HUD awards $6.46M for court reporting services, with 3 bidders competing
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $6,460 ($6.5K)
Contractor: National Court Reporters Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development
Start Date: 2019-09-05
End Date: 2020-02-04
Contract Duration: 152 days
Daily Burn Rate: $43/day
Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: COURT REPORTING SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30303
State: Georgia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Housing and Urban Development obligated $6,460 to NATIONAL COURT REPORTERS INC for work described as: COURT REPORTING SERVICES Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the competitive nature of the award. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a healthy market for court reporting services. 3. Risk indicators are low due to the short duration and fixed-price nature. 4. Performance context is limited to the specific needs of HUD. 5. Sector positioning is within administrative and support services.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $6.46 million for court reporting services over approximately 5 months appears to be within a reasonable range. While direct comparisons are difficult without specific service level agreements and geographic scope, the presence of multiple bidders suggests a competitive pricing environment. The fixed-price nature of the award also provides cost certainty for the agency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a full and open competition for awards below certain thresholds. With three bidders participating, there was a reasonable level of competition, which typically drives better pricing and service offerings. The agency likely received multiple proposals to evaluate.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers, as it helps ensure that the government is not overpaying for essential court reporting services and receives the best value available in the market.
Public Impact
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) benefits from these services. Essential court reporting and stenotype services are delivered. The geographic impact is likely concentrated within HUD's operational areas. The contract supports the legal and administrative functions of the agency.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Positive Signals
- Awarded under a competitive process.
- Fixed-price contract type limits cost uncertainty.
- Short contract duration reduces long-term risk.
Sector Analysis
The market for court reporting and stenotype services is a specialized segment within the broader professional and business support services industry. This contract fits within the administrative support functions required by federal agencies. Spending benchmarks for such services can vary significantly based on volume, location, and required turnaround times.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses, nor is there information on subcontracting plans. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation in this procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
As a purchase order awarded under SAP, oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer within HUD. Standard procurement regulations and internal agency policies would govern accountability and transparency. There is no specific mention of enhanced oversight mechanisms or Inspector General involvement for this particular award.
Related Government Programs
- Court Reporting Services
- Stenographic Services
- Legal Support Services
- Administrative Support Contracts
Risk Flags
- Limited performance history available in provided data.
Tags
court-reporting, stenotype-services, hud, department-of-housing-and-urban-development, purchase-order, competed, simplified-acquisition-procedures, firm-fixed-price, georgia, administrative-support, professional-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $6,460 to NATIONAL COURT REPORTERS INC. COURT REPORTING SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NATIONAL COURT REPORTERS INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development (Department of Housing and Urban Development).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $6,460.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-09-05. End: 2020-02-04.
What is the typical cost range for court reporting services for a federal agency of HUD's size?
The typical cost range for court reporting services can vary widely based on factors such as the number of hours required, the complexity of the proceedings, the geographic location, and the required turnaround time for transcripts. For federal agencies, contracts can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars annually, depending on the scale of their litigation and administrative hearing needs. Factors like per-diem rates for reporters, per-page transcript costs, and fees for expedited services all contribute to the overall cost. Without specific details on the service level agreements and volume of work for this HUD contract, a precise benchmark is challenging, but the $6.46 million award over approximately five months suggests a significant volume of reporting activity.
How does the number of bidders (3) impact the value for money in this contract?
Having three bidders for this contract generally indicates a healthy level of competition, which is a positive sign for value for money. When multiple companies vie for a contract, they are incentivized to offer competitive pricing and superior service to win the award. A higher number of bidders typically leads to better price discovery and can result in lower costs for the government compared to a sole-source or limited-competition scenario. While three bidders are better than one or two, a larger pool of competitors could potentially yield even more aggressive pricing, but it still suggests that the government received a fair price through this process.
What are the potential risks associated with a short-duration contract like this?
Short-duration contracts, like this one with a duration of approximately 152 days (around 5 months), can present certain risks. One primary risk is the potential for increased administrative burden and cost associated with repeatedly procuring services. If the need for court reporting is ongoing, frequent re-competition can be inefficient. Additionally, a short duration might limit the contractor's ability to fully invest in specialized resources or personnel for the project, potentially impacting service continuity or quality if extensions are not guaranteed. However, for a defined, short-term need, it can also mitigate risks by allowing the agency to test a vendor or adapt quickly if requirements change.
What is the significance of the contract being a 'FIRM FIXED PRICE' type?
A 'FIRM FIXED PRICE' (FFP) contract type is significant because it places the primary responsibility for cost control on the contractor. Under an FFP agreement, the contractor agrees to a set price for the goods or services delivered, regardless of their actual costs incurred. This provides the buyer (HUD, in this case) with the highest degree of cost certainty and predictability. It shifts the risk of cost overruns from the government to the contractor. For services like court reporting, where the scope of work can be reasonably defined, an FFP contract is often preferred as it helps prevent budget blowouts and simplifies financial management for the agency.
Are there any known performance issues with NATIONAL COURT REPORTERS INC on previous federal contracts?
Based on the provided data, there is no information available regarding past performance issues for NATIONAL COURT REPORTERS INC on federal contracts. A comprehensive assessment would require accessing contract performance databases (like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS) and reviewing any past performance evaluations, disputes, or terminations associated with this vendor. Without such data, it is assumed that the contractor met the requirements of previous agreements, but a deeper dive into their performance history would be necessary for a complete risk assessment.
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: 7835 FREEWAY CIR STE 1, CLEVELAND, OH, 44130
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $6,460
Exercised Options: $6,460
Current Obligation: $6,460
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-09-05
Current End Date: 2020-02-04
Potential End Date: 2020-02-04 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
Other Department of Housing and Urban Development Contracts
- Single Family Master Subservicer Services in Support of Ginnie Mae's Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Programs — $982.0M (Carrington Mortgage Services LLC)
- TAS::86 4585::TAS Award of Portion of Hits Solicitation Under RFP R-Opc-21970 Pursuant to Settlement Agreement. the Contractor Shall Provide Data Center, Help Desk, and Disaster Recovery Services — $620.3M (Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC)
- TAS::86 4585::TAS Award of Portion of Hits RFP to LMC. the Contractor IS Responsible for Lotus Notes, Desktops, Laptops, Field Office Servers, Lans, Printers, and Kiosks — $498.6M (Lockheed Martin Services, LLC)
- Single Family Master Subservicer Igf::ot::igf — $343.6M (Carrington Mortgage Services LLC)
- Single Family Master Subservicer Igf::ot::igf — $314.2M (Selene Finance LP)
View all Department of Housing and Urban Development contracts →