USAID's $135.6M Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance contract awarded to ICF Incorporated for global health security

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $135,629,049 ($135.6M)

Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2018-05-25

End Date: 2024-05-21

Contract Duration: 2,188 days

Daily Burn Rate: $62.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE OF THE IDDS ACTIVITY IS TO STRENGTHEN THE DETECTION OF DISEASES OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE AND IDENTIFICATION OF AMR IN PRIORITY INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF REAL-TIME SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS FOR EXISTING AND EMERGING PATHOGENS. IDDS ACTIVITY WILL DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF USAIDS INFECTIOUS DISEASE OFFICE IN THE GH BUREAU. THE CONTRACTOR WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PURPOSE BY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING THREE OF THE IDDS ACTIVITIES IR 1 NATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC NETWORK STRENGTHENED TO BE ACCESSIBLE, ACCURATE, ADAPTABLE, TIMELY AND INTEGRATED, IR 2 NATIONAL INDICATOR- AND EVENT-BASED SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM DEVELOPED AND CAPABLE OF DETECTING EVENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, ANIMAL HEALTH AND HEALTH SECURITY, AND IR 3 EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDANCE AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED AND APPLIED TO STRENGTHEN IN-COUNTRY DIAGNOSTIC NETWORKS AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20523

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $135.6 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE OF THE IDDS ACTIVITY IS TO STRENGTHEN THE DETECTION OF DISEASES OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE AND IDENTIFICATION OF AMR IN PRIORITY INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF REAL-TIME SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS FOR EXISTING AND EMERGING PATHOGENS. IDDS ACTI… Key points: 1. Focuses on strengthening disease detection and real-time surveillance systems for public health. 2. Aims to improve national diagnostic networks and indicator-based surveillance systems. 3. Contract awarded via full and open competition, indicating market availability. 4. Sector is primarily public health and international development assistance.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract is a Cost Plus Fixed Fee type, which allows for cost reimbursement plus a predetermined fee. This structure can be appropriate for complex projects where costs are difficult to estimate precisely, but requires careful oversight to manage expenses.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows the agency to select the best value offer.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to enhance global health security and disease surveillance, which can prevent larger future costs associated with outbreaks.

Public Impact

Enhances global capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Supports USAID's mission to improve health outcomes in developing countries. Contributes to international health security and preparedness against pandemics. Strengthens public health infrastructure in partner nations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns in Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts.
Effectiveness relies on successful implementation and integration of surveillance systems.
Geopolitical instability in target regions could impact program delivery.

Positive Signals

Addresses a critical global health need.
Leverages established contractor expertise.
Long-term contract duration allows for sustained impact.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader sector of professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically focusing on public health and international development. Spending in this area is crucial for global health security and disease prevention initiatives.

Small Business Impact

While the contract was awarded to a large business (ICF Incorporated), the nature of this work may involve subcontracts to smaller, specialized firms for specific technical or regional expertise, though this is not explicitly stated.

Oversight & Accountability

The Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for oversight. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type necessitates diligent monitoring of costs and performance to ensure accountability and value for taxpayer money.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Agency for International Development Contracting
Agency for International Development Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep in complex international projects.
Dependency on host government cooperation and stability.
Challenges in data standardization and interoperability across systems.
Risk of contractor performance not meeting expectations.
Fluctuations in funding availability for long-term initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $135.6 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE OF THE IDDS ACTIVITY IS TO STRENGTHEN THE DETECTION OF DISEASES OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE AND IDENTIFICATION OF AMR IN PRIORITY INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF REAL-TIME SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS FOR EXISTING AND EMERGING PATHOGENS. IDDS ACTIVITY WILL DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF USAIDS INFECTIOUS DISEASE OFFICE IN THE GH BUREAU. THE CONTRACTOR WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PURPOSE BY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING THREE OF THE IDDS ACTIV

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Agency for International Development (Agency for International Development).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $135.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-05-25. End: 2024-05-21.

How will the success of strengthened diagnostic networks and surveillance systems be measured and reported?

Success will likely be measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) outlined in the contract, such as the number of diseases detected, the timeliness of reporting, the accuracy of diagnostic tests, and the integration level of surveillance systems. Regular progress reports from the contractor to USAID, including data analysis and impact assessments, will be crucial for monitoring and evaluation.

What are the primary risks associated with implementing disease surveillance systems in diverse international settings?

Key risks include varying levels of existing infrastructure, political instability, cultural barriers to data sharing, limited local technical capacity, and potential for corruption. Ensuring data privacy and security across different regulatory environments also presents a significant challenge. Mitigating these risks requires strong local partnerships, adaptive management strategies, and robust training programs.

What is the expected long-term impact of this investment on global health security?

The long-term impact is expected to be a significant reduction in the spread and impact of infectious diseases globally. By improving early detection and response capabilities, the activity aims to prevent localized outbreaks from becoming widespread epidemics or pandemics, thereby saving lives and reducing economic disruption. It also builds sustainable public health capacity in partner countries.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering 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

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.

Address: 1902 RESTON METRO PLAZA, RESTON, VA, 20190

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $135,900,000

Exercised Options: $135,900,000

Current Obligation: $135,629,049

Actual Outlays: $130,265,642

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 55

Total Subaward Amount: $25,590,289

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADU119

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline