DOJ ATF Awards $345K Language Services Contract to SOS International LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $345,000 ($345.0K)
Contractor: SOS International LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2026-03-25
End Date: 2028-03-24
Contract Duration: 730 days
Daily Burn Rate: $473/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: BUREAU WIDE LANGUAGE SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20191
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $345,000 to SOS INTERNATIONAL LLC for work described as: BUREAU WIDE LANGUAGE SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded to SOS International LLC for Bureau Wide Language Services. 2. The contract has a total value of $345,000. 3. The contract duration is 730 days. 4. The service category is Translation and Interpretation Services. 5. The contract was awarded under Full and Open Competition.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $345,000 for two years of language services appears reasonable given the specialized nature of translation and interpretation. Benchmarking against similar contracts for government-wide language support would provide a clearer picture of value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through Full and Open Competition, indicating a broad solicitation process. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing by allowing all eligible vendors to submit proposals.
Taxpayer Impact: The $345,000 expenditure represents a modest investment for essential language services, with competition likely ensuring a fair price for taxpayers.
Public Impact
Ensures critical communication needs are met for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Supports law enforcement and investigative activities requiring accurate translation. Facilitates interactions with diverse populations and international partners.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for increased demand impacting future contract costs.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical services.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Clear contract duration and end date.
Sector Analysis
Translation and interpretation services fall under professional, scientific, and technical services. Government spending in this sector is driven by the need for effective communication across diverse languages and contexts, particularly in law enforcement and international affairs.
Small Business Impact
While this specific contract was awarded to SOS International LLC, the 'Full and Open Competition' nature of the award suggests that small businesses had the opportunity to compete if they met the qualifications. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were subcontracted.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acquisition and Property Management Division. Oversight would involve monitoring service delivery, vendor performance, and adherence to contract terms to ensure accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Translation and Interpretation Services
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acquisition and Property Management Division Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if demand exceeds projections.
- Dependence on a single vendor for critical language support.
- Risk of inaccurate translations impacting investigations.
- Vendor performance monitoring is crucial.
Tags
translation-and-interpretation-services, department-of-justice, va, delivery-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $345,000 to SOS INTERNATIONAL LLC. BUREAU WIDE LANGUAGE SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SOS INTERNATIONAL LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acquisition and Property Management Division).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $345,000.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-03-25. End: 2028-03-24.
What is the typical cost per hour or per word for similar translation and interpretation services in the federal government?
The typical cost for federal translation and interpretation services can vary significantly based on language complexity, urgency, and service type (e.g., document translation vs. live interpretation). Rates can range from $50 to over $200 per hour for interpreters, and per-word costs for translation might range from $0.10 to $0.50 or more. Benchmarking against these averages would help assess the value of the $345,000 contract.
What are the potential risks if SOS International LLC fails to meet the service level agreements for translation and interpretation?
Failure to meet service level agreements could significantly impede ATF's operations, potentially delaying investigations, compromising evidence due to inaccurate translations, or hindering communication with non-English speaking individuals or international partners. This could lead to operational inefficiencies, legal challenges, and damage to the agency's mission effectiveness and public trust.
How effectively does this contract support the ATF's core mission objectives related to enforcement and public safety?
This contract is crucial for the ATF's mission by enabling effective communication in diverse linguistic environments. Accurate translation and interpretation are vital for interrogations, witness interviews, document analysis, and liaising with international agencies, directly supporting enforcement actions and ensuring public safety initiatives are not hindered by language barriers.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Translation and Interpretation Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 15A00026Q00000026
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1881 CAMPUS COMMONS DRIVE, RESTON, VA, 20191
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $11,910,568
Exercised Options: $2,018,870
Current Obligation: $345,000
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS26D00000142
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-03-25
Current End Date: 2028-03-24
Potential End Date: 2031-09-24 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-10
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