DOJ awards $330,000 task order to Ad Astra for nationwide language services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $330,000 ($330.0K)

Contractor: AD Astra, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-08-01

End Date: 2026-07-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $907/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK ORDER TO OBTAIN LANGUAGE SERVICES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR DOJ

Place of Performance

Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $330,000 to AD ASTRA, INC. for work described as: TASK ORDER TO OBTAIN LANGUAGE SERVICES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR DOJ Key points: 1. The contract value appears reasonable for a one-year duration, covering language services across the US. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not managed closely. 4. This award falls within the Translation and Interpretation Services NAICS code. 5. The duration of 364 days is standard for task orders of this nature. 6. The agency is the Department of Justice, indicating a need for critical language support.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $330,000 for a 364-day period for nationwide language services seems to be within a reasonable range. Without specific benchmarks for similar DOJ language service contracts, a direct comparison is difficult. However, considering the scope of services (translation and interpretation) and the geographic coverage (across the United States), the allocated funds appear to be a fair estimate for the required support. The Time and Materials pricing structure necessitates careful monitoring to ensure value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The data does not specify the number of bidders, but the competitive nature of the award process suggests that multiple companies likely participated. This level of competition is generally expected to drive more favorable pricing and service offerings for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a marketplace where the government can secure services at competitive rates, potentially leading to cost savings compared to less competitive procurement methods.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice and its various offices, boards, and divisions will benefit from enhanced language access. Services include translation and interpretation, crucial for effective communication with diverse populations. The geographic impact is nationwide, ensuring language support is available across the United States. This contract supports the DOJ's mission to uphold the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all individuals, regardless of their language proficiency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type requires diligent oversight to prevent cost overruns.
The broad geographic scope may present logistical challenges in ensuring consistent service quality.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
The contract duration is clearly defined, providing a predictable period of service.
The specific NAICS code (541930) ensures the contractor has specialized expertise in translation and interpretation.

Sector Analysis

The Translation and Interpretation Services sector (NAICS 541930) is a critical component of the professional, scientific, and technical services industry. This market supports government agencies and private organizations by bridging language barriers. Federal spending in this area is driven by the need for effective communication with diverse populations, international relations, and legal proceedings. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to ascertain without more specific contract details, but the $330,000 award for a nationwide task order suggests a mid-range contract within this sector.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The award to Ad Astra, Inc. does not preclude them from utilizing small businesses as subcontractors, but this is not a mandated requirement of the contract itself.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order will primarily reside with the Department of Justice contracting officers and program managers responsible for language services. They will monitor performance, approve invoices, and ensure adherence to the contract terms and conditions. The Time and Materials nature of the contract necessitates close tracking of labor hours and material costs. Transparency is facilitated through the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), where contract awards are reported. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

DOJ Language Services
Federal Translation Services
Interpretation Services Contracts
Government Language Access Programs

Risk Flags

Time and Materials Contract Type Risk
Potential for Cost Overruns
Need for Robust Oversight

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $330,000 to AD ASTRA, INC.. TASK ORDER TO OBTAIN LANGUAGE SERVICES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR DOJ

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AD ASTRA, 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 $330,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-08-01. End: 2026-07-31.

What is Ad Astra, Inc.'s track record with federal language service contracts?

Information regarding Ad Astra, Inc.'s specific track record with federal language service contracts is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their performance history, one would typically review past performance evaluations, contract awards, and any reported issues or commendations from previous government engagements. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases like FPDS or SAM.gov would be necessary to identify their prior federal contract history, including the types of services rendered, contract values, and agencies served. This would help determine their experience and reliability in delivering similar language solutions.

How does the $330,000 value compare to similar DOJ language service contracts?

Direct comparison of the $330,000 value to similar DOJ language service contracts is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of historical DOJ language service awards. However, for a nationwide task order lasting approximately one year, this value appears to be within a reasonable range for translation and interpretation services. Factors influencing this value include the breadth of languages required, the volume of work anticipated, and the specific types of services (e.g., interpretation vs. translation, on-site vs. remote). A thorough benchmark analysis would involve examining contracts with similar scopes, durations, and geographic coverage within the DOJ or other federal agencies.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials contract for language services?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for language services is the potential for cost overruns if not managed diligently. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts do not have a ceiling on the total cost, meaning the government pays for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred by the contractor. This necessitates robust oversight from the government to ensure that hours are reasonable and necessary, and that material costs are justified. Without strict monitoring, contractors may be incentivized to extend project timelines or use more resources than strictly required, leading to higher overall expenditures for the government.

How effective is full and open competition in ensuring value for taxpayer money in this context?

Full and open competition is generally considered a highly effective mechanism for ensuring value for taxpayer money. By allowing all eligible sources to bid, it fosters a competitive environment where contractors are incentivized to offer their best pricing and service quality to win the contract. This process helps the government identify the most cost-effective solution and reduces the risk of paying inflated prices that might occur with sole-source or limited competition awards. The transparency inherent in a competitive bidding process also allows for better price discovery and justification of the final award amount.

What is the historical spending pattern for translation and interpretation services at the DOJ?

Historical spending patterns for translation and interpretation services at the Department of Justice are not detailed in the provided data. To ascertain this, one would need to analyze past contract awards within the DOJ for NAICS code 541930 (Translation and Interpretation Services) over several fiscal years. This analysis would reveal trends in contract values, the number of awards, the types of services procured, and the primary contractors utilized. Understanding these patterns can help in assessing whether the current $330,000 task order is consistent with historical spending or represents a significant deviation, potentially indicating changes in demand or program focus.

What are the potential implications of this contract on the small business ecosystem?

As this contract was awarded under full and open competition and is not a small business set-aside, its direct implications on the small business ecosystem are limited. There is no mandated requirement for the prime contractor, Ad Astra, Inc., to subcontract a specific percentage of the work to small businesses. However, it is possible that Ad Astra may choose to engage small businesses as subcontractors to leverage specialized skills or expand their capacity. The overall impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on Ad Astra's subcontracting decisions and whether they actively seek out and utilize small business partners for this specific task order.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Translation and Interpretation Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: AD Astra Inc.

Address: 8701 GEORGIA AVE STE 800, SILVER SPRING, MD, 20910

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $330,000

Exercised Options: $330,000

Current Obligation: $330,000

Actual Outlays: $102,052

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15JPSS24D00000125

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline