Department of Justice Awarded a Contract to METLANG LLC for $209,200,759.60

Summary of Award

The JSON response object regarding the awarded contract details a significant procurement activity between the U.S. federal government and the recipient, METLANG LLC. This contract, identified with the unique award ID "CONT_IDV_15DDHQ20A00000024_1524," serves a crucial role in supporting the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a subdivision of the Department of Justice (DOJ), through the provision of analytical linguistic services on the West Coast, specifically within Region IV.

According to the contract details, the General Services Administration was responsible for facilitating this procurement through their Federal Acquisition Service. The contract, described as a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), is part of a larger Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), a contractual tool that allows governmental agencies to obtain products and services efficiently. This contract type enables government departments to streamline procurement, offering flexibility in managing changes in demand without the need for renegotiation.

Authorized on July 27, 2020, the contract spans from September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2025, with a potential total value set at $209,200,759.60. Although the current total obligation is zero, it appears that allocations and expenditures are anticipated as the contract progresses, given the planned contractual ceiling that covers the entire period of performance. METLANG LLC, the recipient of the contract, is entrenched in the sector of translation and interpretation services, classified under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541930. This classification covers a broad range of services, essential for multilingual communication, vital in complex legal settings and law enforcement activities. Located in Dania, Florida, METLANG operates as a significant domestic and U.S.-owned business, characterized by various business categories including "Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt," "Not Designated a Small Business," and "Veteran Owned Business." The company's substantial involvement in translation and linguistic services aligns closely with the service requirements of the DEA's Special Operations Division. The nature of METLANG's engagement likely includes translation of documents, interpretation during legal proceedings, or multilingual communication for undercover operations, thus providing indispensable support to the DEA’s mission of enforcing controlled substances laws. Despite the absence of transaction data related to the contract, the contractual details indicate that six offers were reviewed during the solicitation process, underscoring the competitive environment and the emphasis on full and open competition. This competitive bidding ensures value and efficiency, attributes central to federal procurement practices. Commercial products/services acquisition, as part of the contractual framework, highlights METLANG’s capacity to deliver established, market-ready solutions rather than requiring bespoke service development. This approach often results in cost efficiencies and faster deployment, meeting the immediate and dynamic needs of federal operations. The award details also include executive compensation within METLANG, showcasing transparency mandated by federal contracting regulations. The listed compensation of officers—Steven Herfield, Joseph Citrano, Monica Leu, Marco Cruz, and Wayne Rositano—totals over $2 million, reflecting the financial commitments tied to maintaining leadership and operational continuity within the firm. Concerning labor standards, the contract requires compliance, emphasizing fair payment and working conditions for those engaged in delivering the contracted services. Time and Materials (T&M) pricing methodology is adopted for this BPA, allowing the government to pay for actual work performed, which is particularly advantageous in managing unpredictable workloads typical in DEA operations. The contracting process was subject to "Multiple Award Fair Opportunity," ensuring all qualified vendors an equal chance to compete, finalize, and deliver on their proposals. Moreover, the USA's ownership by METLANG focuses on facilitating domestic employment and leveraging national expertise, contributing to the local and national economy. In summary, this awarded contract represents more than a financial vehicle; it reflects the mechanism through which the federal government, via the General Services Administration, equips the DEA with strategic resources for linguistic intelligence, crucial for national security and law enforcement activities. The meticulous structuring and terms of this contract have been designed to cater to the specific challenges associated with translation and interpretation services, fostering an operational environment conducive to achieving police and investigative objectives laid out by the DEA.