Nearly $2.2M contract awarded for national poison help desk support services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,175,447 ($2.2M)

Contractor: Immersive Concepts L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-09-16

End Date: 2027-05-15

Contract Duration: 1,337 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: MCHB57 C 4653 SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NATIONAL TOLL-FREE POISION HELP DESK

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20857

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $2.2 million to IMMERSIVE CONCEPTS L.L.C. for work described as: MCHB57 C 4653 SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NATIONAL TOLL-FREE POISION HELP DESK Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential public health service, indicating a need for reliable support. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about potential cost savings through competition. 3. Long contract duration suggests a need for sustained service delivery. 4. Firm-fixed-price contract shifts risk to the contractor, potentially stabilizing costs. 5. Contractor has a single award, limiting insight into broader performance history. 6. Service category aligns with marketing consulting, suggesting a focus on outreach and information dissemination.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2,175,447.1 for support services for the national toll-free poison help desk appears to be a reasonable investment for a critical public health function. However, without comparable contract data for similar services or benchmarks for poison control center operations, a definitive value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government, but the absence of competition makes it difficult to ascertain if the pricing is truly competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed. This approach is typically used when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the requirement. The lack of competition means that the government did not benefit from a bidding process that could have potentially driven down prices or spurred innovation from multiple vendors. The justification for this sole-source award would need to be thoroughly reviewed to understand why other qualified contractors were not considered.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price for these essential services. Without a competitive bidding process, there is a risk that the awarded price is higher than it would have been in a more open market.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals seeking immediate assistance with poisoning incidents across the nation. The service delivered is crucial for public health, providing a vital link to expert advice. The geographic impact is national, covering all states and territories through the toll-free number. Workforce implications include the need for trained personnel to handle calls and provide information, potentially supporting jobs in call center operations and public health advisory roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits transparency and potential cost savings.
Lack of performance history for this specific contractor makes it difficult to assess reliability.
Contract duration of nearly four years may not be optimal if service needs change rapidly.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
Contract supports a critical national public health service.
Long-term contract ensures continuity of essential services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically marketing consulting services, though its application is in public health support. The market for call center and public health information services is diverse, with many organizations capable of providing such support. Benchmarking this contract's value is difficult without specific data on poison control center operational costs or similar public health hotline services. The total federal spending on marketing consulting services is substantial, but this contract represents a niche application focused on critical health information dissemination.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded to a small business, nor does it appear to have specific small business set-aside provisions. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, this contract is unlikely to have a direct positive impact on the small business ecosystem, and opportunities for small business participation are not evident from this award alone.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed operational oversight and inspector general jurisdiction would depend on specific agency policies and the nature of the services provided.

Related Government Programs

Poison Control Centers
Public Health Hotlines
Emergency Health Services
National Health Information Systems

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Limited contractor performance history

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2.2 million to IMMERSIVE CONCEPTS L.L.C.. MCHB57 C 4653 SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NATIONAL TOLL-FREE POISION HELP DESK

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is IMMERSIVE CONCEPTS L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Health Resources and Services Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-16. End: 2027-05-15.

What is the track record of Immersive Concepts L.L.C. with federal contracts, particularly in public health or call center services?

Based on the provided data, Immersive Concepts L.L.C. has one federal contract award, which is this current contract for support services for the national toll-free poison help desk. This limited award history means there is no extensive track record available to assess their performance, reliability, or experience with similar large-scale public health initiatives. Further investigation into their business registration, past performance questionnaires (if any exist from other agencies), and any publicly available information on their operational capabilities would be necessary to build a more comprehensive understanding of their contractor profile and suitability for this critical role.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar services, and what is the justification for the sole-source award?

The provided data does not include specific pricing details beyond the total contract value, making a direct per-unit cost comparison difficult. The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating that the agency identified Immersive Concepts L.L.C. as the only viable provider. Without a competitive bidding process, it is challenging to benchmark the pricing against market rates or other potential offers. The justification for the sole-source award would typically be documented by the agency and would need to demonstrate why competition was not feasible or advantageous. This could be due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent needs where only one contractor could respond effectively. A thorough review of the agency's justification is crucial for assessing the value proposition.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will the government measure the effectiveness of the poison help desk support?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for a national toll-free poison help desk, typical KPIs would likely include metrics such as average call answer time, call abandonment rate, caller satisfaction scores, accuracy of information provided, and the number of incidents successfully managed or referred. The contract's terms and conditions would outline these performance standards and the methods for monitoring and reporting. The government's contracting officer and technical representatives would be responsible for overseeing performance against these KPIs and ensuring the contractor meets the required service levels to maintain the effectiveness of this critical public health resource.

What is the historical spending pattern for the national toll-free poison help desk, and how does this award compare?

The provided data does not offer historical spending information for the national toll-free poison help desk. This single award of $2,175,447.1 represents the current contracted amount for support services. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to access previous contract awards for this specific service, potentially from the same or different contractors, over multiple fiscal years. Analyzing this historical data would reveal trends in contract values, duration, and competition levels, providing context for whether this current award is an increase, decrease, or consistent with past investments in this essential public health function.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for a critical public health service like the poison help desk?

A primary risk associated with a sole-source award for a critical public health service is the potential for inflated costs due to the lack of competitive pressure. Without multiple bids, taxpayers may be paying more than necessary. Another risk is a potential decrease in service quality or innovation, as the contractor may face less incentive to improve if there are no competitors vying for future contracts. Furthermore, sole-source awards can raise concerns about fairness and equal opportunity for other capable businesses. The government must have a strong justification for sole-sourcing to mitigate these risks and ensure the service remains effective and cost-efficient.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11750 BELTSVILLE DR STE 120, BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,792,671

Exercised Options: $2,175,447

Current Obligation: $2,175,447

Actual Outlays: $1,421,923

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline