HHS awards $102.7M for Other Social Services consulting, with Westat, Inc. securing the contract
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $102,739,797 ($102.7M)
Contractor: Westat, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2002-02-22
End Date: 2009-09-15
Contract Duration: 2,762 days
Daily Burn Rate: $37.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $102.7 million to WESTAT, INC. for work described as: OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value of $102.7M over 7.5 years. 2. Westat, Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. No small business participation noted. 4. Services fall under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services'.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar consulting services is difficult without more specific task details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the specific awardee and contract value indicate a significant investment in a single entity.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for consulting services, with the total value indicating a substantial commitment over the contract's duration.
Public Impact
Supports social services through expert consulting. Long-term contract suggests ongoing need for these services. Potential for impact on various social programs and beneficiaries.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of small business participation.
- Cost Plus Award Fee contract type can incentivize higher spending.
- Long contract duration may not reflect evolving needs.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Significant investment in social services consulting.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Other Social Services, a broad category. Benchmarking is challenging without specific service details, but consulting services of this magnitude typically support large-scale government initiatives.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small businesses were not involved in this contract, which is a missed opportunity for economic development and diversity in federal contracting.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would focus on ensuring the awarded services meet the objectives of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and that costs are managed effectively under the award fee structure.
Related Government Programs
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPAF structure.
- Lack of small business participation.
- Long contract duration may not be optimal for evolving needs.
- Limited insight into specific service delivery and impact.
Tags
other-scientific-and-technical-consultin, department-of-health-and-human-services, md, dca, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $102.7 million to WESTAT, INC.. OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTAT, 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 $102.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2002-02-22. End: 2009-09-15.
What specific scientific and technical consulting services were provided under this contract, and how did they directly contribute to the mission of SAMHSA?
The contract, NAICS 541690, covers 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services.' While specific deliverables are not detailed, these services likely supported SAMHSA's initiatives in substance abuse and mental health research, program evaluation, data analysis, or policy development. The value suggests a broad or long-term engagement contributing to the agency's strategic goals and operational effectiveness in addressing critical public health issues.
Given the Cost Plus Award Fee structure, what mechanisms were in place to ensure Westat, Inc. achieved performance targets and delivered value for taxpayer money?
A Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract incentivizes contractor performance through award fees tied to specific performance objectives. Effective oversight would involve clearly defined metrics, regular performance evaluations by the government, and a transparent process for determining the award fee. The government contracting officer's determination of the award fee is crucial for ensuring value and preventing excessive costs.
How did the full and open competition process ensure the most cost-effective and technically superior solution was selected for these essential social services?
Full and open competition theoretically allows any interested contractor to submit a bid, fostering a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation. The selection of Westat, Inc. implies their proposal met or exceeded the government's technical requirements and represented the best value. However, the long duration and significant value warrant scrutiny to confirm sustained value and prevent potential cost overruns.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SOCIAL SERVICES › SOCIAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1650 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 08
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $102,739,797
Exercised Options: $90,115,401
Current Obligation: $102,739,797
Timeline
Start Date: 2002-02-22
Current End Date: 2009-09-15
Potential End Date: 2009-09-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2009-08-19
More Contracts from Westat, Inc.
- THE Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (path) Study Period of Performance: 04/01/2016-11/30/2016 Base Award — $505.3M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- "critical Functions" Igf::ct::igf the Sampling and Data Collection Contractor Designs and Conducts the Sampling and Data Collection Activities and Prepares the Sampling and Variance Estimation Weights for the Operational Assessments, Pilot Tests, and Special Studies Required by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (naep) for the 2013-2017 Assessment Cycles. Additionally, the SDC Contractor Conducts the Naep High School Transcript Study (hsts). the SDC Contractor Shall Pursue Creative and Innovative Lines of Methodological and Operational Inquiry for Improving Sampling, Data Collection and Weighting Methodologies That Will Strategically Position Naep and the Hsts to Meet the Upcoming Challenges in the Next Decade Such AS Technology-Based and Multi-Stage Adaptive Testing; Making Naep More Educationally Relevant by Linking With Other State, National, and International Assessments; and Improving Access to the Broadest Range of Students Including Students With Disabilities and English Language Learners — $344.4M (Department of Education)
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey — $302.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- R&d-Other R & D-B RES — $292.6M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Nhanes Contract — $279.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts
- Contact Center Operations (CCO) — $5.5B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- TAS::75 0849::TAS Oper of Govt R&D Goco Facilities — $4.8B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Provide the Full Complement of Services Necessary to Care for UC in ORR Custody Including Facilities Set-Up, Maintenance, and Support Internal and Perimeter (IF Applicable) Security, Direct Care and Supervision Inc — $3.5B (Rapid Deployment Inc)
- Contact Center Operations — $2.6B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- Federal Contract — $2.4B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →