DOJ's $383K contract for transcription and translation services awarded to CHI-CHACK LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $383,894 ($383.9K)

Contractor: Chi-Chack LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-03-07

End Date: 2026-02-24

Contract Duration: 354 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR UNCLASSIFIED MATERIAL

Place of Performance

Location: TACOMA, PIERCE County, WASHINGTON, 98403

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $383,894.05 to CHI-CHACK LLC for work described as: TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR UNCLASSIFIED MATERIAL Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration is 354 days, indicating a medium-term service requirement. 3. The service falls under Translation and Interpretation Services, a niche but essential government function. 4. The award is a BPA Call, which is a type of task order under an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement. 5. The contract is firm fixed price, providing cost certainty for the government. 6. The contractor, CHI-CHACK LLC, is based in Washington, D.C.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $383,894.05 for approximately one year of transcription and translation services appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized linguistic support. Benchmarking against similar contracts is challenging without more specific details on the volume and complexity of the unclassified material. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the award suggests that the government has negotiated a set cost, which can be advantageous if the scope is well-defined. Further analysis would require comparing per-word or per-hour rates to industry standards for similar government contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this method generally fosters a competitive environment. A competitive process is expected to drive down prices and encourage innovation as contractors vie for the award. The government's use of this procurement method suggests a desire to obtain the best value through market forces.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition as it typically leads to more cost-effective solutions and prevents potential overpricing associated with limited or sole-source awards.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice (DOJ) benefits from this contract by obtaining essential transcription and translation services for unclassified materials. These services are crucial for processing and understanding information from various sources, supporting the OIG's investigative and oversight functions. The primary beneficiaries are the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General, enabling them to conduct thorough reviews and audits. The contract supports the efficient operation of the DOJ by ensuring timely access to translated and transcribed information. The geographic impact is primarily within Washington D.C., where the contractor is located and likely where the services will be utilized or delivered.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the quality and timeliness of the transcription and translation services.
The BPA Call mechanism, while efficient, could potentially limit the ability to negotiate highly customized terms for this specific task order compared to a standalone contract.
Without knowing the volume and complexity of the 'unclassified material,' it's hard to definitively gauge the value for money.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust and fair bidding process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability for the government.
The contractor, CHI-CHACK LLC, is awarded a contract, indicating they meet the necessary qualifications.
The contract duration of nearly a year allows for consistent service delivery.

Sector Analysis

The market for translation and interpretation services is diverse, encompassing a wide range of government agencies and private sector clients. This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically focusing on linguistic support. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541930, Translation and Interpretation Services, represents a segment of the broader professional, scientific, and technical services industry. Government spending in this area is driven by the need to communicate across language barriers in areas such as law enforcement, intelligence, and public services. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing per-word or per-hour rates for similar government contracts, considering factors like security clearance requirements and subject matter expertise.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside provision. The award to CHI-CHACK LLC, a company whose size is not specified in the data, means that opportunities for small business subcontractors would depend on CHI-CHACK LLC's own subcontracting plans and policies, which are not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (SA: Office of the Inspector General), which is responsible for auditing and investigating the agency's programs and operations. The contract's firm fixed-price nature simplifies financial oversight by establishing a clear cost. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards, though specific performance metrics and detailed scope of work may not always be publicly disclosed. Accountability rests with CHI-CHACK LLC to deliver services as per the contract terms and with the DOJ to monitor performance and ensure compliance.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General Services
Federal Transcription Services
Government Translation Services
Professional and Technical Services Contracts
BPA Call Awards

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues if contractor lacks specialized expertise.
Risk of cost overruns if scope is not clearly defined within the BPA Call.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical linguistic support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $383,894.05 to CHI-CHACK LLC. TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR UNCLASSIFIED MATERIAL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHI-CHACK LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Office of the Inspector General).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $383,894.05.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-07. End: 2026-02-24.

What is the track record of CHI-CHACK LLC in performing federal contracts, particularly for transcription and translation services?

Information regarding CHI-CHACK LLC's specific track record with federal contracts, beyond this award, is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their performance history, one would typically need to consult federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS. These databases often contain records of past awards, contract performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS), and any past performance issues. Without this additional data, it is difficult to ascertain their reliability, experience level, and success rate in fulfilling similar government requirements. A thorough review would involve looking for patterns in contract types, agencies served, and any documented issues or commendations.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar transcription and translation services procured by the federal government?

The contract value of $383,894.05 for approximately one year of transcription and translation services for unclassified material is difficult to benchmark precisely without more granular data on the scope of work, such as the volume of material (e.g., hours of audio, number of pages), complexity of languages, and required turnaround times. However, this amount appears to be within a moderate range for specialized linguistic support. To conduct a robust comparison, one would analyze per-word or per-hour rates against historical data for similar services procured by agencies like the DOJ, FBI, or other intelligence community components. Factors such as security requirements, subject matter expertise, and the specific language pairs involved significantly influence pricing.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential issues with the quality and accuracy of transcription and translation, delays in service delivery impacting the DOJ's operations, and contractor performance issues. Mitigation strategies are inherent in the contract structure and oversight. The firm fixed-price (FFP) nature of the contract shifts some financial risk to the contractor, incentivizing them to manage costs effectively. The award under 'full and open competition' suggests that the contractor was selected based on demonstrated capability and competitive pricing, implying a lower risk of non-performance compared to a sole-source award. The contract duration of nearly a year allows for consistent service, but the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General would be responsible for monitoring performance and addressing any deficiencies through contract management.

What is the expected effectiveness of CHI-CHACK LLC in delivering transcription and translation services for the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General?

The expected effectiveness of CHI-CHACK LLC hinges on their ability to meet the specific requirements outlined in the Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. As the contract was awarded through full and open competition, it implies that CHI-CHACK LLC was deemed capable of fulfilling these requirements at a competitive price. The firm fixed-price structure incentivizes timely and accurate delivery. However, the ultimate effectiveness will depend on the quality of their linguists, their project management processes, and their adherence to any specific terminology or formatting guidelines set forth by the DOJ OIG. Without performance metrics or past performance data, a definitive assessment of expected effectiveness is speculative, relying on the assumption that the competitive process yielded a qualified vendor.

How has the Department of Justice's spending on transcription and translation services evolved over the past few fiscal years?

Analyzing the historical spending patterns of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on transcription and translation services requires access to comprehensive federal procurement data. This single contract award provides a snapshot for a specific period but does not reveal trends. To understand the evolution, one would need to aggregate spending data for NAICS code 541930 (Translation and Interpretation Services) and potentially related codes across the DOJ over several fiscal years. This analysis would identify fluctuations in spending, major contract vehicles used (e.g., GWACs, IDIQs, BPAs), key contractors, and the overall demand for these services within the department. Such a trend analysis could highlight increasing needs, shifts in procurement strategies, or changes in the competitive landscape.

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: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15G1AC25Q00000004

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2209 N 30TH ST, TACOMA, WA, 98403

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $383,894

Exercised Options: $383,894

Current Obligation: $383,894

Actual Outlays: $341,578

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15G1AC25A00000003

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline