HHS awards $21.7M for Mental Health Services TA Center, lasting 5.5 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,670,161 ($21.7M)
Contractor: American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2004-09-30
End Date: 2010-03-30
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.8K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) CENTER FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20007
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $21.7 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES for work described as: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) CENTER FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES Key points: 1. Contract awarded to American Institutes for Research for technical assistance. 2. Focus on comprehensive community mental health services for children and families. 3. Long-term contract (2004-2010) suggests ongoing need for specialized support. 4. Cost-plus award fee structure incentivizes performance but requires careful monitoring.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's Cost Plus Award Fee structure allows for performance-based incentives. Without detailed cost breakdowns and award fee payouts, a precise value assessment is difficult. However, the duration and scope suggest a significant investment in specialized expertise.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
Awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating multiple bids were considered. This method generally promotes price discovery and competition, potentially leading to better value. The specific competition details are not provided.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used to procure specialized technical assistance aimed at improving mental health services for vulnerable populations, with the expectation of improved outcomes.
Public Impact
Enhances mental health support for children and families nationwide. Aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of community-based mental health programs. Supports federal efforts to address critical needs in child and family mental healthcare. The long duration suggests a sustained commitment to this program area.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost-plus award fee contracts can lead to cost overruns if not managed strictly.
- Performance metrics and award fee criteria need rigorous oversight to ensure value.
- Long contract duration may limit flexibility to adapt to changing needs or technologies.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical need in child and family mental health services.
- Competitive award process suggests potential for good value.
- Focus on technical assistance can lead to systemic improvements.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, a broad category. Spending in this area often supports program implementation, research, and policy development within federal agencies. Benchmarks are difficult without specific service details.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. The prime contractor, American Institutes for Research, is a large research organization, suggesting this contract was likely not aimed at small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The competitive delivery order process implies some level of oversight during the award phase. However, ongoing oversight of the cost-plus award fee structure and performance metrics is crucial for ensuring accountability and value for taxpayer money.
Related Government Programs
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns in Cost Plus Award Fee structure.
- Need for rigorous oversight of performance metrics and award fees.
- Long contract duration may reduce adaptability.
- Lack of transparency on specific performance outcomes and cost details.
Tags
other-scientific-and-technical-consultin, department-of-health-and-human-services, dc, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $21.7 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) CENTER FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES.
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 $21.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-09-30. End: 2010-03-30.
How effectively did the technical assistance provided by AIR improve the quality and outcomes of community mental health services for children and families?
Assessing the effectiveness requires reviewing program evaluation reports, client outcome data, and feedback from participating community mental health centers. Without these specific performance metrics and independent evaluations, it's challenging to quantify the direct impact. The contract's success hinges on AIR's ability to deliver actionable insights and support that demonstrably enhance service delivery and client well-being.
Were there any cost overruns or inefficiencies associated with the Cost Plus Award Fee structure during the contract's performance period?
Cost-plus award fee contracts inherently carry a risk of cost escalation if not meticulously managed. To determine if overruns occurred, one would need to examine the final contract costs against the initial estimates, review audit reports, and analyze the justification for any incurred costs beyond projections. The 'award fee' component suggests performance was monitored, but the financial efficiency depends on the baseline and the rigor of oversight.
Did the competitive nature of the delivery order award process result in demonstrably better pricing or service quality compared to a sole-source or less competitive approach?
A competitive award generally fosters better price discovery and encourages higher quality proposals. To confirm this, a comparison of the awarded price and proposed technical solutions against potential sole-source bids or other competitive offers would be necessary. The fact that it was a competitive delivery order suggests an effort to leverage market forces, likely resulting in a more favorable outcome than a non-competitive award, though specific benchmarks are unavailable.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SOCIAL SERVICES › SOCIAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1000 THOMAS JEFFERSON ST, WASHINGTON, DC, 98
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,670,161
Exercised Options: $21,670,161
Current Obligation: $21,670,161
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 280034200
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-09-30
Current End Date: 2010-03-30
Potential End Date: 2010-03-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2009-09-28
More Contracts from American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences
- Education Statistics Services Institute - Statistics — $99.6M (Department of Education)
- THE National Assessment of Educational Progress (naep) IS Required to Provide, in a Timely Manner, a Fair and Accurate Measurement of Educational Achievement in Reading, Mathematics, and Other Content Areas Including Writing, Science, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Foreign Languages and the Arts. the Assessments ARE Representative of the Nation, Regions, and Where Appropriate, States AT Grades 4, 8, and 12. Naep Shall Also Report on National Long Term Trend Assessments in Reading and Mathematics for Students AT Ages 9, 13, and 17. Naep IS Administered by the Assessment Division (AD) Within the National Center of Education Statistics (nces) — $98.6M (Department of Education)
- Marketplace Operations Support (MOS) — $46.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- This Contract IS to Evaluate the Impact of Offering Schools Training in the Implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Reading (mtss-R) in Early Elementary School on Staff Practice and Student Outcomes. the Training IS Expected to BE Intensive and Focused on Enabling School Staff to Successfully Implement the KEY Components of Mtss-R — $40.9M (Department of Education)
- Regional Educational Laboratory - Midwest Region: the Contractor Provides Technical Assistance, Research and Other Educational Activities in Support of the Program — $38.5M (Department of Education)
View all American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences federal contracts →
Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts
- Contact Center Operations (CCO) — $5.5B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- TAS::75 0849::TAS Oper of Govt R&D Goco Facilities — $4.8B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Provide the Full Complement of Services Necessary to Care for UC in ORR Custody Including Facilities Set-Up, Maintenance, and Support Internal and Perimeter (IF Applicable) Security, Direct Care and Supervision Inc — $3.5B (Rapid Deployment Inc)
- Contact Center Operations — $2.6B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- Federal Contract — $2.4B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →