HHS spent $17.3M on a unit-based safety program to reduce CLABSI, with a 4-year duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,314,935 ($17.3M)

Contractor: Health Research and Educational Trust

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2008-09-30

End Date: 2012-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.9K/day

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: NAT'L IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE UNIT-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CLABSI

Place of Performance

Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60606, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $17.3 million to HEALTH RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST for work described as: NAT'L IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE UNIT-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CLABSI Key points: 1. The contract aimed to implement comprehensive unit-based safety programs, focusing on reducing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI). 2. The Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET) was the contractor for this initiative. 3. The contract was awarded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) within HHS. 4. The project spanned approximately four years, from late 2008 to late 2012. 5. The contract type was Cost No Fee, indicating a focus on achieving specific outcomes rather than a fixed price. 6. The contract was awarded as Other Direct Costs (ODC), suggesting flexibility in resource allocation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's Cost No Fee structure makes direct value-for-money assessment challenging without performance data. However, the total obligated amount of $17.3 million over four years suggests a significant investment in patient safety. Benchmarking against similar public health initiatives would be necessary to determine if the cost was competitive for the scope of work. The absence of a fixed price or detailed performance metrics in the provided data limits a precise value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The competition level for this contract is not specified in the provided data. Without information on whether it was competed, sole-sourced, or limited, it's impossible to assess the impact on price discovery. A competitive process typically leads to better pricing for the government, while sole-source awards may indicate unique capabilities or specific circumstances.

Taxpayer Impact: The level of competition directly impacts taxpayer value. More competition generally leads to lower prices and better service offerings, ensuring federal funds are used more efficiently.

Public Impact

Hospitals and healthcare facilities across the nation benefited from the implementation of safety programs. The primary service delivered was the reduction of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), a significant patient safety concern. The geographic impact was national, aiming to improve patient care standards across the United States. Healthcare professionals, including nurses and physicians, were likely involved in implementing and benefiting from these safety programs.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to quantify the program's success in reducing CLABSI.
The Cost No Fee contract type can sometimes lead to less stringent cost control if not managed carefully.
Limited information on competition makes it hard to assess if the government received the best possible value.

Positive Signals

Focus on a critical patient safety issue (CLABSI) addresses a significant public health concern.
The national scope of the program indicates a broad effort to improve healthcare quality.
The contractor, Health Research and Educational Trust, suggests a focus on evidence-based practices and research.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Healthcare sector, specifically focusing on health research and patient safety initiatives. The market for health consulting and program implementation services is substantial, with government agencies like AHRQ being key purchasers. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other federal contracts aimed at improving healthcare quality metrics or reducing hospital-acquired infections.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication in the provided data that this contract involved small business set-asides or significant subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. The nature of the work, focused on research and program implementation, may not have lent itself to typical small business contracting vehicles.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). As a Cost No Fee contract, oversight would likely focus on the contractor's adherence to program goals, reporting requirements, and the effective utilization of funds towards achieving the stated objectives of reducing CLABSI. Transparency would be expected through regular progress reports and final evaluations.

Related Government Programs

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Programs
Hospital Infection Control Initiatives
Healthcare Quality Improvement Contracts
Public Health Research and Development

Risk Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics.
Limited competition data.
Cost No Fee contract type requires careful oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $17.3 million to HEALTH RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST. NAT'L IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE UNIT-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CLABSI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HEALTH RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-09-30. End: 2012-09-29.

What was the specific methodology used by the Health Research and Educational Trust to implement the unit-based safety programs?

While the provided data does not detail the specific methodologies, the Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET) is known for its work in implementing evidence-based practices in healthcare settings. Typically, such programs involve a combination of staff training, process redesign, data collection and feedback, and the promotion of a culture of safety. For CLABSI reduction, this often includes protocols for central line insertion, maintenance, and prompt removal, alongside continuous monitoring and improvement cycles.

How effective was this program in reducing CLABSI rates nationally?

The provided data does not contain specific outcome metrics to assess the program's effectiveness in reducing CLABSI rates nationally. A comprehensive evaluation would require access to performance reports, infection rates before and after the program's implementation, and comparative data from control groups or similar initiatives. Without this information, the actual impact on patient safety remains unquantified based solely on the contract details.

What is the typical cost structure for similar patient safety program contracts?

Patient safety program contracts can vary significantly in cost structure. Cost-reimbursement or Cost No Fee contracts, like this one, are common when the scope involves research, development, or implementation of novel approaches where precise costs are hard to predict. Fixed-price contracts might be used for more standardized interventions. Benchmarking would require comparing the total obligated amount ($17.3M) against the duration (4 years) and the scale of implementation (national) with other government-funded patient safety initiatives, considering factors like the number of facilities involved and the specific interventions deployed.

Were there any notable challenges or successes reported during the contract period?

The provided contract data does not include details on specific challenges or successes encountered during the implementation of the unit-based safety programs. Such information would typically be found in performance reports, program evaluations, or related publications by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or the Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET). These reports would likely detail implementation hurdles, best practices identified, and the extent to which CLABSI reduction goals were met.

What is the track record of the Health Research and Educational Trust in managing large-scale public health initiatives?

The Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET) has a long-standing reputation and extensive experience in managing large-scale health services research and quality improvement initiatives. As the research affiliate of the American Hospital Association (AHA), HRET has a deep understanding of hospital operations and clinical practices. They have led numerous national projects focused on improving patient care, safety, and outcomes, often in collaboration with government agencies like AHRQ and CMS, and have a history of successfully implementing complex programs across diverse healthcare settings.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Contractor Details

Parent Company: American Hospital Association (UEI: 051064566)

Address: ONE N FRANKLIN ST, FL-30, CHICAGO, IL, 60606

Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,314,935

Exercised Options: $17,314,935

Current Obligation: $17,314,935

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSA290200600022I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline