HHS awards $2.88M contract for FOIA case management to Feith Systems & Software, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,881,532 ($2.9M)

Contractor: Feith Systems & Software, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-09-25

End Date: 2026-09-24

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: ENTERPRISE FOIA CASE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

Place of Performance

Location: FORT WASHINGTON, MONTGOMERY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19034

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $2.9 million to FEITH SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE, INC for work described as: ENTERPRISE FOIA CASE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 1095 days (3 years) indicates a medium-term need for the services. 3. The primary service category is Computer Systems Design Services, aligning with IT infrastructure needs. 4. The award is a Delivery Order, likely part of a larger Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. 5. The contract is for Labor Hours, which can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed closely. 6. The vendor, Feith Systems & Software, Inc., has secured this contract, indicating past performance or competitive advantage.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $2.88 million contract for FOIA case management is challenging without specific performance metrics or comparable contract data. However, the duration of three years suggests a consistent annual spend of approximately $960,000. This figure needs to be evaluated against the scope of services, the number of users, and the complexity of the FOIA requests processed. Without more granular data on the specific functionalities and expected outcomes, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The 'Labor Hours' pricing model introduces a variable cost component that requires diligent oversight to ensure efficiency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition,' indicating that all eligible responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this requirement. While three bidders is better than a sole-source award, a higher number of competitors typically drives prices down further and fosters greater innovation. The agency's decision to pursue full and open competition is a positive step towards ensuring fair market pricing and access to a broad range of solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the agency's commitment to open competition, which generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified vendors, potentially resulting in better value for the government.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will receive an improved FOIA case management solution. The services delivered will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of processing Freedom of Information Act requests. The geographic impact is primarily national, as FOIA requests can originate from anywhere in the US. The contract supports the IT sector workforce involved in software development, system design, and implementation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Labor hours pricing model can lead to cost uncertainty if not tightly managed.
Limited competition (3 bidders) may not have yielded the lowest possible price.
Specific performance metrics and success criteria are not detailed, making outcome assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, maximizing potential vendor pool.
Contract duration of 3 years provides stability for system implementation and operation.
Focus on FOIA case management addresses a critical transparency and public access requirement.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly within government contracting, is highly competitive. This contract falls under Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512), a segment focused on designing and developing IT systems. Government spending in this area is substantial, driven by the need for modernizing legacy systems, improving data management, and enhancing citizen services. Comparable contracts often involve case management, workflow automation, and document management solutions for various federal agencies. The market size for such services is in the billions annually.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside (SB is false). There is no explicit mention of subcontracting goals for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting plans exist and their potential benefit to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards and the FOIA process itself. The Inspector General's office for HHS may provide oversight if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Administration
IT Systems Modernization
Case Management Software
Document Management Systems
Federal Agency IT Procurement

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to 'Labor Hours' pricing.
Moderate competition level may not have secured the best possible price.
Lack of publicly detailed performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2.9 million to FEITH SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE, INC. ENTERPRISE FOIA CASE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FEITH SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-25. End: 2026-09-24.

What is the track record of Feith Systems & Software, Inc. in delivering similar FOIA case management solutions to federal agencies?

Assessing the specific track record of Feith Systems & Software, Inc. requires a deep dive into their past performance on federal contracts, particularly those involving FOIA case management or similar workflow automation systems. Publicly available data, such as contract award histories and performance evaluations (if accessible), would be crucial. Key indicators to examine include on-time delivery, adherence to budget, user satisfaction, and the successful implementation of system features. Without direct access to past performance reports or detailed project histories for Feith Systems & Software, Inc., it is difficult to provide a definitive assessment of their capabilities in this specific domain. However, winning this contract suggests they met the agency's requirements and were deemed capable of performing the work.

How does the awarded price of $2.88 million compare to similar FOIA case management solutions procured by other federal agencies?

Directly comparing the $2.88 million award for this 3-year contract to similar FOIA case management solutions across federal agencies is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of comparable contract values, scopes of work, and performance periods. Factors such as the number of users, the volume of requests, the complexity of the system's features (e.g., AI integration, advanced search capabilities), and the specific agency's requirements significantly influence pricing. Generally, government IT contracts of this duration and scope can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars. The 'Labor Hours' pricing model also introduces variability. A thorough benchmark would require analyzing contracts with similar NAICS codes (541512) and service descriptions, adjusted for contract length and specific functionalities.

What are the primary risks associated with a 'Labor Hours' contract type for IT system design services?

The primary risk associated with a 'Labor Hours' contract type, especially for IT system design services like this FOIA case management solution, is cost uncertainty and potential overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, 'Labor Hours' contracts pay for the actual time and labor expended by the contractor's personnel at predetermined rates. This can lead to higher-than-expected costs if the project takes longer than anticipated due to unforeseen complexities, inefficiencies, or scope creep. Effective oversight, detailed work breakdown structures, and close monitoring of labor hours are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the project stays within budget. The government bears more of the cost risk compared to fixed-price arrangements.

How will the success of this FOIA case management solution be measured by the FDA?

The success of this FOIA case management solution will likely be measured by a combination of performance metrics defined within the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work (SOW). These metrics could include, but are not limited to, the average time to process a FOIA request, the reduction in manual effort required by staff, the system's uptime and availability, user satisfaction ratings from FDA personnel, the accuracy and completeness of case documentation, and the ability to meet statutory deadlines for responding to requests. The contract's 'Delivery Order' nature suggests it might be part of a larger IDIQ, where specific task orders would detail measurable outcomes and acceptance criteria.

What is the historical spending trend for FOIA-related IT solutions within the Department of Health and Human Services?

Analyzing historical spending trends for FOIA-related IT solutions within HHS requires access to comprehensive federal procurement data over several fiscal years. This would involve querying databases like FPDS or USASpending for contracts categorized under relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 541512, 541511, 518210) and keywords related to 'FOIA,' 'case management,' 'document management,' and 'information requests.' Such an analysis would reveal whether spending in this area has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and identify key vendors and contract vehicles utilized by HHS agencies, including the FDA. Understanding these trends provides context for the current $2.88 million award and helps in assessing its alignment with the agency's overall IT investment strategy for transparency and public access initiatives.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 425 MARYLAND DR, FORT WASHINGTON, PA, 19034

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,475,020

Exercised Options: $2,881,532

Current Obligation: $2,881,532

Actual Outlays: $2,640,657

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSMA19D08NH

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline