Department of Justice Awarded a Contract to MARY JESKO AND ASSOCIATES for $29,918.00

Summary of Award

The contract outlined in the JSON response from usaspending.gov involves the award of a purchase order to the company Mary Jesko and Associates by the U.S. Department of Justice, specifically through its Offices, Boards and Divisions. The contract, identified by the award ID 15JA4822P00000060, is categorized as a purchase order (“type B”), emphasizing its nature as a transactional agreement for the procurement of specific services.

### Overview of the Contract

Signed on July 18, 2022, this contract pertains to the provision of professional services, specifically an expert witness service, as described by both the product or service code “R424” and the NAICS code “541199” that refers to "All Other Legal Services." The total obligation amount recorded for this purchase order stands at $29,918, where the base exercised options and total options both equate to this figure, suggesting a non-variable payment structure. As of the data’s latest update on July 18, 2022, the total account outlays related to this contract have reached $7,875. ### Contract Duration and Performance The period designated for the performance of this contract begins on July 18, 2022, and extends to June 30, 2023. This one-year timeline is typical for contracts involving consultancy and professional services within legal contexts, allowing ample time for tasks such as testimony preparation or the synthesis of technical evidence. ### Recipient Information Mary Jesko and Associates, the recipient of this contract, operates from San Diego, California. The firm’s designation as a subchapter-S corporation indicates a smaller business typically designed to avoid double taxation on corporate income, although it is not deemed a small business under this contract. Interestingly, it holds several business categories including Woman Owned Business and Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, suggesting an intention to leverage government set-aside programs, even if not applicable in this case. ### Transaction Details The transactions section reflects the financial movements associated with the contract: 1. **Initial Transaction (July 18, 2022):** This was the original award of the contract to Mary Jesko and Associates, involving a transaction amount of $29,918. This aligns with the total obligations initially set for the purchase order. It represents the commitment of funds from the Department of Justice for the expert witness services. 2. **Subsequent Adjustment (April 10, 2025):** A transaction with a negative amount of $22,043 appears to be an adjustment or possibly a reconciliation modification post-contract performance. This deduction from the obligation could suggest financial reconciliation after service delivery, although specific reasons such as deobligation or return of funds due to non-utilization or amended services are not explicitly detailed. ### Agency Involvement Both the funding and awarding agencies are described under the umbrella of the Department of Justice. They fall under its Offices, Boards and Divisions, shedding light on the federal agency's internal operations that manage and distribute contract awards. The “extent competed” being marked as "not competed" indicates that Mary Jesko and Associates were likely awarded this contract through unique circumstances, possibly due to their specialized expertise or a limited availability of alternative providers. ### Legal and Service Context The department’s choice to procure services without conventional competition is backed by the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) code 6.302-3, marked here as "other than full and open competition” due to "mobilization, essential R&D," emphasizing that such services were vital and potentially time-sensitive. This aligns with the nature of expert witness services where specialized knowledge and timeliness are crucial. ### Recipient Services Mary Jesko and Associates, through its classification in the NAICS hierarchy under "Legal Services," likely provides specialized consultancy and expert testimony. This includes informing legal practitioners and court proceedings about technical or industry-specific knowledge pertinent to ongoing cases or investigations. ### Potential Implications and Insights The interplay of awarded funds and subsequent transactions reveals much about contract management within federal agencies. Contracts of this nature indicate specific interest from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in procuring specialized legal support services, reflecting broader trends in public sector reliance on niche private content expertise. Furthermore, the deviation in financial transactions suggests a system of checks and balances inherent in governmental contract processing that seeks precision and accountability. This contract exemplifies the dynamics of federal expenditures in legal domains, highlighting how expert services are sourced, managed, and financially rationalized to meet the operational needs of government bodies, thus contributing to critical areas of justice and public welfare.