DOJ's $2.4M contract for FMC Devens medical services awarded to UMass Medical School

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $241,144 ($241.1K)

Contractor: University of Massachusetts Medical School

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-04-07

Contract Duration: 188 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER (FMC) DEVENS, MA. INSIDE SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 15B20521D00000001. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: OCT 2026.

Place of Performance

Location: WORCESTER, WORCESTER County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01655

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $241,143.95 to UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL for work described as: COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER (FMC) DEVENS, MA. INSIDE SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 15B20521D00000001. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: OCT 2026. Key points: 1. Value for money assessed through comparison with similar hospital service contracts. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a full and open process, potentially driving competitive pricing. 3. Risk indicators include performance period and contractor's experience with federal contracts. 4. Performance context is the provision of comprehensive medical services at a federal facility. 5. Sector positioning within General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (NAICS 622110).

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $2.4 million over its period of performance appears reasonable for comprehensive medical services at a federal facility. Benchmarking against similar contracts for federal medical centers or correctional facilities would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price structure helps control costs, but detailed service level agreements and performance metrics are crucial for ensuring value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The number of bidders is not specified, but this procurement method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to more favorable pricing and better service offerings for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the potential for cost savings through competitive bidding and encourages a wider pool of providers to offer their services.

Public Impact

Inmates and staff at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Devens will benefit from comprehensive medical services. Services include general medical and surgical care within the facility. Geographic impact is localized to Devens, Massachusetts. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for medical professionals and support staff through the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service disruptions if contractor performance falters.
Ensuring continuity of care during transition periods between contracts.
Monitoring adherence to specific federal healthcare regulations and standards.

Positive Signals

Contractor's experience in providing medical services.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.

Sector Analysis

The healthcare sector, specifically general medical and surgical hospitals, is a critical area of federal spending. This contract falls within the operational support services for federal institutions. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other contracts for medical services provided to federal correctional facilities or other government-run medical centers, which can vary significantly based on patient population and service scope.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside. The primary contractor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, is a large institution, and its subcontracting practices would need to be monitored if any were planned, though not mandated by a set-aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's performance work statement (PWS), with remedies for non-performance. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance details may be internal.

Related Government Programs

Federal Bureau of Prisons Healthcare Services
Department of Justice Medical Contracts
Federal Medical Center Operations

Risk Flags

Contract performance risk
Service continuity risk
Regulatory compliance risk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $241,143.95 to UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL. COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER (FMC) DEVENS, MA. INSIDE SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 15B20521D00000001. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: OCT 2026.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $241,143.95.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-04-07.

What is the track record of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in performing similar federal contracts?

The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) has a history of engaging in various healthcare-related contracts, including those with federal agencies. While specific details on past federal medical service contracts for correctional facilities are not provided in this data snippet, UMMS is a large academic medical center with extensive experience in patient care, research, and education. Its track record would need to be evaluated based on past performance reviews, any reported contract disputes, and its overall capacity to meet the demanding requirements of providing comprehensive medical services within a secure federal environment. A review of its performance on similar-sized or complex healthcare delivery contracts, whether federal or state, would be essential for a complete assessment.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated value or historical spending for this specific service at FMC Devens?

The provided data indicates a total value of $2,411,43.95 for the period of performance ending October 2026. Without historical spending data specifically for medical services at FMC Devens or an independent government estimate for this contract, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the contract duration of approximately 188 days (from Oct 2025 to April 2026) suggests a focused service period, possibly for a specific need or as part of a larger service umbrella. To assess value, one would compare this to previous contract awards for similar services at FMC Devens or to the average cost per patient day for medical services in comparable federal correctional institutions.

What are the primary risk indicators associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risk indicators for this contract include the potential for service delivery gaps, quality of care issues, and contractor performance failures. Given that this is a firm-fixed-price contract for comprehensive medical services, the primary mitigation strategy lies in the detailed performance work statement (PWS) and the contractor's adherence to it. The University of Massachusetts Medical School's established reputation and experience are positive indicators. However, ongoing monitoring by the Bureau of Prisons contracting officer's representative (COR) is crucial to ensure compliance with service level agreements, patient care standards, and reporting requirements. Any deviations could lead to contract modifications, penalties, or termination.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' approach in ensuring optimal service delivery and cost-efficiency for federal medical facilities?

Full and open competition is generally considered the most effective method for ensuring both optimal service delivery and cost-efficiency in federal contracting. By allowing all responsible sources to submit bids, it fosters a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation. For federal medical facilities like FMC Devens, this means the government can potentially secure high-quality medical services at the best possible price. The effectiveness is contingent on the clarity of the solicitation requirements, the responsiveness of the bidder pool, and the government's ability to accurately evaluate proposals based on technical merit, past performance, and price. A well-executed full and open competition process maximizes the likelihood of selecting a contractor capable of meeting complex healthcare needs efficiently.

What is the typical duration and value range for contracts providing comprehensive medical services to federal correctional facilities?

Contracts for comprehensive medical services to federal correctional facilities can vary significantly in duration and value, depending on the size of the facility, the inmate population, the scope of services required (e.g., primary care, specialty care, mental health, dental), and the contract type. Durations often range from one to five years, with options for extension. Values can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars annually. The contract for FMC Devens, with a value of approximately $2.4 million and a performance period ending in April 2026 (roughly 188 days from Oct 2025), appears to be for a specific, potentially shorter-term need or a defined segment of services, rather than a full, multi-year comprehensive care contract. It's important to compare it against contracts for facilities of similar size and security levels.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › General Medical and Surgical Hospitals › General Medical and Surgical Hospitals

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 15B20519R00000001

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: University of Massachusetts

Address: 55 LAKE AVE NORTH, WORCESTER, MA, 01655

Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $241,144

Exercised Options: $241,144

Current Obligation: $241,144

Actual Outlays: $142,838

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15B20521D00000001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline