DOJ awards $1.76M contract for legal publications to RELX INC., citing no competition under SAP

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,589 ($17.6K)

Contractor: Relx Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-09

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 356 days

Daily Burn Rate: $49/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: LEGAL PUBLICATIONS

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20036

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $17,589 to RELX INC. for work described as: LEGAL PUBLICATIONS Key points: 1. Contract awarded to RELX INC. for legal publications. 2. Spending of $1.76M over 356 days. 3. No competition cited, raising potential value concerns. 4. Sector is professional services, specifically publishing.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's value of $1.76M for 356 days of legal publications appears high without competitive bidding. Benchmarking against similar contracts for periodical publishers is difficult due to the lack of competition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a limited competition approach. This lack of open competition may have prevented price discovery and potentially led to a higher price.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying for legal publications due to the absence of a competitive bidding process.

Public Impact

Government agencies rely on timely and accurate legal publications for operations. The sole provider may have significant leverage in pricing. Lack of competition could stifle innovation in publication delivery methods.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 49 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing
Limited vendor options

Positive Signals

Firm fixed price contract
Clear delivery period

Sector Analysis

The Department of Justice's procurement of legal publications falls within the professional services sector. Benchmarks for this specific niche are hard to establish without competitive data, but general publishing costs can vary widely.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to involve small businesses, as it was awarded to RELX INC. and no small business set-aside was indicated.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation suggests that standard competitive procedures were bypassed. Further oversight is needed to understand why this contract was not competed more broadly.

Related Government Programs

Periodical Publishers
Department of Justice Contracting
Offices, Boards and Divisions Programs

Risk Flags

Non-competitive award
Potential for price gouging
Lack of market research evident
Limited vendor pool

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $17,589 to RELX INC.. LEGAL PUBLICATIONS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RELX INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Offices, Boards and Divisions).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17,589.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-09. End: 2027-03-31.

What is the justification for not competing this contract, given the significant value?

The justification for not competing this contract is not provided in the data. Typically, non-competitive awards require a justification, such as a sole-source provider or urgent need. Without this information, it's difficult to assess if the government received fair value or if alternative solutions were explored.

What is the risk of RELX INC. being the sole provider for these legal publications?

The primary risk of RELX INC. being the sole provider is the potential for inflated pricing and reduced service quality due to a lack of competitive pressure. The government has limited leverage to negotiate better terms or explore alternative, potentially more cost-effective, publication methods.

How effective is this contract in ensuring the Department of Justice has access to necessary legal publications?

The contract is likely effective in ensuring access, as it specifies a clear delivery period and a firm fixed price. However, the effectiveness in terms of value for money is questionable due to the non-competitive nature. The agency will receive the publications, but at what cost is uncertain.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › Periodical Publishers

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Relx PLC

Address: 9443 SPRINGBORO PIKE BLDG 4, MIAMISBURG, OH, 45342

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,018

Exercised Options: $18,018

Current Obligation: $17,589

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline