ICF MACRO INC awarded $15.4M contract by HHS for substance abuse and mental health services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,438,741 ($15.4M)

Contractor: ICF Macro Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2000-05-15

End Date: 2011-08-16

Contract Duration: 4,110 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: STUDY/DATA - OTHER THAN SCIENTIFIC

Place of Performance

Location: BELTSVILLE, PRINCE GEORGE'S County, MARYLAND, 20705

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $15.4 million to ICF MACRO INC for work described as: STUDY/DATA - OTHER THAN SCIENTIFIC Key points: 1. Contract value of $15.4M over 11 years suggests a long-term engagement for services. 2. The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPA) contract type indicates performance incentives tied to cost controls and quality. 3. Full and open competition was utilized, implying a broad search for qualified contractors. 4. The contract was awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), aligning with its mission. 5. The duration of the contract (4110 days) points to a significant and ongoing need for these services. 6. The contract's performance period spans from May 2000 to August 2011, reflecting historical federal spending.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's total value of $15.4 million over approximately 11 years averages to about $1.4 million per year. Without specific deliverables or performance metrics, it's challenging to benchmark value for money. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure suggests that the government aimed to control costs while incentivizing performance, but the ultimate cost-effectiveness depends heavily on the achieved outcomes and the efficiency of ICF MACRO INC's operations. Comparing this to similar long-term service contracts within HHS would provide better context.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This suggests a robust competitive process was intended to identify the best value for the government. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider pool of potential solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition as it typically drives down prices and ensures that the government is receiving services from the most capable and cost-effective provider available.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals seeking substance abuse and mental health services, facilitated by SAMHSA. The contract supports the delivery of critical public health services aimed at improving mental well-being and reducing substance abuse. The geographic impact is likely national, given SAMHSA's broad mandate, though specific service locations are not detailed. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for professionals in the fields of public health, mental health, and substance abuse counseling, both within the contractor and potentially in supporting roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration (over 11 years) can sometimes lead to complacency or reduced urgency if not actively managed.
Cost Plus Award Fee contracts require diligent oversight to ensure costs remain reasonable and award fees are justified by performance.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition suggests a strong initial vetting of potential contractors.
The contract's alignment with SAMHSA's core mission indicates a strategic allocation of resources to a critical public health area.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically focusing on public health and social services. The market for such services is often characterized by a mix of large, established firms and specialized non-profits. Federal spending in this area is driven by legislative mandates and public health priorities. Benchmarking would involve comparing the annual spending against other similar long-term service contracts awarded by agencies like HHS or other federal health bodies.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans is not provided in the data. As this was a full and open competition, it's possible that small businesses could have participated directly or indirectly. However, without specific details, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem remains unclear.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure necessitates robust performance monitoring and financial auditing to ensure accountability. Transparency would be enhanced through contract reporting mechanisms and potential reviews by oversight bodies like the HHS Office of Inspector General.

Related Government Programs

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) research grants
Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) programs

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may require enhanced oversight.
CPA contract type necessitates careful monitoring of costs and performance incentives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $15.4 million to ICF MACRO INC. STUDY/DATA - OTHER THAN SCIENTIFIC

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ICF MACRO INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $15.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2000-05-15. End: 2011-08-16.

What specific services were provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded to ICF MACRO INC by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for services related to substance abuse and mental health. While the exact nature of the services isn't detailed, typical contracts of this nature with SAMHSA involve program evaluation, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, research support, policy development, and public health campaign support. Given the long duration and the agency, it likely encompassed a broad range of support activities aimed at advancing SAMHSA's mission to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

How does the $15.4M total contract value compare to similar long-term federal service contracts?

The total value of $15.4 million spread over approximately 11 years (4110 days) equates to an average annual expenditure of roughly $1.4 million. This figure is moderate for long-term federal service contracts, especially those involving complex research, evaluation, or technical assistance. Larger, multi-year contracts for similar services can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the scope, agency, and criticality of the services. Without knowing the specific deliverables and the level of effort required, a direct comparison is difficult, but it suggests a significant, sustained commitment rather than a massive, short-term project.

What are the potential risks associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPA) contract structure?

Cost Plus Award Fee (CPA) contracts present unique risks. The primary risk for the government is that the contractor may incur higher costs than necessary because the government pays all allowable costs plus a fee that is based on performance. While the 'award fee' component is intended to incentivize efficiency and quality, there's a risk that the contractor might focus on maximizing the fee rather than minimizing costs, or that the performance criteria are not sufficiently rigorous. Diligent government oversight is crucial to manage these risks, ensuring that costs are reasonable and allocable, and that the award fee is truly earned based on exceptional performance.

What was ICF MACRO INC's track record prior to this award?

The provided data does not include information on ICF MACRO INC's specific track record prior to this award. However, ICF MACRO INC (now part of ICF International) is a well-established government contractor with a long history of serving federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services. Their extensive experience in areas like public health, environmental policy, and IT modernization suggests they likely had a substantial portfolio of prior contracts and demonstrated capabilities that would have been evaluated during the full and open competition for this SAMHSA contract.

How effective was this contract in achieving its stated or implied objectives?

The provided data does not contain information on the effectiveness of the contract in achieving its objectives. Effectiveness would typically be measured through performance reviews, outcome metrics related to substance abuse and mental health service delivery or support, and the overall impact on SAMHSA's mission. As this contract concluded in 2011, a post-award evaluation or audit report would be the most likely source for such information. Without access to these specific performance assessments, it is impossible to definitively state how effective the contract was.

What were historical spending patterns for similar services by SAMHSA before or after this contract?

The provided data focuses solely on this specific $15.4 million contract awarded in 2000. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze SAMHSA's budget and contract awards over a broader period. This would involve examining spending on similar services (e.g., program evaluation, technical assistance, research support) both before this contract began and after its completion in 2011. Such an analysis would reveal trends in federal investment in substance abuse and mental health initiatives, potential shifts in contracting strategies, and the evolution of service needs over time.

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ICF International, Inc. (UEI: 139001544)

Address: 11785 BLTSVLLE DR STE 300, BELTSVILLE, MD, 04

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,417,737

Exercised Options: $3,417,741

Current Obligation: $15,438,741

Timeline