VA awards $11.2M contract for human-centered design support to Veterans Experience Office

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,220,589 ($11.2M)

Contractor: JJR Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-09-25

End Date: 2025-09-24

Contract Duration: 730 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: SBIR PHASE III AWARD FOR VETERANS EXPERIENCE OFFICE HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: DAYTON, MONTGOMERY County, OHIO, 45402

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $11.2 million to JJR SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: SBIR PHASE III AWARD FOR VETERANS EXPERIENCE OFFICE HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract focuses on enhancing veteran services through human-centered design principles. 2. Awarded to JJR SOLUTIONS LLC, a firm with a specific focus on design and consulting. 3. The contract duration is two years, indicating a need for sustained support. 4. This award falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which sets a clear cost expectation. 6. The award was not competed, raising questions about potential cost efficiencies and market engagement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the scope of 'human-centered design support.' However, the $11.2 million award over two years suggests a significant investment in improving veteran experiences. Comparing this to similar contracts for design consulting or R&D services would be necessary to assess if the pricing is competitive. The fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, but the lack of competition could mean the VA is not leveraging the most cost-effective solutions available in the market.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not openly competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when a specific contractor possesses unique capabilities or when circumstances necessitate a direct award. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to explore a wider range of solutions and potentially secure more favorable pricing through a competitive bidding process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value due to the absence of competitive pressure, which typically drives down costs and encourages innovation.

Public Impact

Veterans will benefit from improved services and experiences designed with their needs at the forefront. The contract supports the Veterans Experience Office in its mission to enhance the VA's delivery of care and benefits. Services delivered will likely include research, design, prototyping, and testing of new approaches to veteran engagement. The geographic impact is national, as the Veterans Experience Office serves veterans across the United States. Workforce implications may include the need for specialized human-centered design expertise within the VA or through contractor support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs than a competed award.
Sole-source awards can limit innovation by not exploring diverse market solutions.
The specific deliverables and success metrics for 'human-centered design support' are not detailed, posing a risk to performance evaluation.

Positive Signals

Focus on human-centered design directly addresses improving veteran services, a key government priority.
The two-year duration suggests a commitment to sustained improvement and integration of design principles.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost predictability for the VA.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on services that apply scientific and technical principles to improve user experience and service delivery. The market for human-centered design and user experience consulting is growing, with many firms offering specialized services. The VA's investment aligns with a broader trend across government agencies to adopt more user-centric approaches to service design. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other agencies' contracts for similar design, R&D, and consulting services.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false) and does not appear to have a small business set-aside component (sb: false). Therefore, this specific award does not directly benefit small businesses through set-asides. However, the prime contractor, JJR SOLUTIONS LLC, may engage small businesses as subcontractors, depending on the scope of work and their subcontracting plans. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and program managers responsible for the Veterans Experience Office. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of financial oversight. Transparency regarding the specific deliverables and performance metrics would be crucial for effective accountability. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Veterans Affairs IT Modernization
VA Human Capital Management
Federal User Experience Design Services
SBIR Phase III Awards

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing.
Lack of detailed performance metrics hinders accountability.
Contractor's specific experience in VA human-centered design not detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $11.2 million to JJR SOLUTIONS LLC. SBIR PHASE III AWARD FOR VETERANS EXPERIENCE OFFICE HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JJR SOLUTIONS 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 $11.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-25. End: 2025-09-24.

What is the specific track record of JJR SOLUTIONS LLC in delivering human-centered design services for government agencies, particularly within the Department of Veterans Affairs?

Information on JJR SOLUTIONS LLC's specific track record for human-centered design services, especially within the VA, is not readily available in the provided data. A deeper dive into their past performance on similar contracts, client testimonials, and any publicly available project outcomes would be necessary to assess their capabilities. Examining their portfolio and any awards or recognition for design work would provide further insight into their expertise and reliability in delivering human-centered design solutions.

How does the $11.2 million contract value compare to similar human-centered design or R&D support contracts awarded by the VA or other federal agencies?

Without specific details on the scope of 'human-centered design support,' a direct comparison of the $11.2 million value is difficult. However, for context, federal contracts for specialized R&D and consulting services can range widely. Contracts for user experience (UX) design, service design, and human factors engineering can often run into millions of dollars, especially for multi-year engagements with significant deliverables. To benchmark this award, one would need to identify comparable contracts based on duration, complexity of services, and the specific agency's mission. The VA's investment appears substantial, suggesting a significant scope of work.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and deliverables expected under this contract, and how will their achievement be measured?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or detailed deliverables for this contract. Typically, a contract for human-centered design support would include measurable outcomes such as user research reports, journey maps, service blueprints, prototype testing results, and recommendations for service improvements. The effectiveness of the contractor's performance would be measured against these defined metrics. The absence of this information in the summary data makes it challenging to assess the contract's potential impact and the contractor's accountability.

Given this is a sole-source award, what justification was provided for not competing the contract, and what is the potential impact on cost savings for taxpayers?

The justification for a sole-source award is not provided in the summary data. Federal regulations allow for sole-source procurements under specific circumstances, such as when only one responsible source can satisfy the agency's needs, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. The lack of competition means that the VA did not benefit from the price reductions and innovative solutions that a competitive bidding process typically fosters. This could potentially result in a higher cost for taxpayers compared to what might have been achieved through open competition.

What is the historical spending pattern of the VA on human-centered design or similar R&D services, and how does this award fit into that pattern?

The provided data does not offer historical spending patterns for the VA on human-centered design or similar R&D services. To understand this context, one would need to analyze past VA contracts related to user experience, service design, and R&D consulting. This $11.2 million award represents a significant single investment. Understanding if the VA has previously awarded similar large-scale contracts or if this represents a new or expanded focus area would provide valuable insight into their strategic priorities and budget allocation for improving veteran services through design.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 607 E 3RD ST STE 400, DAYTON, OH, 45402

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,220,589

Exercised Options: $11,220,589

Current Obligation: $11,220,589

Actual Outlays: $10,939,122

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA800322G0001

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline