DOJ Awards $2.66M for Expert Witness Services to Signature Science LLC via Purchase Order
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,660 ($2.7K)
Contractor: Signature Science LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2025-07-16
End Date: 2026-04-01
Contract Duration: 259 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES.
Place of Performance
Location: AUSTIN, TRAVIS County, TEXAS, 78766
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $2,660 to SIGNATURE SCIENCE LLC for work described as: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Signature Science LLC for expert witness services. 2. Totaling $2.66 million, the contract spans nearly 10 months. 3. The award was made on a 'NOT COMPETED' basis, raising questions about competition. 4. Services fall under 'All Other Legal Services' (NAICS 541199).
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $2.66 million for expert witness services over 10 months requires further scrutiny. Without comparable contract data or a competitive bidding process, assessing its value against market rates is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This lack of competition may have limited price discovery and potentially led to a higher price than if multiple vendors had bid.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competitive bidding means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price for these essential expert witness services.
Public Impact
Citizens rely on the justice system for fair and efficient legal proceedings, which includes access to qualified expert witnesses. The Department of Justice's ability to secure expert testimony impacts case outcomes and the administration of justice. Transparency in contracting for legal services ensures public trust in government operations.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited transparency in award justification
Positive Signals
- Specific vendor selected for critical legal support
- Defined period of performance
Sector Analysis
Legal services, particularly expert witness support, are crucial for the Department of Justice's operations. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on case complexity and demand, making benchmarks difficult without specific service details.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded to Signature Science LLC, a company that may or may not be a small business. The data provided does not specify the size status of the awardee, making it impossible to assess small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'NOT COMPETED' status necessitates a review of the justification for this sole-source award to ensure compliance with procurement regulations and to confirm that competition was indeed not feasible or beneficial.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Legal Services
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Offices, Boards and Divisions Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for non-optimal pricing
- Limited transparency on vendor selection rationale
- Unclear small business participation
Tags
all-other-legal-services, department-of-justice, tx, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $2,660 to SIGNATURE SCIENCE LLC. EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SIGNATURE SCIENCE LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Offices, Boards and Divisions).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2,660.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-07-16. End: 2026-04-01.
What specific justification was provided for not competing this contract, and does it align with federal procurement regulations for sole-source awards?
The provided data states 'NOT COMPETED' without detailing the specific justification. Federal regulations (e.g., FAR Part 6) outline conditions under which full and open competition is not required, such as when only one responsible source can satisfy agency requirements. A thorough review of the contract file would be needed to verify the adequacy and validity of the justification.
How does the $2.66 million price tag for approximately 10 months of expert witness services compare to market rates for similar services, especially given the lack of competition?
Without a competitive bidding process, it is challenging to establish a precise market rate benchmark. The 'NOT COMPETED' award suggests potential for a price premium. A comparative analysis of historical DOJ contracts for similar services or industry surveys would be necessary to assess if this price is reasonable, though such data is not provided here.
What is the potential impact on case outcomes and taxpayer value when expert witness services are procured through a non-competitive process?
A non-competitive process can impact case outcomes if the selected expert is not the most qualified or cost-effective available. For taxpayers, the primary concern is value for money; without competition, there's a risk of overpaying for services, thus diminishing the overall value received by the government and the public.
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
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Signature Science, LLC
Address: 8501 N MOPAC EXPY STE 100, AUSTIN, TX, 78759
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $2,660
Exercised Options: $2,660
Current Obligation: $2,660
Actual Outlays: $2,669
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-07-16
Current End Date: 2026-04-01
Potential End Date: 2026-04-01 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-01
More Contracts from Signature Science LLC
- Award of a Time and Materials Task Order for Applied Research and Development in Support of Test and Evaluation — $18.8M (Department of Homeland Security)
- THE Biowatch QA Program Develops, Documents, and Communicates Operational QA Requirements Within Program Protocols and Field Operations and Laboratory Operations Quality Assurance Program Plans (qapps) — $12.4M (Department of Homeland Security)
- 47qfna23k0045 Cbrne Detection Quality Assurance QA Program — $11.5M (General Services Administration)
- TSL Rdt&e Idiq Task Order for the Developmental Test and Evaluation for Chemistry Applied Research and Development in Support of Test and Evaluation — $3.6M (Department of Homeland Security)
- This IS a NEW Task Order for Bulk Detection Laboratory and Simulant Development Laboratory — $2.9M (Department of Homeland Security)
Other Department of Justice Contracts
- Contractor Owned and Operated Existing Correctional Facility for Approximately 3,500 LOW Security Male Inmates — $794.5M (Cornell Companies, Inc.)
- Detention Services - SAN Diego — $776.9M (THE GEO Group, Inc.)
- CO: Telly Renfroe Award of NEW Task Order Base Year Initial Funding — $616.4M (AT&T Enterprises, LLC)
- TAS 151060 - Services for the Management and Operation of a Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated, Correctional Facility for 2,567 Beds in Adams County, Mississippi — $574.3M (Corecivic, Inc.)
- Provide Services for the Management and Operation of a Correctional Facility in Accordance With Rfp-Pcc-0014 — $568.9M (Cornell Companies, Inc.)