EEOC Spends $5.6M on Westlaw Database Subscription for 5 Years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,591,300 ($5.6M)

Contractor: West Publishing Corporation

Awarding Agency: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Start Date: 2023-08-01

End Date: 2028-07-31

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: WESTLAW DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES - 01AUG2023 DOI IBC HELP DESK TICKET INC000004416325

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT PAUL, DAKOTA County, MINNESOTA, 55123

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission obligated $5.6 million to WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION for work described as: WESTLAW DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES - 01AUG2023 DOI IBC HELP DESK TICKET INC000004416325 Key points: 1. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is procuring Westlaw database subscription services. 2. The contract is awarded to West Publishing Corporation, a major provider of legal research tools. 3. The primary risk involves potential overspending if alternative, more cost-effective legal research solutions exist. 4. This falls under the 'Information Technology' sector due to the nature of digital database access.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The $5.6M price tag over five years for a legal research database needs careful comparison. Without benchmarks against similar government or large enterprise subscriptions, it's difficult to definitively assess value. Pricing may be influenced by negotiated enterprise rates.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting multiple vendors could have bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing, but the specific pricing outcome depends on the number and competitiveness of the bids received.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used to procure essential legal research tools for the EEOC. The value for money depends on the necessity and cost-effectiveness of the chosen service compared to alternatives.

Public Impact

Government employees will have access to comprehensive legal research resources, aiding in case preparation and policy development. The subscription supports the EEOC's mission to enforce federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Access to up-to-date legal information is crucial for maintaining compliance and effective legal strategy.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for higher cost compared to alternative legal research platforms.
Dependency on a single vendor for critical legal information.
Subscription costs may increase significantly upon renewal.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition ensures a baseline of fairness in procurement.
Long-term contract provides budget stability for legal research needs.
Access to a widely recognized and comprehensive legal database.

Sector Analysis

This expenditure falls within the IT sector, specifically for digital information services. Benchmarks for similar government-wide legal database contracts would be useful for assessing cost-effectiveness. The price appears moderate for a five-year subscription to a comprehensive legal research platform.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, West Publishing Corporation, is a large business. There is no indication in the provided data that small businesses were involved in this specific procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is subject to standard government procurement oversight. The EEOC is responsible for ensuring the services meet requirements and that funds are used appropriately. Performance reviews and audits would be part of ongoing oversight.

Related Government Programs

Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Contracting
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in.
Lack of transparency on specific usage metrics.
Reliance on a single provider for critical legal resources.
Possibility of unutilized subscription capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission awarded $5.6 million to WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION. WESTLAW DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES - 01AUG2023 DOI IBC HELP DESK TICKET INC000004416325

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-01. End: 2028-07-31.

What is the total cost per user or per attorney for this Westlaw subscription, and how does it compare to industry averages for similar government agencies?

The total cost is $5,591,299.86 over five years. To calculate cost per user, the number of authorized users would be needed. Without this, a direct per-user comparison is impossible. However, comparing this total to other government-wide legal database contracts or large enterprise licenses could reveal if the EEOC is receiving competitive pricing for the scope of access provided.

What specific features or content within Westlaw justify this expenditure compared to potentially lower-cost alternatives like LexisNexis or Fastcase?

The justification likely lies in the breadth and depth of Westlaw's content, including case law, statutes, regulations, and secondary sources, along with its proprietary search technology and analytical tools. The EEOC may have specific research needs or established workflows that Westlaw uniquely supports. A thorough review would compare feature sets, content coverage, and user interface across platforms.

How will the EEOC measure the effectiveness and return on investment of this Westlaw subscription in supporting its mission and enforcement activities?

Effectiveness can be measured by tracking the utilization rates of the Westlaw platform among EEOC staff, assessing the impact of research facilitated by Westlaw on case outcomes or policy development, and monitoring user satisfaction surveys. ROI could be evaluated by comparing the subscription cost against the potential costs of inefficient research or missed legal precedents, and by quantifying time savings for legal staff.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Other Information Services › Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 45310023Q0022

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Thomson Company Inc, the

Address: 2900 AMES CROSSING RD STE 100, EAGAN, MN, 55121

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,918,109

Exercised Options: $5,591,300

Current Obligation: $5,591,300

Actual Outlays: $5,582,327

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS02F026DA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline