and may encompass various administrative support functions. 5. The award to Heritage Reporting Corporation suggests established capabilities in providing such specialized services. 6. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not closely monitored.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $157,760 for a 21-day period equates to approximately $7,512 per day. This daily rate appears high for standard transcription services and may reflect the specialized nature of the FAIS job code 108194 or the urgency of the requirement. Without specific details on the volume or complexity of the transcription needed, a direct comparison to similar contracts is difficult, but the cost per day warrants scrutiny.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' which is a specific method of full and open competition. This implies that the agency sought offers from all responsible sources but may have excluded certain sources for specific, documented reasons. The number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competitive environment was intended.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging multiple vendors to bid, which can drive down prices and improve service quality. This approach helps ensure the government is obtaining services at a fair market price.

Public Impact

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the primary beneficiary, requiring transcription services for FAIS job code 108194. The services delivered are transcription, likely for official proceedings, meetings, or interviews conducted by the GAO. The geographic impact is localized to the District of Columbia, where the GAO is headquartered. The contract supports specialized administrative functions within the federal government, indirectly impacting the efficiency of GAO's oversight and investigative work.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if the scope of work is not well-defined or if labor hours exceed initial estimates.
The short performance period might indicate a reactive need, potentially leading to premium pricing for expedited services.
The specific nature of 'FAIS job code 108194' is not detailed, making it difficult to assess if the chosen vendor has the precise expertise required.

Positive Signals

The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a fair and transparent process.
The contractor, Heritage Reporting Corporation, likely has a track record in providing transcription services, implying a level of reliability.
The contract is for a defined, short period, limiting long-term financial commitment and potential for scope creep.

Sector Analysis

The federal government utilizes a vast array of support services, including temporary help and specialized administrative functions, to meet its operational needs. The market for transcription services is competitive, with numerous firms offering various levels of specialization, from general dictation to highly technical or legal transcription. The GAO's need for transcription related to specific job codes falls within the broader administrative and professional services sector, where agencies often procure specialized expertise for short-term or project-based requirements.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business set-asides were not utilized for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. While Heritage Reporting Corporation's size is not specified, the lack of a set-aside means larger businesses could compete. There is no information on subcontracting plans, so the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is not evident from this award alone.

Oversight & Accountability

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) itself is an oversight agency, suggesting a high degree of internal scrutiny for its own procurements. The contract is a BPA Call, which typically operates under a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement, implying that the terms and conditions of the BPA have already undergone review. The Time and Materials nature of the contract necessitates diligent monitoring of labor hours and costs by the contracting officer to ensure value for money and prevent overspending. Transparency is generally high for GAO procurements, though specific details of the competition beyond its 'full and open' status are not detailed here.

Related Government Programs

Government Transcription Services
Temporary Administrative Support
Professional Services Contracts
Government Accountability Office Operations

Risk Flags

Short Performance Period
Time and Materials Contract Type
High Daily Rate Potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Government Accountability Office awarded $15,776 to HERITAGE REPORTING CORPORATION. TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES FOR FAIS JOB CODE 108194 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE APRIL 9 2026 THROUGH APRIL 30 2026

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HERITAGE REPORTING CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $15,776.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-09. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the specific nature of 'FAIS job code 108194' and why does it require specialized transcription services?

The provided data does not specify the exact nature of 'FAIS job code 108194'. FAIS likely refers to a Federal Agency Information System or a similar internal classification within the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Job codes typically categorize specific roles, tasks, or projects. The requirement for specialized transcription suggests that the content being transcribed is either highly technical, sensitive, requires specific formatting, or involves complex terminology related to the GAO's investigative or auditing functions. Without further details from the GAO, the precise reason for the specialization and the associated cost cannot be fully determined. It could relate to legal proceedings, detailed financial audits, or policy development requiring verbatim records.

How does the daily rate of approximately $7,512 compare to market rates for specialized transcription services?

The daily rate of approximately $7,512 derived from the $157,760 contract over 21 days is exceptionally high for standard transcription services. Market rates for general transcription typically range from $1 to $3 per audio minute, or $60 to $180 per hour of audio. Even for highly specialized fields like legal or medical transcription, daily rates are uncommon benchmarks, but hourly rates might reach $50-$100. A daily rate of $7,512 would imply an extraordinary volume of transcription or an extremely high level of specialized expertise (e.g., simultaneous interpretation transcription, highly sensitive security-related verbatim reporting) coupled with rapid turnaround times. Without knowing the specific requirements of FAIS job code 108194, it's difficult to definitively benchmark, but this rate warrants close examination for justification.

What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials contract for this service?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like this one, carry inherent risks, primarily related to cost control. The government agrees to pay the contractor for the actual cost of direct labor (at specified hourly rates) and indirect costs, plus a fee. The main risk is that the contractor may not work as efficiently as possible, or the total hours required could significantly exceed initial estimates, leading to higher-than-anticipated costs for the government. For transcription services, this could mean longer-than-expected recording times or excessive labor hours spent on editing and formatting. To mitigate these risks, the GAO must implement robust oversight, closely monitor labor hours reported, ensure clear task definitions, and potentially include cost ceilings or incentives within the contract.

What does the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' designation imply about the bidding process?

The designation 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' (often referred to as FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) or similar) means that the agency intended to conduct a full and open competition but, for specific, documented reasons, excluded certain potential sources from consideration. This is distinct from a sole-source award. It implies that multiple responsible sources were available, but perhaps only a subset was solicited or allowed to bid due to unique capabilities, proprietary data, or other justifications approved under procurement regulations. While it's a form of open competition, the exclusion aspect means the pool of bidders was intentionally narrowed, which could potentially impact the level of price competition compared to a truly unrestricted full and open competition.

Given the short performance period, what is the likelihood of contract modifications or extensions?

The contract has a very short performance period, from April 9, 2026, to April 30, 2026 (21 days). Such short durations often indicate an urgent, immediate need or a specific, time-bound task. While the intention is usually to complete the work within the specified period, there is always a possibility of modifications or extensions if the initial requirement was underestimated, unforeseen circumstances arise, or the scope needs to be adjusted. However, for such a brief period, the agency likely planned for contingencies or has alternative solutions if the initial task completion is delayed. Significant modifications would require justification and potentially re-competition depending on the nature and value of the changes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Employment Services › Temporary Help Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 05GA0A23Q0005

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1150 CONNECTICUT AVE NW STE 305, WASHINGTON, DC, 20036

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $15,776

Exercised Options: $15,776

Current Obligation: $15,776

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 05GA0A23A0009

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline