ACF Awards $18.8M for Child Welfare Information Gateway Capacity Building to ICF

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,856,998 ($18.9M)

Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2025-08-25

End Date: 2026-08-24

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $51.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THE REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE CAPACITY-BUILDING SERVICES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF), CHILDREN'S BUREAU (CB) THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION GATEWAY (CWIG) AS REQUIRED BY THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $18.9 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: THE REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE CAPACITY-BUILDING SERVICES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF), CHILDREN'S BUREAU (CB) THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION GATEWAY (CWIG) AS REQUIRED BY THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. for capacity-building services. 2. Services support the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Children's Bureau (CB). 3. The contract is for Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512). 4. This is a Delivery Order under an existing contract. 5. The contract has a Firm Fixed Price type.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $18.8M for a 1-year period appears reasonable for specialized IT capacity-building services. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for system design and support would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is expected to yield a fair price, maximizing taxpayer value for essential child welfare information services.

Public Impact

Enhances critical child welfare information systems for ACF. Supports the Children's Bureau in its mission to protect children. Ensures continuity of services for the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Leverages existing contract vehicles for efficient service delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical system support.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition.
Firm Fixed Price contract type manages cost risk.
Supports a vital government function for child welfare.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design. Spending in this area is substantial across federal agencies, supporting a wide range of mission-critical functions.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and was awarded to a large business (ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.). There is no explicit indication of small business subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

As a delivery order under an existing contract, oversight may be managed through the parent contract's framework. Clear performance metrics and regular reporting will be crucial for accountability.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if services are highly specialized.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical IT infrastructure.
Need for clear performance metrics to ensure service quality.
Risk of scope creep if requirements are not tightly managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $18.9 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. THE REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE CAPACITY-BUILDING SERVICES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF), CHILDREN'S BUREAU (CB) THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION GATEWAY (CWIG) AS REQUIRED BY THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

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 $18.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-08-25. End: 2026-08-24.

What specific capacity-building services are included in this contract, and how do they align with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act requirements?

The contract focuses on capacity-building for the Child Welfare Information Gateway (CWIG) to support the Children's Bureau. Specific services likely include technical assistance, system enhancements, data management improvements, and training. These services are intended to strengthen the infrastructure that supports the implementation and monitoring of programs mandated by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, ensuring better data collection, analysis, and dissemination of child welfare information.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will their achievement be measured to ensure effectiveness?

Key performance indicators would likely focus on system uptime, data accuracy, response times for technical support, successful implementation of new features or upgrades, and user satisfaction. Measurement methods would involve regular system audits, performance monitoring tools, user feedback surveys, and contractor reporting against defined service level agreements (SLAs). Effective tracking ensures the contractor meets its obligations and the CWIG functions optimally.

Given the firm fixed price structure, what mechanisms are in place to prevent cost overruns if unforeseen technical challenges arise during the contract period?

The firm fixed price (FFP) structure places the cost risk on the contractor. However, mechanisms to manage unforeseen challenges include clearly defined contract scope and deliverables, change order procedures for any necessary scope adjustments (which would typically involve price negotiation), and robust project management by the government contracting officer. The contract's duration and the nature of 'capacity-building' suggest a focus on planned improvements rather than extensive, unpredictable development.

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 › IT AND TELECOM - DELIVERY

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

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: $90,674,722

Exercised Options: $18,856,998

Current Obligation: $18,856,998

Actual Outlays: $5,928,646

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 6

Total Subaward Amount: $1,693,902

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSN316201200028W

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline