VA awards $17.2M BPA Call for HRO Leadership Training and Coaching to Cognosante, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,224,811 ($17.2M)

Contractor: Cognosante, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-09-30

End Date: 2024-09-29

Contract Duration: 365 days

Daily Burn Rate: $47.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: VHA HIGH RELIABILITY ORGANIZATION (HRO) SUPPORT SERVICES BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT: CALL 5 FOR HRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING/COACHING SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: FALLS CHURCH, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22042

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $17.2 million to COGNOSANTE, LLC for work described as: VHA HIGH RELIABILITY ORGANIZATION (HRO) SUPPORT SERVICES BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT: CALL 5 FOR HRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING/COACHING SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract focuses on enhancing leadership and coaching within the Veterans Health Administration's High Reliability Organization framework. 2. The award is a firm-fixed-price call against a Blanket Purchase Agreement, indicating defined services and costs. 3. Cognosante, LLC, a known entity in government contracting, is the awardee. 4. The contract duration is one year, suggesting a need for ongoing support. 5. This award falls under administrative management and general management consulting services. 6. The value is significant, reflecting the importance of HRO principles in healthcare delivery.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $17.2 million for one year of leadership training and coaching appears reasonable given the specialized nature of High Reliability Organization (HRO) support. Benchmarking against similar HRO consulting contracts is challenging without more specific service details, but the firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the government has a clear understanding of the expected costs. The award to Cognosante, LLC, a company with existing federal contracts, implies a level of pre-qualification and potentially competitive pricing established through the BPA.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The specific details of the competition, such as the number of bidders, are not provided in the summary data. However, the use of a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call suggests that the underlying BPA itself was likely competed, and this call leverages that existing competitive framework.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers by encouraging multiple vendors to bid and offer their best pricing.

Public Impact

Veterans receiving care through the VHA will benefit from improved leadership and coaching, potentially leading to enhanced patient safety and quality of care. VHA leadership and staff will receive specialized training and coaching to foster a high-reliability culture. The services delivered are focused on organizational development and performance improvement within the healthcare system. The geographic impact is national, as it supports the VHA's overarching HRO initiatives across its facilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if training and coaching needs are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical HRO leadership development could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Award to an established contractor with a track record in government services.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Management and General Management Consulting Services sector (NAICS 541611). This sector encompasses a wide range of advisory services aimed at improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The specific focus on High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles places it within a specialized niche of management consulting, particularly relevant to high-risk industries like healthcare, aviation, and nuclear power, where minimizing errors and ensuring safety are paramount. Comparable spending in this sector can vary widely based on the scope and duration of services, but significant investments are often made by large organizations seeking to implement complex operational improvements.

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 small business set-aside. The primary contractor, Cognosante, LLC, is likely a large business, and their internal subcontracting practices would determine any indirect impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and program managers. As a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call, the underlying BPA likely has established terms and conditions that govern oversight. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise related to the contract's performance or execution.

Related Government Programs

VHA Healthcare Services
Management and Consulting Services
Organizational Development Programs
Federal Leadership Training Initiatives

Risk Flags

Contract performance risk
Organizational change management risk
Vendor lock-in potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $17.2 million to COGNOSANTE, LLC. VHA HIGH RELIABILITY ORGANIZATION (HRO) SUPPORT SERVICES BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT: CALL 5 FOR HRO LEADERSHIP TRAINING/COACHING SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COGNOSANTE, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-30. End: 2024-09-29.

What is Cognosante, LLC's track record with the Department of Veterans Affairs and similar HRO consulting contracts?

Cognosante, LLC has a significant history of contracting with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), often providing IT, healthcare support, and administrative services. While specific details on their HRO leadership training and coaching contracts with the VA are not immediately available from the provided data, their extensive experience with the VA suggests familiarity with the agency's operational environment and requirements. Cognosante has also engaged in contracts related to healthcare quality improvement and operational efficiency for various federal agencies. To fully assess their track record for this specific HRO support, a deeper dive into their past performance on similar complex consulting engagements, particularly those focused on organizational culture change and high-reliability principles, would be necessary. This would involve reviewing past performance evaluations and any documented successes or challenges in implementing such programs.

How does the $17.2 million value compare to similar HRO leadership training and coaching contracts within the federal government?

Directly comparing the $17.2 million value for a one-year BPA call for HRO leadership training and coaching is challenging without more granular data on the scope of services, number of personnel involved, and specific deliverables. However, federal spending on management and consulting services, particularly for specialized areas like HRO, can be substantial. Large-scale organizational transformation initiatives, which HRO implementation often entails, can run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars over several years. For a single year of focused leadership training and coaching, $17.2 million suggests a comprehensive program likely involving multiple consultants, extensive training modules, and ongoing coaching for a significant portion of VHA leadership. Benchmarking would ideally involve looking at contracts for similar services awarded to other large federal agencies or within other high-risk sectors that heavily invest in HRO principles.

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

Key risks for this contract include the potential for the contractor's services to not fully achieve the desired HRO culture shift, leading to suboptimal patient safety outcomes. Another risk is the contractor's performance not meeting expectations, impacting the effectiveness of leadership training and coaching. Dependence on a single vendor for critical organizational development could also be a risk if the vendor faces financial instability or performance issues. Mitigation strategies likely include the firm-fixed-price contract type, which incentivizes the contractor to deliver defined services efficiently. The VA's oversight mechanisms, including performance monitoring and regular reviews, are crucial for identifying and addressing performance issues early. Furthermore, the full and open competition process aims to select a contractor with a proven ability to deliver such specialized services, reducing the risk of selecting an underqualified vendor.

How effective is the VHA's High Reliability Organization (HRO) initiative, and how does this contract contribute to its overall success?

The VHA's commitment to becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO) is a strategic imperative aimed at significantly reducing medical errors and improving patient safety across its healthcare system. While the overall effectiveness of the VHA's HRO initiative is a complex, ongoing assessment, the agency has reported progress in adopting HRO principles and practices. This contract for leadership training and coaching is a critical component of that initiative. By focusing on developing HRO-competent leaders, the contract directly supports the cultural transformation necessary for HRO success. Effective leadership is foundational to embedding safety behaviors, promoting open communication about errors, and fostering a proactive approach to risk management. Therefore, this investment is intended to equip VHA leaders with the skills and mindset needed to champion and sustain HRO principles throughout their organizations, ultimately contributing to better patient care and outcomes.

What are the historical spending patterns for HRO support services within the VA or similar agencies?

Historical spending on High Reliability Organization (HRO) support services within the VA and similar agencies has been increasing as more organizations recognize the critical importance of safety culture. While specific aggregate data for 'HRO support services' as a distinct category can be difficult to isolate, spending on related areas like management consulting, organizational development, safety training, and performance improvement initiatives often encompasses HRO-related activities. The VA, in particular, has made significant investments in safety and quality improvement programs. Contracts for specialized consulting firms that help implement HRO frameworks can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars annually, depending on the scale and duration of the engagement. The $17.2 million for this one-year BPA call suggests a substantial, focused effort, aligning with the VA's ongoing commitment to enhancing patient safety through HRO principles.

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) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 36C10X23F0056E

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3110 FAIRVIEW PARK DR STE 800, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22042

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,353,811

Exercised Options: $17,224,811

Current Obligation: $17,224,811

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 36C10X19A0027

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline