Treasury's $4.6M court reporting contract awarded to Capital Reporting Company, LLC, competed under SAP

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,642 ($4.6K)

Contractor: Capital Reporting Company, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury

Start Date: 2019-09-25

End Date: 2019-11-15

Contract Duration: 51 days

Daily Burn Rate: $91/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: COURT REPORTER SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: CINCINNATI, HAMILTON County, OHIO, 45202

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Treasury obligated $4,642.3 to CAPITAL REPORTING COMPANY, LLC for work described as: COURT REPORTER SERVICES Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the fixed-price nature of the award. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a single award from a potentially limited pool. 3. Risk indicators are low due to the short duration and fixed-price structure. 4. Performance context is a standard service delivery for IRS operations. 5. Sector positioning is within administrative and support services for government agencies.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4.6 million for court reporting services over a short period appears to be within a reasonable range for federal procurement. As a fixed-price purchase order, the financial risk to the government is largely mitigated. Benchmarking against similar contracts for court reporting services would provide a more precise value assessment, but the absence of extensive modifications or overruns suggests satisfactory pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a competitive process was utilized for awards below certain thresholds. While the specific number of bidders is not detailed, SAP generally encourages broad participation. The use of SAP implies that the agency sought competitive bids to ensure fair pricing and value, though the exact level of competition (e.g., number of quotes received) is not explicitly stated.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of competitive procedures, even under SAP, is beneficial for taxpayers as it helps drive down costs and ensures the government receives competitive pricing for essential services.

Public Impact

Benefits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by ensuring accurate and timely transcription of legal and administrative proceedings. Services delivered include court reporting and stenotype services, crucial for record-keeping and legal compliance. Geographic impact is primarily within Ohio, where the contractor is based. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving a small team of specialized court reporters.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive process (SAP).
Firm Fixed Price contract type limits cost uncertainty.
Short contract duration reduces long-term risk exposure.
Contractor is based in Ohio, potentially supporting local economy.

Sector Analysis

Court reporting services fall under the broader administrative and support services sector. This sector is characterized by a large number of specialized service providers. Federal spending in this area supports the operational needs of various agencies, ensuring proper documentation and legal proceedings. Benchmarks for this specific niche are often tied to per-diem rates and transcription fees, which can vary by region and complexity.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting is not available in the provided data. The contract was awarded to Capital Reporting Company, LLC, and its size status as a small or large business is not specified. Further analysis would be needed to determine any impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this purchase order would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the IRS. Accountability is ensured through the firm fixed-price agreement, requiring delivery of services as specified. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award notice, though detailed performance metrics are not publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Legal Services
Administrative Support Services
Stenographic Services
Government Procurement

Risk Flags

Limited competition potential under SAP
Contractor performance history not detailed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Treasury awarded $4,642.3 to CAPITAL REPORTING COMPANY, LLC. COURT REPORTER SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CAPITAL REPORTING COMPANY, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Internal Revenue Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4,642.3.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-09-25. End: 2019-11-15.

What is the typical cost range for court reporting services for federal agencies of similar size and scope?

The typical cost range for court reporting services can vary significantly based on location, duration of proceedings, and specific requirements (e.g., expedited transcripts, real-time reporting). For federal agencies, daily rates for court reporters often range from $300 to $700, with additional charges for transcripts, which can be several dollars per page. Given the $4.6 million total award for this contract, and assuming it covered multiple proceedings over its duration, the overall expenditure appears substantial but not necessarily outside the norm for large-scale federal needs. A more precise comparison would require detailed breakdowns of services rendered and the volume of work performed.

How does the competition level for this contract compare to other similar federal procurements in the court reporting sector?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures). SAP is generally used for procurements below certain dollar thresholds and typically involves soliciting quotes from multiple sources, though the exact number of bidders is not specified. While this suggests some level of competition, it is often less robust than full and open competition for larger contracts. Without knowing the number of quotes received or the specific SAP solicitation method used, it's difficult to definitively compare its competition level to other federal procurements. However, SAP awards are generally considered competitive, aiming to achieve fair and reasonable pricing.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the success of this court reporting contract?

Key performance indicators for court reporting contracts typically focus on accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to specifications. For this contract, KPIs would likely include the accuracy rate of transcripts (e.g., minimal errors), the turnaround time for delivering transcripts (especially if expedited services were required), the availability of qualified reporters, and compliance with formatting standards. The firm fixed-price nature of the award implies that meeting these performance standards is a condition of payment. While specific KPIs are not detailed in the award data, the contracting officer would monitor these aspects to ensure satisfactory performance.

Has Capital Reporting Company, LLC, had other federal contracts, and what is their performance history?

The provided data focuses solely on this specific $4.6 million contract awarded in 2019. It does not include information about Capital Reporting Company, LLC's broader federal contracting history or past performance records. To assess their track record, one would need to consult federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS-NG to identify other awards, task orders, and any associated performance evaluations or past performance questionnaires. A review of these sources would reveal if the company has a history of successful contract completion, timely delivery, and adherence to terms across multiple federal engagements.

What is the historical spending trend for court reporting services by the Department of the Treasury or the IRS?

The provided data only details a single contract award from 2019. It does not offer historical spending trends for court reporting services by the Department of the Treasury or the IRS. To analyze historical spending, one would need to aggregate data from multiple contract awards over several fiscal years. This would involve searching procurement databases for all court reporting service contracts awarded by these agencies, examining their values, durations, and the number of awards made annually. Such an analysis would reveal patterns in spending, identify major vendors, and indicate whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable over time.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Business Support Services › Court Reporting and Stenotype Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1250 I ST NW STE 350, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,642

Exercised Options: $4,642

Current Obligation: $4,642

Actual Outlays: $4,642

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline