HHS awards $17.4M contract for Public Health Infrastructure support to Chickasaw Aerospace, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,434,943 ($17.4M)

Contractor: Chickasaw Aerospace, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-08-30

End Date: 2026-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,097 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE (PHI) IMPLEMENTATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SYSTEMS

Place of Performance

Location: NORMAN, CLEVELAND County, OKLAHOMA, 73071

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $17.4 million to CHICKASAW AEROSPACE, LLC for work described as: PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE (PHI) IMPLEMENTATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SYSTEMS Key points: 1. Contract value of $17.4 million over approximately three years. 2. Awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type suggests predictable costs. 4. Performance period runs from August 2023 to August 2026. 5. The contract is for Public Health Infrastructure (PHI) implementation, management, and systems. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541330 (Engineering Services).

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $17.4 million for PHI implementation and management appears reasonable for a three-year period. Benchmarking against similar contracts for public health IT and infrastructure support would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed price structure helps control costs, but the specific deliverables and their complexity are key to determining true value. Without detailed task breakdowns, a definitive value assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This indicates that while the competition was intended to be open, specific sources were excluded for reasons not detailed in the provided data. The number of bidders is not specified, making it difficult to assess the level of competition and its impact on price discovery. The exclusion of sources could potentially limit competitive pressure.

Taxpayer Impact: The exclusion of certain sources, even in an otherwise open competition, may limit the number of potential offerors, potentially impacting the most competitive pricing for taxpayers.

Public Impact

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) benefits from this contract by receiving support for its public health infrastructure. Services delivered include implementation, management, and systems support for public health initiatives. The geographic impact is likely national, supporting federal public health efforts. The contract supports the operational capacity of federal public health agencies.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited competition due to exclusion of sources.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess effectiveness.
Scope of 'systems' support is broad and could lead to cost overruns if not well-defined.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.
Long-term performance period allows for sustained support.
Awarded to a single contractor, potentially leading to focused expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector (NAICS 541330), specifically supporting public health infrastructure. The federal government is a significant purchaser of engineering and IT services to manage and modernize its vast infrastructure. Spending in this area is crucial for maintaining and improving public health systems, especially in light of evolving health challenges. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other large-scale IT and infrastructure management contracts within federal health agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business set-aside was not utilized (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, this contract does not directly contribute to small business set-aside goals. There is no information on subcontracting plans, so the impact on the small business ecosystem through subcontracting is unknown.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Specific oversight mechanisms, such as performance reviews, audits, and reporting requirements, are not detailed in the provided data. Transparency would depend on the public availability of contract performance reports and any associated Inspector General reviews.

Related Government Programs

Public Health Modernization Initiatives
CDC IT Infrastructure Support
Federal Health Systems Management
Public Health Data Systems

Risk Flags

Limited competition due to source exclusion.
Broad scope of 'systems' support requires careful management.
Potential cybersecurity risks associated with IT infrastructure management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $17.4 million to CHICKASAW AEROSPACE, LLC. PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE (PHI) IMPLEMENTATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SYSTEMS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHICKASAW AEROSPACE, LLC.

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 $17.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-30. End: 2026-08-31.

What is the track record of Chickasaw Aerospace, LLC with federal contracts, particularly in public health or IT infrastructure?

A review of federal contract databases would be necessary to fully assess Chickasaw Aerospace, LLC's track record. Information on past performance, contract values, agencies served, and types of services rendered would provide insight into their experience and reliability. Specifically, identifying previous contracts related to public health infrastructure, IT systems management, or engineering services would be crucial. A history of successful contract completion, positive past performance reviews, and adherence to timelines and budgets would indicate a lower risk. Conversely, a history of contract disputes, performance issues, or significant cost overruns would raise concerns about their capability to execute this current $17.4 million contract effectively.

How does the $17.4 million contract value compare to similar public health infrastructure support contracts?

To benchmark the $17.4 million contract value, one would need to identify comparable contracts awarded by federal agencies, particularly the CDC and other public health entities, for similar services like IT implementation, infrastructure management, and systems support. Key comparison points would include contract duration, scope of work, and the specific technologies or systems involved. For instance, if similar three-year contracts for comparable scope have ranged from $10 million to $25 million, then $17.4 million would appear within a reasonable range. However, if comparable contracts are significantly lower or higher, it would warrant further investigation into the specific requirements and market conditions that might justify the difference. The firm fixed price nature of this contract also suggests a defined scope, which aids in comparison.

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

Primary risks for this contract could include scope creep, contractor performance issues, and potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the managed systems. Scope creep is a risk given the broad description of 'implementation, management, and systems.' Mitigation would involve robust contract management, clearly defined deliverables, and change control processes. Contractor performance risk can be mitigated through diligent oversight, regular performance reviews, and adherence to contractual milestones. Cybersecurity risks are inherent in managing IT systems; mitigation would involve strict adherence to federal cybersecurity standards (e.g., NIST), regular security audits, and incident response planning. The 'limited' competition aspect also presents a risk of potentially suboptimal pricing if competitive pressure was insufficient.

What is the expected effectiveness of the services provided under this contract for improving public health infrastructure?

The effectiveness of the services hinges on the specific implementation, management, and systems support provided to the CDC's public health infrastructure. If the contractor successfully enhances system reliability, improves data management capabilities, streamlines operational processes, and ensures robust IT security, then the contract would be highly effective. This could lead to better disease surveillance, faster response times to public health emergencies, and more efficient resource allocation. However, effectiveness is contingent on the contractor's expertise, the clarity of the SOW, and the government's oversight. Without specific performance metrics and outcomes data, assessing effectiveness remains speculative. The contract's duration suggests a focus on sustained improvement rather than a one-off project.

How has federal spending on public health infrastructure support evolved over the past five years?

Federal spending on public health infrastructure support has likely seen fluctuations and potential increases over the past five years, driven by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving technological needs, and a growing emphasis on data modernization. Agencies like the CDC consistently require funding for IT systems, data analytics platforms, and operational support to manage national health programs. Spending trends can be analyzed by examining historical budget allocations for relevant agencies and specific contract vehicles. Increased focus on preparedness, supply chain resilience, and interoperability of health data systems may have contributed to rising expenditures in this category. Detailed analysis would require examining specific budget line items and contract award databases over the period.

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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 75D301-23-R-72679

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2600 JOHN SAXON BLVD STE 2222, NORMAN, OK, 73071

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Government, HUBZone Firm, Native American Tribal Government, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,027,556

Exercised Options: $17,434,943

Current Obligation: $17,434,943

Actual Outlays: $14,020,811

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAD20D8108

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline