Private Counsel Debt Collection - Northern District of Texas

This document is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFP No. 15JPSS26R00000067) for private counsel debt collection services for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The objective is to contract with law firms or solo practitioners to collect delinquent federal debts, including secured and unsecured debts, and handle bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings. The acquisition is set aside for small businesses and anticipates a single 5-year contract, commencing November 21, 2026. The current caseload includes 300 unsecured debts, primarily student loans, with an average original principal of $26,668.30. Proposals must be submitted by July 1, 2026, 10:00 a.m. ET, and require SAM registration and proof of attorney bar admission and good standing. Evaluation will be two-phased: a pass/fail for mandatory requirements, followed by a tradeoff analysis of technical factors (debt collection experience, administrative office attributes, quality of writing), past performance, and price. Non-price factors are significantly more important than price. The document also details instructions for calculating fixed prices and provisions for protests, non-disclosure, and contract terms and conditions.

This government file outlines an RFP for Private Counsel Debt Collection services in the Northern District of Texas, focusing on unsecured and secured debt, and bankruptcy proceedings. The contract, spanning five years (11/21/2026 – 11/20/2031), combines fixed-price, labor-hour, and cost-reimbursement features with a contingency fee component for unsecured debt. Key aspects include detailed pricing tables for various services, unauthorized direct expenses, and strict guidelines for preservation, packing, marking, inspection, and acceptance. Performance will be evaluated periodically, and the contract emphasizes adherence to confidentiality, data security, and conflict of interest protocols. The document also incorporates numerous FAR and DOJ clauses covering whistleblower rights, privacy requirements, and electronic signatures.

This government Statement of Work outlines the Department of Justice's (DOJ) permanent authority to contract with private counsel for federal debt collection in the Northern District of Texas. Originating from the Federal Debt Recovery Act, this initiative allows private attorneys to provide comprehensive legal services, including litigation, negotiation, and settlement, for both secured and unsecured federal debts. Contractors must comply with extensive federal, state, and local laws, ethical standards, and specific automation requirements, including using the Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) for case management and electronic filing. The document details procedures for debtor contact, payment plans, compromises, and the handling of bankruptcy and foreclosure cases. It also specifies compensation, outlining contingency fees for unsecured debts and prorated fees for foreclosure milestones, while excluding fees for payments collected through federal offset programs. Strict adherence to reporting, record-keeping, and case return protocols is mandated, with penalties for non-compliance.

This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) outlines the U.S. Government's method for evaluating contractor performance in providing private counsel debt collection services for the Northern District of Texas. Its objective is to ensure the contractor meets the Statement of Work's (SOW) performance objectives and quality standards. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is responsible for administering the contract, documenting performance, and identifying deficiencies. Surveillance methods include demonstrations, inspections (random, stratified, periodic, and 100%), and customer feedback. The plan details performance requirements, such as the quality of litigation and collection services, adherence to schedules, management and business relations, cost control, and regulatory compliance. The contractor is responsible for quality control, while the Government provides quality assurance.

This government file is a comprehensive list of acronyms pertinent to federal government operations, particularly within the contexts of RFPs, federal grants, and state/local RFPs. It defines a wide range of acronyms related to contracting, debt collection, legal proceedings, information technology, and security. Key areas covered include administrative roles (ACO, CO, COR), legal and debt recovery entities (AUSA, CCLR, DOJ, FDRA, GAO, USAO), and IT and security protocols (e-QIP, ECF, FISMA, FIPS, JSRA, NIST, OPM, PTI). The document also includes terms related to financial transactions (CDCS, CLIN, EFT) and regulatory bodies (FAR, IRS, OMB). This compilation serves as a critical reference for understanding terminology used in government procurement, financial management, legal affairs, and information security within federal and potentially state/local government projects.

This government file details Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) descriptions for debt collection services, outlining compensation structures for various activities. CLIN 0001 covers unsecured debt collection, including contingency fees for collections and firm-fixed hourly rates for attorneys and paralegals handling ancillary litigation issues, requiring prior written approval. CLIN 0002 addresses secured debt collection, specifying flat fees for foreclosures, deeds in lieu, evictions, and reimbursement for Other Direct Costs (ODCs). It also includes firm-fixed hourly rates for legal professionals on ancillary secured debt litigation, again with prior approval. CLIN 0003 focuses on bankruptcy proceedings, with flat fees for Chapter 11, 12, and 13 cases, ODC reimbursement, and firm-fixed hourly rates for attorneys and paralegals on ancillary bankruptcy issues, subject to prior approval. CLIN 0004 covers ODCs for returning cases and miscellaneous costs, while CLIN 0005 outlines travel reimbursement for approved training and necessary litigation/collection activities exceeding 50 miles. Finally, CLIN 0006 details firm-fixed hourly rates for attorneys assisting with miscellaneous ancillary activities at the government's discretion, also requiring prior approval.

The U.S. Department of Justice requires contractor employees to sign a Confidentiality Agreement, Contract/Order No. 15JPSS. This agreement mandates safeguarding all government-furnished or contractor-produced data. Employees must not reveal, disseminate, or remove any covered data without written permission from the Contracting Officer or Representative (COR), even after employment ends. All government data and derived materials remain government property, and failure to surrender them or improper use may violate 18 U.S.C. 641 (theft of Government property). The agreement also prohibits releasing work performance information to other clients without express permission. It explicitly states that its provisions are consistent with and do not supersede whistleblower protections or other statutory and Executive Order obligations, rights, or liabilities related to classified information, communications to Congress, or reporting to an Inspector General. The agreement may be modified by the Government based on court orders or specific circumstances.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Cybersecurity and Privacy Rules of Behavior (ROB) for General Users, Version 12, effective January 1, 2019, outlines the responsibilities of all personnel—employees, interns, and contractors—with logical access to DOJ information and systems. These rules are crucial for ensuring the security and privacy of DOJ data, including Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Users are required to acknowledge and comply with these rules, which cover general conduct, classified information handling, password management, hardware and software usage, email protocols, mobile computing, remote access, virtual conferencing, and foreign travel. Key responsibilities include safeguarding information, reporting security incidents, and adhering to strict PII collection, access, maintenance, and disclosure guidelines. Non-compliance may result in sanctions, including loss of access, termination, or legal prosecution. The document emphasizes that users have no expectation of privacy on DOJ systems, which are subject to monitoring.

The Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Rules of Behavior (ROB) for General Users, Version 3.3, outlines the mandatory security and usage guidelines for all users of the Department of Justice (DOJ) IT data and systems, including employees, private counsel, and contractors. This document emphasizes personal accountability for information security, drawing from federal laws and DOJ policies. Non-compliance can lead to severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and termination, especially concerning unauthorized access or disclosure of classified or taxpayer information. Key rules cover user accountability, protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), immediate reporting of security incidents, adherence to federal laws, proper handling of DOJ information and equipment, password security, and restrictions on hardware and software modifications. Specific guidelines for travel, mobile computing, remote access, and CDCS-specific security rules regarding data integrity and availability are also detailed. The CDCS Program Management Office reserves the right to update these rules, and all users must acknowledge their understanding and compliance.

Policy Statement 1400.03 from the U.S. Department of Justice outlines contact information for its Private Counsel (PC) program. It provides a dedicated email address, DCMPrivateCounsel@usdoj.gov, for questions and comments. The document also lists the physical address as Two Constitution Square, 145 N. Street, Room XX.XXX, Washington, DC 20530. While specific names, titles, and phone numbers are marked as 'TBD' or redacted, the structure indicates that these details will be provided for two Points of Contact (POCs). This information is crucial for those seeking to engage with or inquire about the Department of Justice's Private Counsel program, ensuring proper communication channels are established for federal government interactions related to legal policy.

This document, Instruction 1400.03.01 from the U.S. Department of Justice, outlines the procedures for monitoring and managing debtor refunds within the CDCS system. It details the steps for reviewing financial history, particularly for civil TOP debts, and provides instructions for contacting the Help Desk if a refund is deemed inappropriate. The instruction also specifies how PC offices can monitor if a refund has been processed by DAOG through the Disbursement History screen, listing a series of steps to navigate the CDCS main menu to access relevant disbursement information. Finally, it provides contact information for PC program Points of Contact (POCs) for questions and comments regarding the instruction.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is conducting a competitive procurement for its Private Counsel Program, seeking firms to provide legal services for collecting delinquent debts owed to the United States. These services include representation in negotiation, compromise, settlement, litigation, and participation in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and other ancillary proceedings. To evaluate firms' past performance, a questionnaire is used, with offerors completing Part I and clients providing references in Part II. Clients are instructed to submit the completed questionnaires directly to christina.murray@usdoj.gov by July 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The questionnaire assesses performance across several elements, including quality, schedule, cost control, management, small business subcontracting, and regulatory compliance, with defined performance levels from exceptional to unsatisfactory.

This document is an employment commitment letter sample for Solicitation No. 15JPSS26R00000067, which seeks private counsel for debt collection in the Northern District of Texas. The letter serves as a commitment from an individual to be available for employment with a law firm if that firm successfully obtains the contract. It outlines the date of commitment, the firm's name and address, and the individual's signed agreement to begin employment upon contract execution, supporting the Private Counsel Program.

The document is a price proposal for private counsel debt collection services in the Northern District of Texas, specifically for RFP 15JPSS26R00000067. It outlines various cost components for different types of debt collection. For unsecured debt, it includes a contingency fee, attorney hourly rates, and paralegal/legal assistant hourly rates. For secured debt, it details flat fees for foreclosures, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, and eviction actions, along with reimbursed costs for ODCs/materials, and firm-fixed hourly rates for attorneys and paralegals. Bankruptcy proceedings cover a per-case fee, reimbursed ODCs/materials, and firm-fixed hourly rates for attorneys and paralegals. The proposal also accounts for reimbursed costs for returning cases and miscellaneous ODCs/materials, travel, and a firm-fixed hourly rate for attorneys engaged in miscellaneous ancillary activities.

The document outlines the past performance proposal requirements for the U.S. Department of Justice's Private Counsel Debt Collection Program in the Northern District of Texas, under Solicitation No. 15JPSS26R00000067. Vendors must provide three client references for whom they have performed similar debt collection work within the last three years. For each reference, the vendor needs to include the client's name, address, principal contact's name, telephone number, email, a brief description of services, and the period of performance. The government will evaluate the recency, relevancy, and quality of past performance based on questionnaires submitted to these references and other available sources, reserving the right to contact references for verification. The proposal has a validity period of 180 days.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is soliciting technical proposals for its Private Counsel Debt Collection Program in the Northern District of Texas. This Request for Proposal (RFP) outlines the requirements for law firms to provide debt collection services, including specific experience in secured and unsecured debt, federal and state court litigation, and electronic case filing. Firms must detail attorney qualifications, administrative office attributes, and their debt collection processes, including how they will manage increased case volumes and handle cases remotely if not located within the district. Key submission requirements include business data, administrative information, attorney resumes, letters of commitment, certificates of admission and good standing in both state and federal courts, and writing samples demonstrating grammatical and mechanical correctness. The proposal emphasizes the benefit of prior experience representing the U.S. as a plaintiff in debt collection matters.