DOJ's $724K translation services contract awarded to METLANG LLC, a non-competed BPA call

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $72,447 ($72.4K)

Contractor: Metlang LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-06

End Date: 2026-05-15

Contract Duration: 39 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TRANSLATION SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: DANIA, BROWARD County, FLORIDA, 33004

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $72,447.08 to METLANG LLC for work described as: TRANSLATION SERVICES Key points: 1. Value for money is difficult to assess due to the lack of competition. 2. Competition dynamics are limited, with a sole-source award under a BPA call. 3. Risk indicators include potential for overpayment without competitive benchmarking. 4. Performance context is for translation and interpretation services for the DEA. 5. Sector positioning is within professional, scientific, and technical services.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $724,447.08 for translation services is difficult to benchmark without competitive data. As a sole-source award under a BPA call, there's a risk that the pricing may not reflect market rates. Comparing this to similar translation contracts, especially those that underwent full and open competition, would be necessary to determine if fair and reasonable pricing was achieved.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under SAP and was awarded as a BPA call. The limited competition means that only one vendor, METLANG LLC, was considered. This lack of a competitive bidding process raises concerns about price discovery and the potential for the government to not receive the best possible pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution due to the absence of competitive pressure to drive down prices.

Public Impact

Law enforcement agencies, specifically the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will benefit from enhanced translation and interpretation capabilities. Essential services for breaking down language barriers in investigations and operations will be delivered. The geographic impact is focused on Florida, where the contractor is based. Workforce implications are minimal for the government, but METLANG LLC will provide the necessary linguistic personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Limited transparency in the award process due to sole-source nature.
Potential for vendor lock-in if future needs are also sole-sourced.

Positive Signals

Contract supports critical law enforcement functions by providing necessary language services.
METLANG LLC is awarded the contract, implying they meet the agency's requirements.
The BPA call mechanism suggests an existing framework for streamlined acquisition.

Sector Analysis

The market for translation and interpretation services is robust, with numerous providers. This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically NAICS code 541930. Government spending in this area is significant, driven by the need to communicate across diverse populations and in international operations. Benchmarking against other federal contracts for similar services would provide a clearer picture of value.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements mentioned. The award to METLANG LLC, without further information on its size, does not indicate a direct benefit or impact on the small business ecosystem in this instance. Future analysis could explore if METLANG LLC itself is a small business or if subcontracting opportunities exist.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's internal procurement regulations and the Drug Enforcement Administration's contracting officers. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice - General Services
Drug Enforcement Administration - Operational Support
Federal Bureau of Investigation - Language Services
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Translation Services

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
Potential for non-competitive pricing.
Limited transparency in procurement process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $72,447.08 to METLANG LLC. TRANSLATION SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is METLANG LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $72,447.08.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-06. End: 2026-05-15.

What is METLANG LLC's track record with federal contracts, particularly for translation services?

Information regarding METLANG LLC's specific track record with federal contracts for translation services is not detailed in the provided data. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases like FPDS or SAM.gov would be necessary to ascertain their past performance, contract values, agencies served, and any performance ratings. Understanding their history would help assess their reliability and experience in delivering similar services to government entities, which is crucial for evaluating the risk associated with this sole-source award.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar translation services procured competitively by the government?

Direct comparison of pricing is challenging without access to the specific rates negotiated for this contract and comparable competitively awarded contracts. The provided data indicates this was a sole-source award, meaning competitive benchmarking is absent. To assess value for money, one would need to identify similar contracts (e.g., same NAICS code, similar scope of work, comparable geographic region) awarded through full and open competition and analyze their per-hour or per-word rates. Without this comparative data, it's difficult to definitively state if the $724,447.08 represents a fair and reasonable price.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for translation services?

The primary risks associated with a sole-source award for translation services include potential overpayment due to the lack of competitive pricing pressure, reduced incentive for the contractor to innovate or improve service quality, and a lack of transparency in the procurement process. Taxpayers may bear a higher cost than necessary. Furthermore, if the agency becomes reliant on a single provider, it could face challenges if that provider's performance declines or if they decide to exit the market. Ensuring the necessity and justification for a sole-source award is critical to mitigate these risks.

How effective are translation services in supporting the DEA's mission, and what is the expected impact of this contract?

Translation services are critical for the DEA's mission, which often involves international cooperation, intelligence gathering, and operations targeting transnational criminal organizations. Effective communication across language barriers is essential for interrogations, document analysis, informant management, and inter-agency collaboration. This contract is expected to enhance the DEA's operational capabilities in Florida by ensuring timely and accurate interpretation and translation, thereby supporting investigations and enforcement actions that might otherwise be hindered by linguistic obstacles. The impact is directly tied to the agency's ability to conduct its operations effectively in diverse linguistic environments.

What has been the historical spending trend for translation services by the Department of Justice or the DEA?

The provided data does not include historical spending trends for translation services by the Department of Justice or the DEA. To analyze this, one would need to access historical federal procurement data (e.g., FPDS) and aggregate spending on relevant NAICS codes (like 541930) or contract descriptions for these specific agencies over several fiscal years. Such an analysis would reveal patterns of spending, identify major vendors, and potentially highlight any increases or decreases in demand or contract values, providing context for the current award.

Are there specific language requirements driving this contract, and how were they determined?

The specific language requirements driving this contract are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, such requirements are determined by the operational needs of the agency, such as the languages spoken by target populations, the locations of DEA operations, or the languages of foreign partners. The Drug Enforcement Administration would have identified the necessity for translation and interpretation services based on intelligence, case requirements, or ongoing investigations. The scope of work and the specific languages needed would inform the justification for the contract award, though this detail is absent here.

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: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1815 GRIFFIN RD, DANIA, FL, 33004

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $72,447

Exercised Options: $72,447

Current Obligation: $72,447

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15DDHQ25A00000027

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline