HHS awards $7M contract for suicide prevention evaluation, with significant cost growth potential

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,977,556 ($7.0M)

Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2022-09-30

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: GLS SUICIDE PREVENTION EVALUATION.

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20857

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $7.0 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: GLS SUICIDE PREVENTION EVALUATION. Key points: 1. The contract's cost-plus award fee structure allows for significant potential cost increases beyond the base amount. 2. The base award amount of $4.78M represents a substantial portion of the total potential value, indicating a high initial investment. 3. The contract duration of 1460 days (4 years) suggests a long-term need for these evaluation services. 4. The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is broad, making direct comparisons challenging without more specific service details. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags indicates this was not specifically targeted to small businesses. 6. The contract is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The base award of $4.78M for a 4-year evaluation contract appears reasonable on its face, but the cost-plus award fee (CPAF) structure introduces significant uncertainty regarding the final cost. Without knowing the target award fee and the performance metrics, it's difficult to benchmark the value effectively. Comparisons to similar large-scale program evaluations would be necessary to assess if the potential total cost is competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple bidders had the opportunity to compete. This typically leads to better price discovery and potentially more competitive pricing for the government. The specific number of bidders is not provided, which would offer further insight into the level of competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs through a competitive bidding process, ensuring the government receives the best value for its investment.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals and communities impacted by suicide, through improved understanding and effectiveness of prevention programs. The services delivered involve the evaluation of federal suicide prevention initiatives, likely assessing their impact, efficiency, and areas for improvement. The geographic impact is national, as federal suicide prevention programs typically aim for broad reach across the United States. The contract supports a workforce of researchers, evaluators, and subject matter experts in public health and mental health.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost-plus award fee structure introduces potential for cost overruns beyond the base amount.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the 'award' portion of the fee and true value.
The broad 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code limits precise benchmarking.
The contract is a delivery order, implying it's part of a potentially larger, less transparent IDIQ contract.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Focus on suicide prevention evaluation addresses a critical public health need.
Long-term contract duration (4 years) indicates sustained commitment to program improvement.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on program evaluation within public health. This sector is characterized by a wide range of specialized services. Comparable spending benchmarks would ideally involve other large-scale federal program evaluations, particularly in health and human services, to assess cost-effectiveness and pricing.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This means large businesses were eligible to compete and potentially win. There is no information provided on subcontracting plans, so the impact on the small business ecosystem is unknown but likely minimal unless ICF is required to subcontract to small businesses as part of the award fee criteria.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) program officials. Accountability measures are tied to the performance standards within the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure. Transparency is facilitated by the contract being awarded under full and open competition, though specific details of the evaluation methodology and findings would be subject to public release policies.

Related Government Programs

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Grants and Programs
Federal Program Evaluation Contracts
Public Health Research and Development

Risk Flags

Potential for cost growth due to CPAF structure.
Ambiguity in performance metrics for award fee determination.
Broad NAICS code limits specific benchmarking.
Delivery order implies potential lack of transparency within a larger IDIQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $7.0 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. GLS SUICIDE PREVENTION EVALUATION.

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 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-30. End: 2026-09-29.

What is the track record of ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. with federal contracts, particularly within the Department of Health and Human Services?

ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. has a significant history of performing federal contracts across various agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Their portfolio often includes work in public health, environmental science, and IT modernization. Analyzing their past performance on similar evaluation contracts within HHS would provide insight into their ability to meet performance expectations and manage costs effectively. A review of contract databases and agency performance reports would reveal their success rates, any past performance issues, and their overall reliability as a federal contractor. Specific to evaluation contracts, their experience in designing methodologies, collecting data, and delivering actionable insights is crucial for assessing their suitability for this GLS Suicide Prevention Evaluation.

How does the potential total value of this contract compare to similar suicide prevention evaluation efforts by the federal government?

Benchmarking this contract's potential value requires comparing it to other federal suicide prevention evaluations. Given the base award of $4.78M and a 4-year duration, the annual cost is approximately $1.2M. This figure needs to be contextualized against the scope and complexity of the evaluation. Factors such as the number of programs being evaluated, the depth of analysis required (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative, longitudinal studies), and the specific methodologies employed will influence cost. Without access to detailed data on comparable contracts, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents high or low value. However, the CPAF structure suggests a willingness to pay a premium for high-quality performance, which could drive the final cost higher than initially apparent.

What are the primary risks associated with the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract type for this evaluation?

The primary risk with a CPAF contract for this suicide prevention evaluation is the potential for cost overruns and a lack of definitive cost control. While the government sets a base cost and an award fee based on performance, the contractor has an incentive to incur costs to achieve higher award fees, potentially leading to a final price significantly exceeding the initial estimate. This structure can make budgeting difficult and may result in taxpayers paying more than anticipated if performance targets are met or exceeded. Furthermore, defining and objectively measuring 'performance' for an evaluation can be subjective, leading to potential disputes over award fee determinations.

How effective have previous federal evaluations of suicide prevention programs been, and what lessons can be learned for this contract?

Previous federal evaluations of suicide prevention programs have yielded mixed results, highlighting the complexity of measuring impact in this sensitive area. Some evaluations have demonstrated the effectiveness of specific interventions, leading to their wider adoption and funding. Others have struggled to establish clear causal links between program activities and reduced suicide rates due to confounding factors, long time horizons, and the difficulty in isolating program effects. Lessons learned often emphasize the need for robust methodologies, clear performance metrics, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on actionable recommendations. This contract's success will depend on ICF's ability to navigate these complexities and deliver insights that genuinely improve future prevention efforts.

What is the historical spending trend for suicide prevention evaluation services within HHS or similar agencies?

Historical spending on suicide prevention evaluation services within HHS and related agencies has generally trended upwards, reflecting increased national focus on mental health and suicide reduction. Specific figures fluctuate based on administration priorities, congressional appropriations, and the identification of emerging needs. Analyzing past contract awards for similar services can reveal patterns in contract values, durations, and the types of organizations that typically receive these awards. This contract, with its $6.9M ceiling, appears to be a significant investment, suggesting a sustained or expanded effort in evaluating these critical programs. Understanding these historical trends provides context for the current award's scale and importance.

What specific performance metrics will be used to determine the 'award fee' for ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. under this contract?

The specific performance metrics for determining the award fee under this Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, for an evaluation contract, these metrics would relate to the quality of the evaluation design, the rigor of data collection and analysis, the timeliness of deliverables, the clarity and actionability of findings and recommendations, and the effectiveness of communication with stakeholders. The government contracting officer and program officials would assess ICF's performance against these predefined criteria. The absence of explicit metrics in the summary data makes it difficult to assess the fairness of potential award fee determinations or the government's ability to incentivize desired outcomes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 280-22-0586

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.

Address: 9300 LEE HWY, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,251,348

Exercised Options: $6,977,556

Current Obligation: $6,977,556

Actual Outlays: $5,401,015

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSS283201700016I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline