CDC's $30.6M HIV Prevention Contract Awarded to Family Health International

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $30,620,004 ($30.6M)

Contractor: Family Health International

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2020-08-24

End Date: 2024-08-23

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.0K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER

Place of Performance

Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27701

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $30.6 million to FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL for work described as: LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER Key points: 1. Contract focuses on marketing and consulting services for HIV prevention. 2. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller procurements. 3. The contract duration of 1460 days indicates a long-term commitment to the service. 4. The use of Time and Materials pricing may require close monitoring to control costs. 5. The contract was competed, which generally promotes better pricing. 6. North Carolina is the primary state for service delivery. 7. The contractor, Family Health International, has a significant award amount associated with this contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of $30.6 million over four years for marketing and consulting services related to HIV prevention appears reasonable within the context of public health campaigns. Benchmarking against similar large-scale public health marketing initiatives would provide a more precise assessment, but the scale suggests a substantial effort. The Time and Materials pricing structure warrants careful oversight to ensure cost efficiency and prevent scope creep, though it allows for flexibility in service delivery.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a more streamlined process for procurements under the simplified acquisition threshold. While the exact number of bidders is not specified, the fact that it was competed suggests that multiple vendors had the opportunity to submit proposals. Competition under SAP can still yield competitive pricing, but the level of engagement might be less intense than for larger, full-and-open solicitations.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award, even under SAP, is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely resulted in a more favorable price than a sole-source award. It indicates that the agency sought to leverage market forces to obtain the best value for public funds allocated to HIV prevention efforts.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals and communities at risk of HIV infection, who will receive targeted prevention information and services. The contract supports the national 'LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER' campaign, aiming to reduce HIV transmission rates. Services delivered include marketing, consulting, and potentially outreach activities to raise awareness and promote prevention methods. The geographic impact is primarily focused on North Carolina, where the contractor is located and services are likely concentrated. Workforce implications may include employment opportunities within Family Health International and potentially local community organizations involved in service delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing if not closely managed.
Effectiveness of marketing campaigns can be difficult to measure definitively.
Reliance on a single contractor for a significant duration may limit flexibility in adapting strategies.
Geographic focus on North Carolina might limit broader national impact if not coordinated with other efforts.

Positive Signals

The contract supports a critical public health initiative with a clear objective.
The competitive award process suggests an effort to secure value for money.
The long duration allows for sustained effort and potential for significant impact.
Family Health International's specialization in global health suggests relevant expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically marketing and advertising consulting. The market for public health campaigns is substantial, with government agencies frequently contracting for services to promote health awareness and behavior change. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large federal contracts for health communication and prevention programs, which often involve significant investment to reach diverse populations and address complex health issues.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses, nor is there information suggesting significant subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. The award to Family Health International, a non-profit organization, suggests a focus on mission alignment rather than small business participation goals. Further analysis would be needed to determine if any small business subcontracting plans are in place.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through contract officers and program managers. Accountability measures would include performance reviews, deliverable tracking, and financial audits. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases and public reporting, although specific campaign metrics might be internal. The Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services would have jurisdiction over any potential fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

National HIV/AIDS Strategy
CDC Prevention Programs
Public Health Marketing Campaigns
Health Communication Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns with Time and Materials contract type.
Effectiveness measurement challenges for marketing campaigns.
Limited geographic scope may reduce national impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $30.6 million to FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL. LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $30.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-08-24. End: 2024-08-23.

What is the track record of Family Health International in managing federal contracts, particularly those related to public health campaigns?

Family Health International (FHI) is a well-established non-profit organization with extensive experience in global health and development, including significant work in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. While specific details on their track record with federal contracts of this exact nature are not provided in the abbreviated data, FHI has historically been a recipient of substantial federal funding, particularly from agencies like USAID and CDC, for implementing health programs worldwide. Their experience often involves managing complex, multi-year projects, engaging diverse stakeholders, and delivering measurable health outcomes. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) would reveal specific contract history, performance ratings, and any past issues or successes related to similar federal awards.

How does the $30.6 million contract value compare to similar HIV prevention marketing and consulting contracts awarded by the CDC or other federal agencies?

The $30.6 million contract value for a four-year period represents a significant investment in HIV prevention marketing and consulting. To benchmark this, one would need to compare it against other large-scale public health communication contracts managed by the CDC or other federal health agencies (e.g., HRSA, NIH). Contracts for national health campaigns, such as anti-smoking initiatives (e.g., CDC's Tips From Former Smokers) or broader public health awareness programs, can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars over several years. The specific nature of HIV prevention, its target audiences, and the required outreach strategies influence the cost. This $30.6 million figure appears to be within the expected range for a substantial, multi-year, state-focused public health marketing effort, but a precise comparison requires identifying contracts with similar scope, duration, and objectives.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this 'LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER' campaign contract?

While the abbreviated data does not specify the KPIs, contracts for public health marketing campaigns typically include metrics focused on reach, engagement, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior change. For the 'LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER' campaign, potential KPIs could include: 1) Reach: Number of individuals exposed to campaign messages through various channels (digital, print, broadcast, community events). 2) Engagement: Website traffic, social media interactions (likes, shares, comments), calls to helplines, or downloads of resources. 3) Knowledge: Pre- and post-campaign surveys measuring awareness of HIV transmission, prevention methods (e.g., PrEP, condoms), and testing importance. 4) Attitudes: Shifts in perceptions regarding stigma associated with HIV. 5) Behavior: Increases in HIV testing rates, uptake of prevention services, or reported use of safer sex practices within the target population. The contract likely outlines specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives tied to these categories.

What is the risk associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for this service, and how is it mitigated?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts carry inherent risks for the government, primarily the potential for cost overruns if the effort required is greater than anticipated or if inefficiencies arise. Unlike fixed-price contracts, the government pays for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred by the contractor, plus a fixed fee or percentage. For this $30.6 million contract, the risk is that the marketing and consulting services could take longer or require more resources than budgeted, leading to expenditures exceeding the ceiling amount. Mitigation strategies employed by the CDC would typically include: establishing a contract ceiling that is carefully estimated and monitored; requiring detailed timesheets and expense reports from the contractor; implementing robust oversight by contract specialists and program managers to ensure efficient performance; defining clear task orders with estimated effort levels; and potentially including clauses that allow for termination if costs escalate unreasonably. Regular performance reviews and budget tracking are crucial.

What is the historical spending pattern for HIV prevention marketing and consulting services by the CDC over the past five years?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for HIV prevention marketing and consulting by the CDC requires access to comprehensive federal procurement data. Generally, the CDC allocates substantial resources to HIV prevention efforts, encompassing a range of activities including public awareness campaigns, community outreach, and educational programs. Spending on marketing and consulting services specifically would fluctuate based on the initiation of new campaigns, the duration of ongoing initiatives, and strategic shifts in prevention approaches. Over the past five years, one might expect consistent, significant investment in this area, potentially with peaks corresponding to major campaign rollouts or specific public health priorities. The $30.6 million awarded to Family Health International represents a notable single award, but the CDC's total annual expenditure on such services could be considerably higher when aggregated across multiple contracts and vendors.

How does the geographic focus on North Carolina impact the overall effectiveness and reach of the 'LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER' campaign?

Focusing the 'LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER' campaign primarily on North Carolina allows for tailored strategies and resource allocation to address the specific HIV epidemiology, demographics, and cultural contexts within that state. This can lead to more effective and resonant messaging, potentially yielding higher engagement and impact among the target populations in North Carolina. However, a significant geographic limitation means that the campaign's direct reach and impact are confined to that state. For a national initiative like 'LET'S STOP HIV TOGETHER,' this state-specific contract would likely need to be complemented by similar efforts in other high-burden states or by broader national media components to achieve comprehensive nationwide coverage and impact. The effectiveness is high within its defined scope, but the overall national reach is inherently limited by this focused approach.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Marketing Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 75D301-20-Q-71692

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 359 BLACKWELL ST STE 200, DURHAM, NC, 27701

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,946,370

Exercised Options: $30,620,004

Current Obligation: $30,620,004

Actual Outlays: $25,723,497

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 6

Total Subaward Amount: $215,215

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSD2002015M88157B

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline