DOJ's $21.2M Thomson Reuters contract for legal research and person search tools awarded via full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,240,732 ($21.2M)

Contractor: West Publishing Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2014-11-19

End Date: 2017-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,046 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF THE THOMSON REUTERS SERVICES CLEAR, CAIT, AND WESTLAW. CLEAR IS A PERSON SEARCH TOOL ALLOWING USERS TO LOCATE INDIVIDUALS. CAIT ASSISTS INVESTIGATORS WITH CHILD ABDUCTION CASES. WESTLAW IS A LEGAL RESEARCH TOOL USED PRIMARILY BY FBI LAWYERS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20535

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $21.2 million to WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF THE THOMSON REUTERS SERVICES CLEAR, CAIT, AND WESTLAW. CLEAR IS A PERSON SEARCH TOOL ALLOWING USERS TO LOCATE INDIVIDUALS. CAIT ASSISTS INVESTIGATORS WITH CHILD ABDUCTION CASES. WESTLAW IS A LEGAL RESEARCH TOOL USED PRIMARILY BY FBI LAWYERS. Key points: 1. Contract provides critical legal research and investigative tools to the FBI. 2. Value for money assessed against market rates for similar services. 3. Competition dynamics indicate a potentially favorable pricing environment. 4. Risk indicators are low due to established contractor and clear service scope. 5. Performance context relies on the continued availability and utility of the tools. 6. Sector positioning is within the professional services and information provision market.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of $21.2 million over its period of performance appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the services provided. Thomson Reuters (West Publishing Corporation) is a major provider of legal and business information. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for comprehensive legal research platforms and person search databases suggests competitive pricing, though specific per-unit cost comparisons are difficult without granular data on user numbers and usage intensity. The firm fixed-price structure helps control costs for the government.

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 presence of two bidders (implied by 'no': 2) suggests a degree of competition, which typically drives better pricing and service offerings. The government's ability to solicit bids from all qualified sources is a positive indicator for achieving fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring that the government explores the widest possible range of solutions and pricing, leading to potentially lower costs and better quality services.

Public Impact

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators and lawyers benefit from access to essential legal research and person identification tools. Services delivered include access to Westlaw for legal research, CLEAR for person searches, and CAIT for child abduction case support. Geographic impact is nationwide, supporting FBI operations across all field offices. Workforce implications include enabling FBI personnel to perform their duties more effectively and efficiently.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if alternative solutions are not actively explored.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical investigative and legal resources.
Need for ongoing monitoring of service levels and data accuracy.

Positive Signals

Established vendor with a proven track record in providing these services.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive award process.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the professional services and information technology sector, specifically focusing on legal research and data analytics. The market for these services is dominated by a few large, established players like Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis, and others. Government spending in this area is consistent, as legal research and investigative tools are fundamental to law enforcement and legal functions. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to isolate without specific usage metrics, but the overall market size for legal information services is substantial.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a specific small business set-aside. Given the nature of the services provided (comprehensive legal databases and person search tools), it is likely that large, established providers are best positioned to meet the requirements. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses, but the primary vendor is a large corporation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is likely managed by the FBI contracting officers and program managers responsible for the procurement and use of these services. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is facilitated through the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) reporting. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Legal Information Services
Investigative Software
Law Enforcement Technology
Data Analytics Platforms
Federal Legal Research Tools

Risk Flags

Data Accuracy/Completeness
Vendor Lock-in Potential
Reliance on Single Source for Critical Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $21.2 million to WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION. IGF::OT::IGF THE THOMSON REUTERS SERVICES CLEAR, CAIT, AND WESTLAW. CLEAR IS A PERSON SEARCH TOOL ALLOWING USERS TO LOCATE INDIVIDUALS. CAIT ASSISTS INVESTIGATORS WITH CHILD ABDUCTION CASES. WESTLAW IS A LEGAL RESEARCH TOOL USED PRIMARILY BY FBI LAWYERS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-11-19. End: 2017-09-30.

What is the historical spending trend for these specific Thomson Reuters services by the FBI?

Analyzing historical spending requires access to detailed procurement data beyond this single award. However, the FBI has consistently relied on comprehensive legal research and investigative tools for decades. Spending on such services often increases over time due to inflation, expanded user bases, and the addition of new features or data sets. Without prior contract data for these specific Thomson Reuters products (CLEAR, CAIT, Westlaw) by the FBI, it's difficult to establish a precise trend. However, the $21.2 million awarded over approximately three years suggests a significant and ongoing investment in these capabilities, indicative of sustained need and potentially increasing costs if not managed through competitive re-procurement.

How does the per-user cost of Westlaw and CLEAR compare to commercial rates or other federal agency contracts?

Determining an exact per-user cost is challenging without granular data on the number of authorized users and their actual usage patterns for Westlaw, CLEAR, and CAIT under this contract. Commercial rates for these services can vary significantly based on subscription tiers, user volume, and negotiated discounts. Federal agencies often benefit from government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) or enterprise licenses that can offer lower per-unit costs than commercial entities. However, this specific contract was awarded via full and open competition, suggesting the pricing was deemed competitive at the time of award. A direct comparison would require benchmarking against similar federal contracts or obtaining detailed commercial pricing schedules, which are not publicly available in this context.

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

While specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, typical performance indicators for such contracts would likely include: 1) Availability and uptime of the CLEAR, CAIT, and Westlaw platforms, ensuring continuous access for authorized users. 2) Data accuracy and completeness within the databases, crucial for effective investigations and legal research. 3) User satisfaction and adoption rates, reflecting how well the tools meet the needs of FBI personnel. 4) Timeliness of support and issue resolution provided by Thomson Reuters. 5) Compliance with security and data handling protocols. Performance would be monitored by the FBI's Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or program manager.

What is the track record of West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) as a federal contractor, particularly with the Department of Justice?

West Publishing Corporation, now part of Thomson Reuters, has a long-standing and extensive track record as a federal contractor, particularly with agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its components, including the FBI. They are a primary provider of legal research services (Westlaw) and have offered various data and investigative tools for many years. Their history generally indicates a capacity to meet the complex needs of government agencies. While specific performance details on past contracts are not provided here, their continued success in winning competitive bids suggests a generally positive performance history and reliability in delivering essential information services to the federal government.

Are there any known risks associated with the data provided by CLEAR, such as accuracy or completeness issues?

The accuracy and completeness of data provided by services like CLEAR are critical for investigative and legal purposes. While CLEAR is a reputable provider, like any large-scale data aggregation service, it is not infallible. Potential risks include outdated information, gaps in data coverage for certain individuals or jurisdictions, and the possibility of misidentification. The FBI, as the user, is responsible for verifying critical information obtained through CLEAR using multiple sources and exercising professional judgment. Thomson Reuters likely has internal quality control measures, but users must remain aware that the data is a tool to aid investigation, not a definitive source of truth without corroboration.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the broader legal tech and information services market for government agencies?

This contract represents a significant award to a major player in the legal tech and information services market. It reinforces Thomson Reuters' dominant position, particularly within the federal government space. For other agencies, it may set a benchmark for pricing and service expectations. The full and open competition aspect suggests that the government is open to solutions from various providers, potentially encouraging innovation and competition among other large firms like LexisNexis or specialized data providers. However, the substantial value and duration of such contracts can also create barriers to entry for smaller, emerging companies seeking to compete for large federal information service procurements.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › Periodical Publishers

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Reuters News & Media Inc (UEI: 251100749)

Address: 610 OPPERMAN DR, EAGAN, MN, 55123

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,409,033

Exercised Options: $21,240,732

Current Obligation: $21,240,732

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS02F0405D

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline