USAID Awards $1.1B Task Order to John Snow, Inc. for Malaria Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,100,364,422 ($1.1B)

Contractor: John Snow, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2011-03-28

End Date: 2018-09-26

Contract Duration: 2,739 days

Daily Burn Rate: $401.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NEW MALARIA TASK ORDER UNDER THE DELIVER IQC; 2 YEAR BASE BASE CONTRACT, 1 OPTION YEAR.

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22209

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $1.10 billion to JOHN SNOW, INCORPORATED for work described as: NEW MALARIA TASK ORDER UNDER THE DELIVER IQC; 2 YEAR BASE BASE CONTRACT, 1 OPTION YEAR. Key points: 1. Significant investment in global health, focusing on malaria eradication. 2. John Snow, Inc. is a major player in public health contracting. 3. Long-term contract duration (2+ years) suggests sustained need. 4. Spending falls under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which allows for cost reimbursement plus a fixed fee. This is common for complex services where costs are hard to predict.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple bidders likely participated. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The substantial value suggests a significant taxpayer investment in global health initiatives, aiming for disease reduction and improved health outcomes.

Public Impact

Supports global efforts to combat malaria, a major public health challenge. Funds critical technical and scientific services for health programs. Potential impact on health outcomes in recipient countries. Contractor's expertise in public health is leveraged for program delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed carefully.
Long contract duration may not fully account for evolving health needs or technologies.
Lack of specific small business participation noted.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
Focus on a critical global health issue (malaria).
Contractor has a strong track record in public health.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, a broad category. Spending benchmarks for this sector vary widely based on specialization, but $1.1B is a substantial award, indicating a significant program.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the prime contractor is likely a large business, and subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are not explicitly detailed.

Oversight & Accountability

The Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for overseeing this task order. Standard government oversight mechanisms for cost-plus contracts would apply, focusing on cost reasonableness, performance, and adherence to the contract terms.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Agency for International Development Contracting
Agency for International Development Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost creep in Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts.
Long-term nature may not adapt to rapidly changing health landscapes.
Lack of explicit small business subcontracting goals.
Geopolitical instability in regions of operation could impact program delivery.
Reliance on a single large contractor for a critical health program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $1.10 billion to JOHN SNOW, INCORPORATED. NEW MALARIA TASK ORDER UNDER THE DELIVER IQC; 2 YEAR BASE BASE CONTRACT, 1 OPTION YEAR.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JOHN SNOW, INCORPORATED.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Agency for International Development (Agency for International Development).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.10 billion.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-03-28. End: 2018-09-26.

What specific malaria control activities will this task order fund?

The task order likely funds a range of activities including disease surveillance, prevention programs (e.g., insecticide-treated net distribution, preventative therapies), diagnosis, treatment support, and capacity building for local health systems. Specific details would be found in the Statement of Work (SOW) within the contract documentation.

What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract of this magnitude?

Key risks include potential cost overruns if the fixed fee is not adequately calculated against the anticipated effort, contractor incentives to increase costs to maximize profit (though mitigated by the fixed fee), and challenges in accurately defining the scope of work upfront for complex health programs, potentially leading to change orders and increased costs.

How will the effectiveness of the malaria control programs funded by this contract be measured?

Effectiveness is typically measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) outlined in the contract's SOW. These could include reductions in malaria incidence and mortality rates, increased access to diagnostic and treatment services, successful implementation of prevention strategies, and improvements in local health system capacity.

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: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: SOL-OAA-10-000063

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 44 FARNSWORTH ST FL 7, BOSTON, MA, 02210

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,210,665,803

Exercised Options: $1,210,665,803

Current Obligation: $1,100,364,422

Actual Outlays: $-215,607

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 9

Total Subaward Amount: $20,905,367

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDGPOI000600007

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline