HHS awards $24.4M for IT services to ICF Incorporated, highlighting a 1,888-day contract duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $25,829,617 ($25.8M)

Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2020-09-01

End Date: 2025-11-02

Contract Duration: 1,888 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: HHS ACF CHILDREN'S BUREAU NCWDMS BASE PERIOD AWARD 09/01/2020-04/30/2021.TOTAL BASE PERIOD AWARD VALUE $3,056,475.75.TOTAL TASK ORDER LIFECYLE $24,400,176.70

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20201

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $25.8 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: HHS ACF CHILDREN'S BUREAU NCWDMS BASE PERIOD AWARD 09/01/2020-04/30/2021.TOTAL BASE PERIOD AWARD VALUE $3,056,475.75.TOTAL TASK ORDER LIFECYLE $24,400,176.70 Key points: 1. The contract value of $24.4 million over its lifecycle suggests a significant investment in IT services. 2. ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. is the primary contractor, indicating a focus on established vendors for critical services. 3. The contract spans nearly five years, implying a need for sustained IT support and development. 4. The award falls under 'Computer Systems Design Services,' a broad category often encompassing software development, integration, and maintenance. 5. The 'Full and Open Competition' indicates a competitive bidding process, theoretically leading to better pricing. 6. The contract's duration and value warrant scrutiny for long-term cost-effectiveness and performance.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $24.4 million contract requires more granular data on the specific services provided. However, the duration of nearly five years suggests a substantial, ongoing need. Comparing it to similar large-scale IT service contracts within HHS or other federal agencies would provide better context for value for money. The firm fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but the total lifecycle value indicates significant expenditure.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a 'Full and Open Competition,' suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of a competitive process is generally positive for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. Without knowing the number of bids received, it's difficult to fully assess the intensity of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining services at a fair market price through competitive pressure.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Children's Bureau within HHS, which will receive enhanced IT support for its National Child Welfare Digital Services (NCWDMS) program. Services delivered are expected to include computer systems design, potentially encompassing software development, data management, and IT infrastructure support. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the contracting agency is located, but the services may support national child welfare initiatives. Workforce implications could include IT professionals employed by ICF Incorporated, L.L.C., and potentially government personnel who will utilize the improved IT systems.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep given the long contract duration and broad service category.
Reliance on a single large contractor for critical IT systems could pose risks if performance falters.
Ensuring ongoing alignment with evolving technological needs over a nearly five-year period.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
Firm fixed-price contract type helps to manage cost certainty.
Long contract duration indicates a stable, ongoing need for these IT services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically Computer Systems Design Services. This is a large and dynamic market within the federal government, with agencies constantly seeking to modernize their systems and improve digital service delivery. The total lifecycle value of $24.4 million positions this as a significant contract, likely supporting a core program or initiative within HHS. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large IT service contracts awarded by HHS or similar civilian agencies for system design and development.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, ICF Incorporated, L.L.C., a presumably larger entity, is the direct awardee. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award notice. The lack of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to directly participate in this contract are limited unless they are part of ICF's subcontracting chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Health and Human Services' contracting officers and program managers. The firm fixed-price nature provides some cost control. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. The Inspector General for HHS would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

HHS IT Modernization Initiatives
Children's Bureau IT Support
Federal Civilian Agency IT Services
Computer Systems Design Contracts
NCWDMS Program Support

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of technological obsolescence or changing requirements.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical IT systems can create dependency.
Scope definition for 'Computer Systems Design Services' needs clear definition to prevent scope creep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $25.8 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. HHS ACF CHILDREN'S BUREAU NCWDMS BASE PERIOD AWARD 09/01/2020-04/30/2021.TOTAL BASE PERIOD AWARD VALUE $3,056,475.75.TOTAL TASK ORDER LIFECYLE $24,400,176.70

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $25.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-01. End: 2025-11-02.

What is the specific nature of the 'Computer Systems Design Services' being provided under this contract?

The contract is for the National Child Welfare Digital Services (NCWDMS) Base Period Award, managed by the Children's Bureau within HHS. While the NA code '541512' denotes Computer Systems Design Services, the specific deliverables likely encompass a range of IT functions critical to the NCWDMS. This could include the design, development, integration, and maintenance of software applications, databases, and IT infrastructure supporting child welfare data management, case management, reporting, and analytics. The long duration suggests a comprehensive, ongoing role in evolving and sustaining these digital services to meet the needs of the Children's Bureau and its stakeholders.

How does the $24.4 million lifecycle cost compare to similar IT service contracts for child welfare agencies?

Directly comparing the $24.4 million lifecycle cost to similar contracts for child welfare agencies is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of such awards, including detailed service scopes and durations. However, for a contract spanning nearly five years (1888 days) and supporting a national program like NCWDMS, this figure appears to be within a reasonable range for significant IT modernization and support efforts. Larger federal IT contracts can easily reach hundreds of millions or billions of dollars. The key is to assess if the scope of services justifies this expenditure and if performance metrics are being met to ensure value for money.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, for IT service contracts of this magnitude and duration, detailed SLAs would be established to measure contractor performance. These might include metrics related to system uptime, response times for technical support, software defect resolution rates, project milestone completion, and adherence to security protocols. Effective oversight would involve regular reviews of the contractor's performance against these agreed-upon metrics to ensure the government receives the expected value and quality of services.

What is ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.'s track record with HHS and similar federal IT contracts?

ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. is a well-established government contractor with a significant history of serving federal agencies, including HHS. They have a broad portfolio that includes IT services, data analytics, program management, and consulting across various sectors. Their track record with HHS likely includes numerous contracts, some of which may be similar in scope or service type to this award. A deeper dive into their contract history, past performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS), and any past issues or commendations would provide a more complete picture of their reliability and capability for this specific NCWDMS contract.

What is the historical spending trend for IT services related to the Children's Bureau or NCWDMS program?

The provided data focuses on a single award and does not offer historical spending trends for the Children's Bureau or the NCWDMS program. To analyze historical spending, one would need to examine contract awards for this specific program or functional area over several preceding fiscal years. This would involve identifying previous contracts, their values, durations, and the contractors involved. Such an analysis would reveal whether spending has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and whether this $24.4 million award represents a significant shift or continuation of past investment levels.

Are there any specific risks identified by HHS or the Inspector General related to this contract or contractor?

The provided data does not contain information on specific risks identified by HHS or its Inspector General concerning this contract or ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. Risk assessments are typically conducted during the procurement process and throughout contract performance. Potential risks for IT contracts often include cybersecurity vulnerabilities, data breaches, contractor performance issues, cost overruns (though mitigated by FFP), and challenges in adapting to new technologies. The Inspector General's office would investigate any reported issues of fraud, waste, or abuse, but this does not imply risks are present without specific findings.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.

Address: 1902 RESTON METRO PLAZA, RESTON, VA, 20190

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $25,829,617

Exercised Options: $25,829,617

Current Obligation: $25,829,617

Actual Outlays: $20,362,211

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $1,669,501

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSN316201200028W

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline