HHS Children's Bureau contract for child welfare services awarded to JBS International, Inc. for over $63M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $63,403,376 ($63.4M)

Contractor: JBS International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2020-09-30

End Date: 2026-03-29

Contract Duration: 2,006 days

Daily Burn Rate: $31.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: CHILD WELFARE REVIEW SERVICES (CWRP) FOR HHS CHILDREN'S BUREAU

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20852

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $63.4 million to JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: CHILD WELFARE REVIEW SERVICES (CWRP) FOR HHS CHILDREN'S BUREAU Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration is substantial, spanning over 6 years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 3. Services are categorized under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting, aligning with program oversight and support. 4. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose risks if not managed carefully to control costs. 5. The award was a delivery order under a larger contract, implying a structured procurement approach. 6. The geographic scope is not explicitly detailed but likely national given the nature of child welfare services. 7. The contractor, JBS International, Inc., has a significant award amount, suggesting established capacity and experience.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value for this specific contract is challenging without more granular data on the scope of services and deliverables. The Time and Materials pricing model can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored. Comparing to similar contracts for child welfare review services would require access to a broader dataset of government procurements in this specialized area. The total award value of over $63 million over six years suggests a substantial investment in child welfare support.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific award. A competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring that the government receives competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment that drives down costs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are children and families involved in the child welfare system, who will receive improved services through better program review and management. The contract supports the HHS Children's Bureau's mission to improve the lives of children and families. Services delivered likely include program evaluation, technical assistance, data analysis, and policy support related to child welfare. The geographic impact is likely national, as the Children's Bureau oversees programs across the United States. Workforce implications may include employment for consultants and subject matter experts in child welfare and public administration.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost escalation if not managed diligently.
Long contract duration requires ongoing performance monitoring to ensure continued value.
The specific deliverables and performance metrics need careful tracking to ensure objectives are met.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
The contractor, JBS International, Inc., has a significant award, suggesting experience and capability.
The contract supports a critical federal mission for child welfare.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. The market for such services supporting federal agencies is substantial, with significant spending allocated to program management, evaluation, and technical assistance. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large, multi-year contracts awarded to consulting firms for federal program support, particularly within social services and public health.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, JBS International, Inc., is likely a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award. The absence of a small business set-aside suggests that the competition was open to all qualified firms, and the focus was on selecting the best overall proposal rather than specifically promoting small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within the HHS Children's Bureau. Performance monitoring, invoice review, and adherence to contract terms are standard oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

HHS Children's Bureau Programs
Child Welfare Services
Federal Consulting Services
Administrative Management Services
Program Evaluation Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type
Long contract duration
Potential for cost overruns without strict oversight

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $63.4 million to JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. CHILD WELFARE REVIEW SERVICES (CWRP) FOR HHS CHILDREN'S BUREAU

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $63.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-30. End: 2026-03-29.

What is the track record of JBS International, Inc. in performing similar federal contracts, particularly for HHS or child welfare-related services?

JBS International, Inc. has a history of securing and performing federal contracts, including those related to health and human services. While specific details on past performance for the HHS Children's Bureau are not provided in this data snippet, their ability to win a contract of this magnitude suggests they have demonstrated relevant experience and capability. A deeper dive into their contract history, past performance evaluations, and any reported issues would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment of their track record. This would typically involve reviewing data from sources like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and potentially CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) reports.

How does the per-unit cost or overall value of this contract compare to similar child welfare review services contracts awarded by other federal agencies or state governments?

Direct comparison of the per-unit cost is not feasible with the provided data, as 'per-unit cost' is not specified and the contract is Time and Materials. Benchmarking the overall value requires identifying comparable contracts for child welfare review services. Factors such as the scope of work, duration, geographic coverage, and specific deliverables significantly influence contract value. Without access to a comprehensive database of similar contracts and their specific terms, it is difficult to definitively state whether this $63 million award over six years represents a superior or inferior value. However, the full and open competition suggests an effort to achieve competitive pricing.

What are the primary risks associated with this Time and Materials contract, and what mitigation strategies are likely in place?

The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract is cost escalation, as the contractor is reimbursed for direct labor hours and costs, plus a fixed fee or percentage. If the scope of work is not well-defined or if project duration extends beyond initial estimates, costs can significantly exceed projections. Mitigation strategies typically include robust oversight by the government, clear definition of tasks and deliverables, regular progress reviews, and potentially establishing cost ceilings or not-to-exceed clauses within the contract. The government must actively manage the contractor's effort to ensure efficiency and prevent scope creep.

How effective has JBS International, Inc. been in meeting performance requirements on previous government contracts, based on available performance data?

Assessing the effectiveness of JBS International, Inc. requires access to performance evaluation data, such as Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) reports. The provided data snippet does not include this information. However, winning a large, multi-year contract like this one, especially through full and open competition, generally implies that the contractor has met or exceeded performance expectations on prior work or demonstrated a strong capability to do so. A thorough review of CPARS reports, if available, would provide specific insights into their past performance ratings, any identified deficiencies, and customer satisfaction.

What has been the historical spending trend for child welfare review services by the HHS Children's Bureau or similar entities over the past five years?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends. To determine historical spending patterns for child welfare review services by the HHS Children's Bureau, one would need to analyze aggregate spending data over multiple fiscal years. This would involve querying federal procurement databases for all contracts related to child welfare review, program evaluation, and related consulting services awarded by the Children's Bureau. Analyzing this data would reveal whether spending in this category has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and identify major contractors and contract types utilized.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the broader child welfare system's capacity and effectiveness?

This contract, valued at over $63 million and spanning more than six years, is likely to have a significant positive impact on the child welfare system's capacity and effectiveness. By engaging JBS International, Inc. for review services, the HHS Children's Bureau is investing in expert analysis, program evaluation, and technical assistance. This support can lead to the identification of best practices, areas for improvement, and more efficient resource allocation within the child welfare system nationwide. The contractor's expertise can help ensure that federal programs are implemented effectively, ultimately benefiting the children and families they serve by enhancing the quality and reach of child welfare services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 140D0420Q0372

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11200 ROCKVILLE PIKE STE 320, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $67,126,002

Exercised Options: $67,126,002

Current Obligation: $63,403,376

Actual Outlays: $58,331,411

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D00AE

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline