DOJ awards $96K purchase order to Accenture for digital asset litigation support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $96,006 ($96.0K)

Contractor: Accenture Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2024-02-01

End Date: 2026-01-31

Contract Duration: 730 days

Daily Burn Rate: $132/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: LITIGATIVE CONSULTANT - DIGITAL ASSETS - LIAM GLENNON, ACCENTURE LLP

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $96,005.57 to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: LITIGATIVE CONSULTANT - DIGITAL ASSETS - LIAM GLENNON, ACCENTURE LLP Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price competition. 2. Focus on specialized legal consulting for digital assets indicates a niche but growing area of need. 3. The contract duration of two years suggests a sustained requirement for these services. 4. Accenture Federal Services LLC, the awardee, is a large, established federal contractor. 5. The purchase order mechanism may indicate a less complex or urgent need compared to a full contract. 6. The specific NAICS code (541199) points to a broad category of legal services, but the description narrows the focus.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $96,005.57 for a two-year period appears reasonable for specialized litigation consulting. However, without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to benchmark the pricing against market rates or identify potential cost savings. The award is a purchase order, which typically involves smaller dollar amounts and may not undergo the same level of price scrutiny as larger, competed contracts. Further analysis would require understanding the specific deliverables and hourly rates compared to industry standards for digital asset litigation expertise.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning only one vendor was solicited. This approach bypasses the competitive bidding process, which typically involves multiple vendors submitting proposals. While sole-source awards can be justified for unique capabilities or urgent needs, they limit opportunities for price discovery and potentially lead to higher costs for the government. The absence of competition means there is no direct comparison of Accenture's proposed pricing against other qualified firms.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers do not benefit from the cost savings that can arise from a competitive bidding process. This can result in a higher overall expenditure for the government for the same services.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from specialized legal expertise in digital asset litigation. Services delivered will support legal proceedings involving complex digital assets. The geographic impact is national, supporting the DOJ's nationwide litigation efforts. The contract supports a specialized legal consulting workforce within Accenture.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Sole-source award raises questions about the availability of other qualified vendors or the justification for not competing.
The specific nature of 'digital assets' could encompass a wide range of technologies and legal challenges, requiring clear scope definition to ensure value.

Positive Signals

Award to a known, large federal contractor like Accenture suggests a degree of confidence in their capabilities.
The contract addresses a specialized and likely growing area of legal need for the government.
Purchase order mechanism can allow for flexibility in acquiring services as needed.

Sector Analysis

The legal services sector within the federal government is diverse, encompassing a wide range of support functions. This contract falls under the 'All Other Legal Services' category (NAICS 541199), but specifically targets the emerging and complex field of digital asset litigation. This area requires specialized knowledge of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and other digital technologies, which are increasingly relevant in legal disputes. Federal spending in legal services is substantial, but specific benchmarks for digital asset litigation consulting are not readily available due to its niche nature.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned. The awardee, Accenture Federal Services LLC, is a large business. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract are likely limited unless they are direct subcontractors to Accenture, which is not explicitly detailed in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

As a purchase order issued by the Department of Justice, this award is subject to internal DOJ oversight and potentially the Government Accountability Office (GAO) if protested. The specific oversight mechanisms for sole-source awards can vary, but typically involve justification requirements. Transparency is limited due to the non-competitive nature, but the award itself is likely recorded in federal procurement databases. Inspector General oversight would apply if any fraud or mismanagement were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Litigation Support
Federal Legal Services Procurement
Digital Asset Regulation and Enforcement
Information Technology Legal Consulting

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for cost overruns (T&M contract)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $96,005.57 to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. LITIGATIVE CONSULTANT - DIGITAL ASSETS - LIAM GLENNON, ACCENTURE LLP

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES 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 $96,005.57.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-02-01. End: 2026-01-31.

What is the specific expertise Accenture Federal Services LLC possesses in digital asset litigation that justified a sole-source award?

The justification for a sole-source award typically rests on the unique capabilities, specialized knowledge, or urgent need that only one vendor can fulfill. For Accenture Federal Services LLC, their extensive experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and data analytics likely extends to understanding the technical and legal intricacies of digital assets such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and blockchain technology. This specialized knowledge is crucial for navigating complex litigation involving these novel forms of property and transactions. Without competition, the government relies on its assessment of Accenture's demonstrated track record and capacity to provide the required high-level expertise in this rapidly evolving legal domain.

How does the $96,005.57 contract value compare to similar sole-source awards for digital asset litigation support?

Benchmarking this contract's value is challenging due to the niche nature of 'digital asset litigation support' and the sole-source award mechanism. Sole-source contracts, by definition, lack direct price competition, making direct comparisons difficult. However, the value of $96,005.57 for a two-year period (approximately $48,000 per year) suggests a focused scope of work or a limited number of hours required. Larger, competed contracts for broader legal services might involve millions of dollars. To assess value, one would need to compare the implied hourly rates or project-specific costs against industry standards for highly specialized legal consultants in this field, considering the complexity and demand for such expertise.

What are the primary risks associated with awarding a sole-source contract for specialized legal services?

The primary risks associated with sole-source awards, particularly for specialized services like digital asset litigation support, include potential overpayment due to the lack of competitive pricing pressure, and a reduced incentive for the contractor to innovate or provide the most cost-effective solutions. There's also a risk that the government might overlook other capable vendors who could offer similar or even superior services at a better price point. Furthermore, sole-source awards can sometimes raise concerns about fairness and transparency in the procurement process. For the DOJ, ensuring that Accenture's pricing is fair and reasonable, even without competition, becomes a critical oversight function.

What is the historical spending pattern of the Department of Justice on legal consulting services, particularly related to digital assets?

Historical spending data for the Department of Justice on legal consulting services is extensive, covering a wide array of needs. However, specific data on spending for 'digital asset litigation support' is likely a more recent development and may be aggregated under broader categories like 'legal services' or 'information technology consulting.' As digital assets become more prevalent in criminal and civil cases (e.g., cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering), the DOJ's expenditure in this specialized area is expected to increase. Analyzing past spending would involve reviewing procurement records for keywords related to blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital forensics, and cyber law to identify trends and the evolution of this requirement.

How does the 'Time and Materials' contract type influence the potential cost and oversight for this digital asset litigation support?

A 'Time and Materials' (T&M) contract type, like the one used here, allows the government to pay the contractor for the actual cost of direct labor (at specified hourly rates) and indirect costs, plus a fee or profit. This type of contract is often used when the scope of work cannot be precisely defined at the outset or is expected to change. For digital asset litigation support, where the nature of cases can be unpredictable, T&M offers flexibility. However, it also presents a higher risk of cost overruns if not closely monitored. The government must diligently track hours, ensure rates are reasonable, and manage the overall effort to prevent uncontrolled spending. Effective oversight is crucial to realizing value under a T&M arrangement.

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: Novetta Solutions, LLC

Address: 800 N GLEBE RD STE 300, ARLINGTON, VA, 22203

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $96,006

Exercised Options: $96,006

Current Obligation: $96,006

Actual Outlays: $96,006

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline