HHS Awards $116.7M for Medicare Beneficiary Survey, Boosting Social Science R&D
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $116,676,581 ($116.7M)
Contractor: National Opinion Research Center
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2021-04-30
End Date: 2026-04-30
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $63.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: MEDICARE CURRENT BENEFICIARY SURVEY (MCBS)
Place of Performance
Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60637
State: Illinois Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $116.7 million to NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER for work described as: MEDICARE CURRENT BENEFICIARY SURVEY (MCBS) Key points: 1. Significant investment in social science research, focusing on Medicare beneficiaries. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting potential for competitive pricing. 3. Contract duration is substantial (5 years), requiring ongoing oversight. 4. The sector is R&D, specifically social sciences, with a focus on healthcare data. 5. Potential for high taxpayer impact due to the large contract value.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts in social sciences is difficult due to unique project scopes.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Full and open competition was utilized, which generally promotes price discovery and competitive bidding. The award was a delivery order, indicating it was part of a larger contract vehicle.
Taxpayer Impact: The substantial value of $116.7 million represents a significant allocation of taxpayer funds towards understanding Medicare beneficiary needs and experiences.
Public Impact
Enhances understanding of Medicare beneficiary needs and healthcare utilization. Provides valuable data for policy development and program improvement. Supports the social sciences research sector through significant funding.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type requires careful monitoring to control costs.
- Long contract duration necessitates sustained oversight to ensure value.
- Potential for scope creep in research projects.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition fosters a competitive environment.
- Focus on critical healthcare data collection.
- Investment in valuable social science research.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities sector. Spending benchmarks for such specific R&D are variable, but the scale indicates a significant project for understanding healthcare policy implications.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is responsible for oversight. Given the contract's duration and value, robust oversight mechanisms are crucial to ensure objectives are met and funds are used efficiently.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure
- Long contract duration (5 years)
- Potential for scope creep in research
- Complexity of data collection and analysis
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-health-and-human-services, il, delivery-order, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $116.7 million to NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER. MEDICARE CURRENT BENEFICIARY SURVEY (MCBS)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER.
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 $116.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-04-30. End: 2026-04-30.
What is the primary objective of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS)?
The MCBS aims to collect comprehensive data on the health status, healthcare use, and expenditures of Medicare beneficiaries. This information is crucial for understanding beneficiary experiences, evaluating Medicare program performance, and informing policy decisions related to healthcare access, quality, and costs.
What are the key risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract for this type of research?
CPFF contracts carry risks of cost overruns if the fixed fee is not adequately justified or if project scope expands without proper adjustments. There's also a risk that the contractor may not be sufficiently incentivized to control costs beyond the fixed fee, potentially impacting overall value for taxpayer money.
How effective is the MCBS likely to be in informing future healthcare policy?
The MCBS is generally considered highly effective due to its longitudinal nature and focus on beneficiary experiences. The data collected provides deep insights into healthcare utilization, access barriers, and satisfaction, which are critical for evidence-based policymaking aimed at improving the Medicare program and supporting its beneficiaries.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › N – Health R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: RMADA2-TORP-2021-0002
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1155 E 60TH ST, CHICAGO, IL, 60637
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: $158,014,474
Exercised Options: $116,676,581
Current Obligation: $116,676,581
Actual Outlays: $99,838,300
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $659,120
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 75FCMC19D0092
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-04-30
Current End Date: 2026-04-30
Potential End Date: 2028-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-23
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