DOJ's $2.9M contract for FMC Devens medical services awarded to UMass Medical School

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $290,400 ($290.4K)

Contractor: University of Massachusetts Medical School

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-01-01

End Date: 2026-01-31

Contract Duration: 30 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.7K/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. ALL OUTPATIENT INSTITUTION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 15B20521D00000001. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: JAN 2026.

Place of Performance

Location: WORCESTER, WORCESTER County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01655

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $290,400.05 to UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL for work described as: COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER (FMC) DEVENS, MA. ALL OUTPATIENT INSTITUTION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 15B20521D00000001. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: JAN 2026. Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the scope of comprehensive outpatient medical services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, with performance tied to a fixed-price contract. 4. Performance context is a single delivery order for a 30-day period. 5. Sector positioning is within the healthcare services for federal correctional facilities.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

This contract represents a single delivery order for a 30-day period of performance, making direct value-for-money comparisons challenging without broader context. The total award amount of $2.9 million for a month of comprehensive medical services at FMC Devens suggests a significant investment. Benchmarking against similar contracts for federal medical centers or correctional facilities would be necessary to definitively assess pricing and value.

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 bids. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service offerings. The number of bidders is not specified, but the method of competition suggests a deliberate effort to solicit multiple proposals.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages multiple vendors to bid, driving down costs and improving service quality through market forces.

Public Impact

Inmates at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Devens will benefit from comprehensive outpatient medical services. Services include general medical and surgical care within the facility. The geographic impact is localized to Devens, Massachusetts. The contract supports healthcare professionals employed by the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited duration of the contract (30 days) may not reflect long-term needs or stability.
Lack of detail on specific performance metrics makes assessing service quality difficult.
Reliance on a single delivery order could indicate a need for more integrated, long-term solutions.

Positive Signals

Award to a known medical institution (UMass Medical School) suggests established capabilities.
Full and open competition process is a positive indicator of market engagement.
Fixed-price contract structure provides cost certainty for the government.

Sector Analysis

The healthcare services sector for federal correctional facilities is a specialized niche within the broader healthcare industry. This contract falls under General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (NAICS 622110). Spending in this area is driven by the need to provide essential medical care to the federal inmate population, often requiring tailored services due to security and logistical considerations. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing contracts for medical services at other Bureau of Prisons facilities.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'ss': false. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans. The award to a large medical institution suggests that the primary focus was on capability and scope rather than small business participation for this specific delivery order.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) within the Department of Justice. Accountability measures are typically managed through contract performance monitoring, adherence to the fixed-price terms, and service level agreements. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award process itself, though specific details of performance reviews are not publicly detailed.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Medical Services
Bureau of Prisons Healthcare Contracts
Comprehensive Medical Care for Inmates

Risk Flags

Limited contract duration
Lack of detailed performance metrics
Single delivery order structure

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $290,400.05 to UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL. COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER (FMC) DEVENS, MA. ALL OUTPATIENT INSTITUTION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 15B20521D00000001. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: JAN 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 $290,400.05.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-01-01. End: 2026-01-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for medical services at FMC Devens?

Historical spending data for medical services at FMC Devens is not directly available within the provided data. The current contract is a single delivery order with a 30-day period of performance ending January 31, 2026, with a total award of $2,904,005. To understand historical patterns, one would need to access prior contract awards and delivery orders for medical services at this specific facility, potentially through federal procurement databases like FPDS or SAM.gov. Analyzing these records would reveal trends in contract values, durations, awarded contractors, and the types of services procured over time, providing context for the current award's scale and nature.

How does the per-unit cost of this contract compare to similar federal medical facilities?

A direct per-unit cost comparison for this contract is not feasible with the provided data. The contract is a single delivery order for a 30-day period, covering comprehensive outpatient medical services, and does not specify a per-unit metric (e.g., cost per inmate, cost per procedure). To perform such a comparison, one would need to identify similar contracts for federal medical centers or correctional facilities, extract their total award amounts and the number of individuals served or services rendered during comparable periods, and then calculate a standardized per-unit cost. Benchmarking would require detailed service scope and patient population data from comparable facilities.

What is the track record of the University of Massachusetts Medical School as a federal contractor?

The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) has a track record as a federal contractor, though specific details beyond this award are not provided. As a large academic medical institution, UMMS likely possesses significant experience in providing healthcare services. To assess their broader federal contracting history, one would need to search federal procurement databases for other contracts awarded to UMMS or its affiliated entities. This would reveal their performance across various agencies, contract types, and service areas, helping to evaluate their reliability and capacity for fulfilling federal obligations.

What are the primary risks associated with this specific contract award?

The primary risks associated with this specific contract award include the limited duration (30 days) which may not guarantee continuity of care or long-term cost efficiencies if follow-on contracts are not secured. Performance risk exists, although mitigated by the fixed-price structure, as service quality must meet contract requirements. There's also a potential risk if the scope of 'comprehensive outpatient medical services' is not precisely defined, leading to potential disputes or unmet needs. Finally, reliance on a single delivery order could indicate a reactive procurement approach rather than strategic long-term planning for healthcare needs at FMC Devens.

How does the scope of services compare to typical federal correctional facility healthcare contracts?

The scope of services for this contract is described as 'COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER (FMC) DEVENS, MA. ALL OUTPATIENT INSTITUTION SERVICES.' This suggests a broad range of medical care, likely encompassing primary care, specialty consultations, diagnostic services, and potentially emergency care within an outpatient setting, tailored for the inmate population. Typical federal correctional facility healthcare contracts often include similar comprehensive outpatient services, but can vary significantly based on the facility's size, security level, and specific health needs of its population. Some contracts might be more specialized (e.g., focusing solely on primary care or mental health), while others, like this one, aim for a more integrated approach to outpatient institutional services.

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: $290,400

Exercised Options: $290,400

Current Obligation: $290,400

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15B20521D00000001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline