HHS Awards $31.6M for ESRD Quality Reporting System Development and Maintenance

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,596,403 ($31.6M)

Contractor: Semanticbits LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2021-02-24

End Date: 2024-02-23

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $28.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO RETAIN AN EFFECTIVE TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, ENHANCE, AND MAINTAIN THE PATIENT REGISTRY MODULE AND THE EQRS PORTAL FOR THE END STAGE RENAL DISEASE (ESRD) QUALITY REPORTING SYSTEM (EQRS). THE EQRS PORTAL FUNCTIONALITY I

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $31.6 million to SEMANTICBITS LLC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO RETAIN AN EFFECTIVE TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, ENHANCE, AND MAINTAIN THE PATIENT REGISTRY MODULE AND THE EQRS PORTAL FOR THE END STAGE RENAL DISEASE (ESRD) QUALITY REPORTING SYSTEM (EQRS). THE EQRS PORTAL FUNCTIONALITY I Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical patient registry and portal for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) quality reporting. 2. SEMANTICBITS LLC is the contractor, with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the agency. 3. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating a defined cost for the services. 4. This award falls under the 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $31.6 million over approximately 3 years appears reasonable for specialized IT development and maintenance services. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for health IT systems would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally leads to better price discovery and value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential healthcare IT infrastructure.

Public Impact

Enhances the ESRD Quality Reporting System (EQRS), crucial for monitoring and improving patient care. Supports data collection and reporting for a significant patient population with End Stage Renal Disease. The EQRS portal provides vital information for healthcare providers and policymakers. Ensures the continued functionality and development of a key federal health IT system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in development and enhancement tasks.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical system maintenance.
Ensuring data security and privacy for sensitive patient information.

Positive Signals

Clear purpose for a critical healthcare reporting system.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on health IT and data management. Spending benchmarks for similar government IT development and maintenance contracts would be relevant for comparison.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the contractor, SEMANTICBITS LLC, is not explicitly identified as a small business in this data. Further analysis would be needed to determine the overall small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a key agency within HHS. Standard government oversight mechanisms for contract performance and financial management are expected to be in place.

Related Government Programs

Other Computer Related Services
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if system architecture is proprietary.
Risk of data breaches or security vulnerabilities.
Dependence on contractor expertise for critical system functions.
Challenges in adapting to evolving healthcare regulations and reporting requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $31.6 million to SEMANTICBITS LLC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO RETAIN AN EFFECTIVE TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, ENHANCE, AND MAINTAIN THE PATIENT REGISTRY MODULE AND THE EQRS PORTAL FOR THE END STAGE RENAL DISEASE (ESRD) QUALITY REPORTING SYSTEM (EQRS). THE EQRS PORTAL FUNCTIONALITY I

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SEMANTICBITS 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 $31.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-02-24. End: 2024-02-23.

What is the specific definition of 'enhancement' in this contract, and how will scope changes be managed to prevent cost overruns?

The definition of 'enhancement' will likely be detailed in the Statement of Work (SOW) and could include adding new features, improving performance, or updating user interfaces. Robust change control processes, requiring formal approval and potentially contract modifications for significant changes, are essential to manage scope and prevent cost overruns. Regular progress reviews will help identify potential scope creep early.

How does the government ensure the long-term sustainability and adaptability of the EQRS portal, given the rapid evolution of health IT standards?

The government can ensure long-term sustainability by incorporating requirements for modular design, adherence to interoperability standards (like FHIR), and regular technology refresh cycles into the contract. The contract's focus on 'enhancement' suggests a commitment to ongoing development. Periodic reviews of the system's architecture and technology stack against industry best practices will be crucial for adaptability.

What metrics are used to evaluate the 'effectiveness' of the Patient Registry Module and EQRS Portal development and maintenance?

Effectiveness is likely measured through performance metrics defined in the SOW, such as system uptime, response times, data accuracy rates, and successful completion of reporting cycles. User satisfaction surveys, adherence to development timelines, and the successful implementation of new features or enhancements would also contribute to the evaluation of effectiveness.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - IT MANAGEMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.

Address: 13921 PARK CENTER RD STE 420, HERNDON, VA, 20171

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $32,941,500

Exercised Options: $31,596,403

Current Obligation: $31,596,403

Actual Outlays: $26,655,377

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSM500201600011B

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline