DOJ's $7.2M legal services contract with CACI, LLC shows fair value and strong competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,267,436 ($7.3M)

Contractor: CACI, LLC - Commercial

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2020-12-31

End Date: 2026-05-31

Contract Duration: 1,977 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ALS ORDER

Place of Performance

Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $7.3 million to CACI, LLC - COMMERCIAL for work described as: ALS ORDER Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the scope of legal support services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a healthy market for these services. 3. No immediate risk indicators identified, but performance monitoring is key. 4. Contract duration aligns with typical needs for ongoing legal support. 5. Positioned within the professional services sector, specifically legal support. 6. Firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $7.2 million over its period of performance appears to be within a reasonable range for comprehensive legal support services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for legal services within federal agencies suggests that CACI's pricing is competitive. The firm-fixed-price structure further enhances value by providing predictable costs, mitigating the risk of cost overruns for the Department of Justice. While specific per-unit costs are not detailed, the overall contract value relative to the expected services indicates a fair assessment of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The presence of a competitive bidding process is a positive sign for price discovery and ensures that the government receives proposals from a wide range of qualified vendors. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the chosen procurement method suggests a robust competitive environment for these legal services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to more favorable pricing for taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment where vendors strive to offer their best value.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from consistent and reliable legal support services. Services delivered include a broad range of legal assistance to various offices within the DOJ. Geographic impact is primarily national, supporting federal legal operations. Workforce implications include support for government attorneys and paralegals.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if not managed closely.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical legal functions.
Need for robust performance monitoring to ensure quality.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive market.
Contract duration allows for sustained support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on legal services. This sector is characterized by a wide array of specialized firms offering expertise to government and private entities. The market for federal legal services is substantial, with agencies frequently outsourcing specialized legal support to manage caseloads and leverage external expertise. This contract represents a typical engagement for providing ongoing legal assistance within a large federal agency.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans was not explicitly provided in the data. As this was a full and open competition, it is possible that small businesses could have participated if they met the qualifications. Further analysis would be needed to determine if any small business participation was mandated or occurred organically through subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside within the contracting agency, the Department of Justice, through its contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price structure, which ties payment to deliverables. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific oversight reports or IG involvement are not detailed in the provided data.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Legal Services Contracts
Federal Legal Support Services
Professional Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Scope Definition
Performance Monitoring

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $7.3 million to CACI, LLC - COMMERCIAL. ALS ORDER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CACI, LLC - COMMERCIAL.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-12-31. End: 2026-05-31.

What is CACI, LLC's track record with federal contracts, particularly for legal services?

CACI, LLC has a significant history of performing federal contracts across various agencies and service areas, including IT, intelligence, and professional services. While specific details on their legal services performance are not in this dataset, their extensive experience as a large government contractor suggests a capacity to manage complex service delivery. A deeper dive into CACI's contract performance history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues on similar legal support contracts, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability in this specific domain. Agencies often rely on past performance information during the source selection process to gauge a contractor's suitability.

How does the $7.2 million contract value compare to similar legal services contracts awarded by the DOJ or other federal agencies?

The $7.2 million contract value for legal services over approximately 5.5 years (from Dec 2020 to May 2026) translates to an average annual value of roughly $1.3 million. This figure appears moderate when compared to the vast range of federal legal support contracts. Larger agencies often award multi-million dollar contracts for comprehensive legal support, while smaller, more specialized needs might be met with smaller awards. Without knowing the exact scope and complexity of services required by DOJ's Offices, Boards and Divisions, a precise comparison is difficult. However, the value does not immediately suggest overspending or underspending relative to the potential breadth of legal support needed by a federal entity.

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

Primary risks include potential performance deficiencies by the contractor, leading to gaps in legal support, and the possibility of cost overruns if the firm-fixed-price structure is not adequately managed or if unforeseen complexities arise. Another risk is contractor over-reliance, where the agency becomes too dependent on CACI, potentially hindering internal capacity development. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust contract oversight by the DOJ, clear performance metrics and deliverables, regular performance reviews, and maintaining open communication channels with the contractor. The firm-fixed-price nature itself is a risk mitigation tool, capping the government's financial exposure.

How effective is the firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type in ensuring value for money for these legal services?

The firm-fixed-price contract type is generally effective in ensuring value for money when the scope of work is well-defined and unlikely to change significantly. For legal services, where the exact volume and nature of tasks can fluctuate, FFP provides cost certainty to the government, transferring most of the cost risk to the contractor. This incentivizes the contractor to manage its resources efficiently and control costs. However, if the scope is poorly defined or significant changes occur, it could lead to contractor requests for equitable adjustments or potential disputes. The success of FFP here hinges on the DOJ's ability to clearly articulate requirements and manage the contract scope effectively.

What is the historical spending trend for legal services within the Department of Justice?

Historical spending on legal services within the Department of Justice is substantial, reflecting the agency's critical role in enforcing federal law. The DOJ consistently procures a wide range of legal support, from litigation assistance and regulatory advice to contract law and administrative law support. Spending fluctuates based on caseloads, legislative changes, and strategic priorities. While this specific $7.2 million contract is a single data point, the DOJ's overall budget allocation for legal services typically runs into hundreds of millions of dollars annually, encompassing both internal staffing and external contract support. Analyzing broader DOJ spending patterns would reveal trends in outsourcing versus in-house capabilities.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Legal Services › All Other Legal Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1100 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, ARLINGTON, VA, 22201

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,777,661

Exercised Options: $8,268,113

Current Obligation: $7,267,436

Actual Outlays: $6,081,276

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS20D00000368

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline