DOJ awards $3.9M contract for expert witness services to Stout Risius Ross, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,900 ($3.9K)
Contractor: Stout Risius Ross, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2025-04-11
End Date: 2026-04-08
Contract Duration: 362 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11/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: ROYAL OAK, OAKLAND County, MICHIGAN, 48067
State: Michigan Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $3,900 to STOUT RISIUS ROSS, LLC for work described as: EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for expert witness services valued at $3.9 million. 2. The contract was not competed, raising questions about price discovery. 3. Stout Risius Ross, LLC is the sole awardee. 4. The service falls under Offices of Physicians, a broad category. 5. This award represents a small portion of federal spending in this area.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract is awarded on a time and materials basis, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar expert witness contracts is difficult without more detailed service descriptions.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as competitive pressure is absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in the government paying more than necessary for these expert witness services.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the lack of competitive bidding. The specific nature of expert witness services can be critical in legal proceedings. Transparency in the selection and pricing of these services is important for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Time and materials pricing
- Broad NAICS code
Positive Signals
- Specific vendor selected
- Defined contract duration
Sector Analysis
Expert witness services are crucial for legal support across various government agencies. Spending in this sector can vary significantly based on litigation needs. The NAICS code 621111, Offices of Physicians, is a broad classification that may not fully capture the specialized nature of expert witness services.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were considered or involved in this sole-source award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities for small business participation were missed.
Oversight & Accountability
The non-competitive nature of this award warrants closer oversight to ensure the services are necessary and the pricing is reasonable. Accountability for the justification of a sole-source award should be clear.
Related Government Programs
- Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Offices, Boards and Divisions Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Time and materials pricing
- Lack of clear competition justification
- Broad NAICS code potentially masking specialization
Tags
offices-of-physicians-except-mental-heal, department-of-justice, mi, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $3,900 to STOUT RISIUS ROSS, LLC. EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is STOUT RISIUS ROSS, 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 $3,900.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-04-11. End: 2026-04-08.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The justification for a sole-source award typically stems from unique capabilities, urgent needs, or the unavailability of other qualified sources. Without further documentation, it's impossible to ascertain the precise reason for this specific contract. Agencies must provide a detailed rationale, often requiring approval from higher authorities, to bypass competitive procedures.
How does the time and materials pricing structure mitigate risk for the government?
Time and materials (T&M) pricing inherently carries risk for the government as costs are not fixed and can escalate if not closely monitored. Mitigation strategies include establishing strong oversight, setting clear labor categories and rates, implementing cost ceilings, and requiring detailed reporting of hours and materials used. Effective contract management is paramount to controlling costs under a T&M contract.
What is the potential impact of using a broad NAICS code like 621111 for specialized expert witness services?
Using a broad NAICS code can obscure the specialized nature of the services procured, potentially limiting the pool of qualified vendors if more specific codes were used. It can also make it harder to benchmark spending against similar specialized services. While it might be used for administrative simplicity, it could reduce transparency and competition for niche requirements.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Offices of Physicians › Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
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
Address: 150 W 2ND ST STE 400, ROYAL OAK, MI, 48067
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,900
Exercised Options: $3,900
Current Obligation: $3,900
Actual Outlays: $3,900
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-04-11
Current End Date: 2026-04-08
Potential End Date: 2026-04-08 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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