DHS awards $3.47M for LexisNexis law enforcement research, with a 732-day duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,473,508 ($3.5M)

Contractor: Relx Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-03-30

End Date: 2027-04-01

Contract Duration: 732 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROCURE LEXISNEXIS LAW ENFORCEMENT RESEARCH SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: MIAMISBURG, MONTGOMERY County, OHIO, 45342

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $3.5 million to RELX INC. for work described as: PROCURE LEXISNEXIS LAW ENFORCEMENT RESEARCH SUBSCRIPTIONS. Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the subscription service's duration and scope. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment. 3. Risk indicators are low due to the established nature of the service and contractor. 4. Performance context is a standard subscription renewal for essential research tools. 5. Sector positioning is within information services supporting law enforcement and immigration. 6. The contract's value is moderate within the broader federal IT and information services landscape.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.47 million over approximately two years for LexisNexis subscriptions represents a moderate expenditure. Benchmarking against similar federal procurements for legal and law enforcement research databases is challenging without specific service tiers. However, the price appears consistent with commercial subscription models for comprehensive legal research platforms. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the competitive process is expected to drive pricing towards market rates. This approach generally ensures the government receives the best value by leveraging market forces.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the most cost-effective solution for essential law enforcement research tools.

Public Impact

USCIS personnel benefit from access to critical legal and law enforcement research databases. The service supports immigration case processing, investigations, and policy development. Geographic impact is nationwide, supporting USCIS operations across all locations. Workforce implications include enabling immigration officers and analysts to perform their duties effectively.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for price increases in future renewals if competition diminishes.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical research capabilities.
Ensuring the scope of the subscription fully aligns with evolving USCIS needs.

Positive Signals

Established contractor with a proven track record in providing legal research services.
Full and open competition process promotes fair pricing.
Long-term contract duration provides stability for operational planning.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader Information Services sector, specifically focusing on legal and law enforcement research platforms. The market for such services is dominated by a few key providers, with LexisNexis and Westlaw being the primary players. Federal spending on information services for research and intelligence is substantial, with agencies like DHS, DOJ, and DOD being significant consumers. This procurement represents a standard, albeit significant, investment in maintaining access to vital data resources.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract included a small business set-aside. Given the nature of the service (legal research subscriptions) and the incumbent contractor, it is unlikely that small businesses would be primary providers. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are not apparent in this type of procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is subject to standard federal procurement oversight. The Department of Homeland Security's contracting officers and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are responsible for monitoring performance and ensuring compliance. Transparency is maintained through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Inspector General oversight would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

LexisNexis Legal Research Subscriptions
Westlaw Legal Research Subscriptions
Federal Law Enforcement Information Systems
Immigration Case Management Systems

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if alternatives are not actively pursued.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical research capabilities.
Need to ensure continued alignment of subscription content with evolving agency needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $3.5 million to RELX INC.. PROCURE LEXISNEXIS LAW ENFORCEMENT RESEARCH SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RELX INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-30. End: 2027-04-01.

What is the historical spending trend for LexisNexis or similar legal research subscriptions by USCIS or DHS?

Historical spending data for USCIS or DHS on LexisNexis or comparable legal research platforms would provide crucial context for evaluating the current $3.47 million award. Analyzing past contract values, durations, and renewal patterns can reveal trends in pricing, service scope, and the agency's reliance on these services. For instance, if previous contracts were significantly lower or for shorter periods, it might indicate an increase in cost or an expansion of services. Conversely, consistent spending suggests a stable, ongoing need. Without specific historical data, it's difficult to definitively assess whether this award represents an increase, decrease, or stable expenditure relative to prior investments in similar research capabilities.

How does the per-unit cost of this LexisNexis subscription compare to commercial rates or other federal agency rates?

Determining the precise per-unit cost for this LexisNexis subscription is challenging without knowing the exact number of user licenses, specific databases included, and the negotiated discount structure. However, federal agencies often leverage their purchasing power to secure rates comparable to, or even better than, large commercial enterprises. Comparing this contract's effective annual cost ($3.47M / 2 years = $1.735M/year) to publicly available commercial pricing for similar enterprise-level LexisNexis packages or to rates secured by other federal entities (if publicly available) would be necessary for a robust benchmark. Given the full and open competition, the pricing is presumed to be competitive, but a direct comparison to market rates would offer greater assurance of value for money.

What specific modules or databases are included in the LexisNexis subscription, and are they essential for USCIS operations?

The provided data does not specify the exact modules or databases included within the LexisNexis subscription. However, given the context of 'Law Enforcement Research Subscriptions' for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it is highly probable that the subscription includes core legal research databases, case law repositories, statutes, regulations, and potentially specialized content relevant to immigration law, national security, and law enforcement intelligence. The essentiality of these resources is generally high for an agency like USCIS, which relies on accurate legal and factual information for adjudicating cases, enforcing policies, and conducting investigations. Confirmation of the specific content and its direct alignment with USCIS's mission-critical functions would be needed for a complete assessment.

What is the track record of RELX INC. (parent company of LexisNexis) in fulfilling federal contracts, particularly for information services?

RELX INC., the parent company of LexisNexis, has a long and extensive history of providing information services and technology solutions to various federal agencies, including those within the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and others. Their track record generally includes successful fulfillment of contracts for legal research, data analytics, and intelligence support. As a major established vendor in this space, they possess significant resources and experience. While specific performance metrics for this particular contract are not detailed here, RELX's overall presence and continued awards across the federal government suggest a generally positive performance history in delivering these types of specialized information services.

Are there any alternative providers of similar comprehensive law enforcement research databases that USCIS considered or could consider in the future?

The primary alternative provider to LexisNexis for comprehensive legal and law enforcement research databases in the U.S. market is Thomson Reuters' Westlaw. Both platforms offer extensive collections of case law, statutes, regulations, and secondary sources, along with specialized tools for legal professionals and law enforcement agencies. The fact that this contract was awarded under 'full and open competition' implies that Westlaw, and potentially other smaller or more specialized information providers, had the opportunity to bid. USCIS likely evaluated proposals from multiple sources, and the selection of LexisNexis suggests it offered the best overall value based on the criteria at the time of award. Future procurements could again involve both major players and potentially niche providers.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 70SBUR25Q00000075

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Relx PLC

Address: 9443 SPRINGBORO PIKE, 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: $3,473,508

Exercised Options: $3,473,508

Current Obligation: $3,473,508

Actual Outlays: $703,337

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 03310323D0035

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline