HHS Head Start TTA Network Services contract awarded to Family Health International for over $19.2 million
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,242,404 ($19.2M)
Contractor: Family Health International
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2020-08-01
End Date: 2025-08-31
Contract Duration: 1,856 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) NETWORK SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF), OFFICE OF HEAD START (OHS), REGION XII.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20201
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $19.2 million to FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL for work described as: TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) NETWORK SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF), OFFICE OF HEAD START (OHS), REGION XII. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential training and technical assistance to the Head Start program. 2. The award was made through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not managed carefully. 4. The duration of the contract is over 5 years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 5. The contractor, Family Health International, is a significant player in global health and development. 6. The services are critical for supporting early childhood education and development programs nationwide.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of approximately $19.2 million over five years for a national training and technical assistance network appears reasonable given the scope of services. Benchmarking against similar large-scale federal training and technical assistance contracts is challenging due to the specialized nature of Head Start. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure necessitates close monitoring to ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent scope creep. The absence of a specific ceiling price in the provided data warrants further investigation into the contract's financial controls.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The number of bidders is not specified, but this procurement method generally fosters price discovery and encourages competitive pricing. The agency likely sought a broad range of qualified organizations to ensure the best value for the Head Start program.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining services at a competitive price, maximizing the efficient use of federal funds.
Public Impact
Benefits approximately 1 million low-income children and their families served by the Head Start program. Delivers crucial training and technical assistance to Head Start staff, improving program quality. Impacts all regions of the United States where Head Start programs operate. Supports the early childhood education workforce by providing professional development opportunities. Enhances the capacity of local Head Start agencies to deliver high-quality services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
- Scope creep is a potential risk with T&M contracts, requiring diligent oversight.
- Performance metrics and quality assurance need robust monitoring to ensure effectiveness.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment.
- Long-term contract duration indicates a sustained commitment to Head Start support.
- Contractor's established presence in health and development suggests relevant expertise.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. The market for federal training and technical assistance is diverse, with many firms specializing in specific program areas like early childhood education. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) regularly procures such services to ensure the effective operation of its programs. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more specific service details, but the scale of this contract reflects the national reach of the Head Start program.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the most qualified large or specialized contractor for the comprehensive training and technical assistance network. Further review of the contract details would be needed to ascertain any indirect impact or opportunities for small businesses within the supply chain.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically reside within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS. Mechanisms likely include regular performance reviews, financial audits, and adherence to reporting requirements outlined in the contract. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases and public reporting of federal spending. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Head Start Program
- Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
- Early Head Start Program
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
- Need for robust performance monitoring to ensure quality of TTA.
- Ensuring equitable distribution of TTA resources across all regions.
Tags
hhs, administration-for-children-and-families, office-of-head-start, training-and-technical-assistance, definitive-contract, time-and-materials, full-and-open-competition, professional-services, administrative-management, consulting-services, district-of-columbia, family-health-international
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $19.2 million to FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL. TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) NETWORK SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF), OFFICE OF HEAD START (OHS), REGION XII.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $19.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-08-01. End: 2025-08-31.
What is the track record of Family Health International in managing large federal training and technical assistance contracts?
Family Health International (FHI) is a well-established organization with extensive experience in global health and development, often managing complex, multi-year projects funded by government agencies including USAID and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While specific details on their track record with HHS's Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for Head Start TTA are not detailed in this summary, their broader experience suggests a capacity for managing large-scale technical assistance initiatives. Their work typically involves program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, which are core components of TTA. A deeper dive into their past performance reviews and client feedback for similar federal contracts would provide a more precise assessment of their suitability for this specific role.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar federal training and technical assistance initiatives?
Directly comparing the cost of this $19.2 million contract to similar federal training and technical assistance (TTA) initiatives is challenging without a detailed breakdown of the services provided and the specific target populations. Federal TTA contracts vary significantly in scope, duration, and complexity. However, for a national network supporting a program as extensive as Head Start, which serves over a million children and families, this investment appears to be in line with the scale of operations. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while common, requires careful management to ensure cost-effectiveness. Benchmarking would ideally involve comparing the cost per beneficiary or cost per service delivered against other large-scale federal education or social service support programs.
What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials contract for TTA services?
The primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) services revolve around cost control and scope management. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts pay the contractor for the actual labor hours and materials used. This can lead to cost overruns if the project scope expands unexpectedly (scope creep) or if labor hours are not efficiently utilized. For TTA, this means the cost could exceed the initial estimate if unforeseen challenges arise in delivering training or technical support, or if the demand for assistance is higher than anticipated. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and robust monitoring of labor hours and material costs are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the contract remains within budget and delivers the intended value.
What is the expected impact of this contract on the quality of Head Start services nationwide?
This contract is expected to significantly enhance the quality of Head Start services nationwide by providing essential training and technical assistance (TTA) to program staff and administrators. The Office of Head Start (OHS) relies on such networks to disseminate best practices, offer guidance on program management, support curriculum development, and address emerging challenges in early childhood education. By ensuring that Head Start grantees and centers receive up-to-date information, professional development, and expert support, this TTA network aims to improve program effectiveness, leading to better outcomes for the low-income children and families served. The TTA is crucial for maintaining program integrity, fostering innovation, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations.
How has federal spending on Head Start TTA evolved over the past five years?
Federal spending on Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) has generally remained a consistent and significant component of the overall Head Start budget, reflecting the program's importance. While specific year-over-year figures for TTA alone can fluctuate based on program needs and specific solicitations, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) consistently allocates substantial resources to ensure the quality and effectiveness of Head Start services nationwide. The trend has been towards ensuring TTA is responsive to evolving research in early childhood development, diverse community needs, and federal policy changes. This contract, valued at over $19 million for a five-year period, represents a substantial investment in maintaining and enhancing the TTA infrastructure for the Head Start program.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 140D0420R0017
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 359 BLACKWELL ST STE 200, DURHAM, NC, 27701
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,781,339
Exercised Options: $21,781,339
Current Obligation: $19,242,404
Actual Outlays: $18,333,265
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-08-01
Current End Date: 2025-08-31
Potential End Date: 2025-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-06-27
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