HHS awards $28.9M for quality reporting program support, with ABT Global LLC as prime

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $28,881,924 ($28.9M)

Contractor: ABT Global LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2019-01-15

End Date: 2024-01-18

Contract Duration: 1,829 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE QUALITY REPORTING PROGRAM QUALITY MEASURES AND ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS DEVELOPMENT, MODIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE,&QUALITY REPORTING PROGRAM OVERSIGHT SUPPORT.

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20852

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $28.9 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC for work described as: HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE QUALITY REPORTING PROGRAM QUALITY MEASURES AND ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS DEVELOPMENT, MODIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE,&QUALITY REPORTING PROGRAM OVERSIGHT SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract supports critical quality reporting for home health and hospice programs. 2. ABT Global LLC, the prime contractor, has a significant role in this initiative. 3. The contract duration of 1829 days indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 5. The services provided are categorized under Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. 6. The contract's value is substantial, reflecting the importance of quality assessment in healthcare.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $28.9 million over approximately five years for quality reporting program support appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar contracts for program oversight and data analysis in federal health agencies suggests this is within a typical range. The 'time and materials' pricing model, while common, warrants scrutiny for cost control over the contract's life. Without specific per-unit metrics for the services rendered, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the overall investment aligns with the program's objectives.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The presence of 3 bids suggests a competitive environment, which typically leads to better pricing and service offerings for the government. The open competition process allows the agency to select the most qualified contractor based on technical merit and price, ensuring a fair evaluation.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive bidding process that aims to secure the best value for public funds. Full and open competition generally drives down costs and encourages innovation, leading to more efficient use of taxpayer money.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who will receive care from home health and hospice agencies adhering to quality standards. The contract supports the development, modification, and maintenance of quality measures and assessment instruments. It also provides oversight support for the Home Health and Hospice Quality Reporting Program. The geographic impact is nationwide, affecting all home health and hospice providers participating in Medicare. The contract ensures that quality data is collected and analyzed, contributing to improved patient care and outcomes across the country.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns with Time and Materials contract type if not closely managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical program support over an extended period.
Scope creep could increase the overall cost beyond initial projections without adequate oversight.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.
Contract duration suggests a stable, long-term need and commitment to the program.
Focus on quality reporting directly impacts patient care and provider accountability.

Sector Analysis

The healthcare sector, particularly the segment focused on quality measurement and reporting, is crucial for ensuring patient safety and effective care delivery. This contract falls within the broader scientific and technical consulting services market, which supports government agencies in specialized areas. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a major purchaser of such services to manage its vast programs. Comparable spending benchmarks for quality reporting and program integrity initiatives within HHS often range in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scope and complexity.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not appear to have a specific small business set-aside. The prime contractor, ABT Global LLC, is not listed as a small business. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract is managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of HHS. The contract type (Time and Materials) necessitates diligent oversight to manage costs and ensure that work performed aligns with the stated objectives. Accountability measures would typically involve performance reviews, deliverable acceptance, and adherence to reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics are often internal.

Related Government Programs

Home Health Quality Reporting Program
Hospice Quality Reporting Program
Medicare Quality Payment Program
Healthcare Quality Improvement Programs
CMS Program Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
Need for robust oversight to ensure efficient performance and value.
Reliance on contractor for critical program functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $28.9 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC. HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE QUALITY REPORTING PROGRAM QUALITY MEASURES AND ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS DEVELOPMENT, MODIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE,&QUALITY REPORTING PROGRAM OVERSIGHT SUPPORT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ABT GLOBAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $28.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-01-15. End: 2024-01-18.

What is the specific nature of the 'quality measures and assessment instruments' development and modification?

The development, modification, and maintenance of quality measures and assessment instruments involve creating standardized metrics to evaluate the performance of home health and hospice agencies. This includes defining what aspects of care will be measured (e.g., patient outcomes, safety, patient experience), designing the tools and surveys to collect this data, and updating these measures as healthcare practices evolve or new policy priorities emerge. The goal is to ensure that the data collected is valid, reliable, and useful for assessing quality of care, identifying areas for improvement, and informing payment decisions. ABT Global LLC's role would be to provide the expertise in health services research, data analysis, and instrument design to support CMS in these critical functions.

How does the 'quality reporting program oversight support' function in practice?

The oversight support entails assisting CMS in managing and monitoring the Home Health and Hospice Quality Reporting Programs. This likely includes tasks such as reviewing submitted quality data for completeness and accuracy, analyzing trends in provider performance, developing reports for internal use and public dissemination, and potentially assisting in the development of policies related to quality reporting compliance. It may also involve managing communication channels with providers regarding reporting requirements and addressing inquiries. The contractor helps ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the entire quality reporting ecosystem, from data collection to its use in performance evaluation and public transparency.

What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for this type of service?

Time and Materials contracts, while flexible, carry inherent risks for the government, primarily related to cost control. The primary risk is that the contractor may not exercise maximum economy in the performance of the work, potentially leading to inflated labor hours or inefficient use of materials. Without a fixed ceiling or well-defined scope, costs can escalate beyond initial projections if not rigorously monitored. For this contract, it means CMS must actively manage ABT Global LLC's labor hours, resource allocation, and material expenditures to ensure that the $28.9 million award does not significantly exceed the value delivered. Robust oversight, detailed task tracking, and clear performance expectations are crucial to mitigate these risks.

How does this contract contribute to the broader goals of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)?

This contract directly supports CMS's strategic objective of improving the quality and safety of healthcare services for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. By ensuring that home health and hospice agencies report accurate quality data and by providing oversight for these programs, CMS can better identify high-performing providers, pinpoint areas needing improvement, and hold agencies accountable for the care they deliver. The data generated also informs public transparency initiatives, empowering patients and their families to make informed choices about their care providers. Ultimately, this contract is a key component in CMS's mission to promote value-based care and enhance patient outcomes nationwide.

What is ABT Global LLC's track record with similar government contracts?

While specific details of ABT Global LLC's past performance on similar contracts are not provided in the abbreviated data, their selection as the prime contractor for this significant HHS award suggests a relevant history and capability. Federal procurement databases often contain past performance information, which would detail their experience with quality reporting, healthcare consulting, and government program support. Agencies typically evaluate a contractor's past performance extensively during the source selection process to gauge their likelihood of success on new contracts. Further investigation into federal contract databases would reveal specific contract vehicles, agencies served, and performance ratings.

Are there alternative approaches or technologies that could achieve similar quality reporting goals more efficiently?

Alternative approaches could involve leveraging advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) for automated quality measure validation and anomaly detection, potentially reducing manual oversight needs. Exploring standardized data exchange formats (like FHIR) could streamline data submission from providers. Furthermore, shifting towards more outcome-based quality measures, rather than process measures, could provide a more direct assessment of care value. Technology platforms that integrate real-time patient data could offer more dynamic insights than traditional periodic reporting. However, the implementation of such alternatives requires significant investment, infrastructure changes, and careful consideration of data privacy and security.

Industry Classification

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

Solicitation ID: 75FCMC18R0019

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6130 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $28,881,924

Exercised Options: $28,881,924

Current Obligation: $28,881,924

Actual Outlays: $15,480,088

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 34

Total Subaward Amount: $16,662,377

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75FCMC18D0014

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline