NORC ATSDR TASK ORDER awarded for $16.1M to National Opinion Research Center by HHS for public health services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,065,765 ($16.1M)

Contractor: National Opinion Research Center

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2000-02-04

End Date: 2002-04-30

Contract Duration: 816 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: NORC ATSDR TASK ORDER (200-97-0633)

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, DEKALB County, GEORGIA, 30341

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $16.1 million to NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER for work described as: NORC ATSDR TASK ORDER (200-97-0633) Key points: 1. Value for money is difficult to assess due to limited competition and lack of detailed performance metrics. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a sole-source award, potentially leading to higher costs. 3. Risk indicators include the sole-source nature of the award and the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type. 4. Performance context is limited as specific deliverables and outcomes are not detailed in the provided data. 5. Sector positioning places this contract within the public health services domain, supporting the CDC's mission.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without comparable sole-source awards for similar public health research tasks. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure allows for cost reimbursement plus a predetermined profit, which can sometimes lead to less cost control compared to fixed-price contracts. However, for research and development or services where costs are uncertain, it can be an appropriate mechanism. The total award amount of $16.1 million over approximately two years suggests a significant investment in public health research.

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 among multiple vendors. The data indicates it was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This approach is typically used when a specific contractor possesses unique capabilities or when urgent needs arise that preclude a competitive process. The lack of competition means that price discovery through market forces was not utilized, potentially impacting the final cost to the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards limit the government's ability to leverage competition to secure the best possible pricing, which can result in higher expenditures for taxpayers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), receiving research and analytical support. Services delivered include task order support for public health initiatives, though specific details are not provided. The geographic impact is centered in Georgia, where the contractor is located, but the ultimate impact of the public health research could be national. Workforce implications may involve specialized researchers, analysts, and support staff employed by NORC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type can incentivize cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Limited information on specific deliverables makes performance assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

Award to a known entity (NORC) suggests a degree of confidence in their capabilities.
Task order structure allows for specific project needs to be addressed.
Focus on public health aligns with critical government missions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on public health research and support. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms capable of conducting research, data analysis, and program support. However, specific task orders, especially those requiring specialized expertise or existing relationships, can sometimes be awarded non-competitively. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar CDC or ATSDR task orders would provide further context on the scale of this award.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) was false, and there was no indication of a small business set-aside (ss). This suggests that the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses, and opportunities for small business subcontracting are not explicitly detailed. The primary awardee, NORC, is a large research organization, implying that the bulk of the work would likely be performed in-house rather than subcontracted to smaller entities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officers and program managers within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). As a task order under a larger contract vehicle, specific oversight mechanisms would be defined within that vehicle. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature and the lack of detailed public reporting on performance metrics. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

ATSDR Public Health Activities
CDC Research and Development
Public Health Surveillance
Environmental Health Research
Health Services Research

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type requires careful cost monitoring.
Limited public information on specific deliverables and performance outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $16.1 million to NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER. NORC ATSDR TASK ORDER (200-97-0633)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2000-02-04. End: 2002-04-30.

What is the track record of the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) in performing similar public health research contracts for federal agencies?

NORC has a long history of conducting research for federal agencies, including extensive work for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its sub-agencies like the CDC and ATSDR. Their expertise spans various domains, including public health, social sciences, and survey research. While specific details of past performance on contracts similar to this task order are not provided here, NORC's established presence and repeated awards suggest a generally satisfactory performance history. However, a deeper dive into past performance evaluations and any documented issues on previous HHS contracts would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment.

How does the $16.1 million award amount compare to other task orders for similar public health research services awarded by the CDC or ATSDR?

Without access to a comprehensive database of all CDC and ATSDR task orders, a direct comparison is difficult. However, $16.1 million over approximately two years (816 days) represents a substantial investment. Public health research can vary significantly in cost depending on scope, complexity, and duration. Task orders for large-scale epidemiological studies, national surveys, or extensive data analysis projects can easily reach or exceed this amount. Conversely, smaller, more focused research efforts would be significantly less. The sole-source nature of this award also complicates direct comparison, as competed contracts might yield different pricing structures.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for public health research, and how might they be mitigated?

The primary risk of a sole-source award is the potential for inflated costs due to the lack of competitive pressure. Taxpayers may not receive the best value for their money. Another risk is a potential lack of innovation or diverse approaches, as only one contractor's methodology is considered. Mitigation strategies include rigorous negotiation of the contract terms and pricing by the government, clear definition of performance metrics and deliverables, and robust oversight to ensure the contractor meets all requirements efficiently. For future procurements, exploring competitive options or using contract vehicles that allow for broader competition could mitigate these risks.

What specific public health outcomes or services is this $16.1 million task order intended to support?

The provided data is limited and does not specify the exact public health outcomes or services this task order is intended to support. It is identified as a 'TASK ORDER' for 'NORC ATSDR TASK ORDER (200-97-0633)' awarded to the National Opinion Research Center by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Typically, such task orders would fund specific research projects, data collection, analysis, program evaluation, or technical assistance related to ATSDR's mission of addressing the health effects of hazardous waste sites. Further details would be found in the task order's statement of work.

What is the significance of the 'COST PLUS FIXED FEE' (CPFF) contract type in the context of this public health research task order?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type is often used for research and development or services where the extent or nature of the work cannot be precisely defined at the outset, making a fixed-price contract impractical. Under CPFF, the contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. This structure incentivizes the contractor to control costs, as the fee remains constant regardless of the final cost. However, it also requires strong government oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and allocable. For public health research, where methodologies and findings can evolve, CPFF can provide necessary flexibility.

How does the duration of the contract (816 days) and the award amount ($16.1 million) translate into a daily or monthly spending rate?

The contract duration is 816 days, which is approximately 27.2 months (816 days / 30 days/month). The total award amount is $16,071,565. Dividing the total award by the duration in days gives a daily spending rate of approximately $19,694.62 ($16,071,565 / 816 days). On a monthly basis, this equates to roughly $583,500 per month ($16,071,565 / 27.2 months). This rate provides a basic measure of the financial scale of the task order over its period of performance.

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1155 E 60TH ST, CHICAGO, IL, 60637

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,786,857

Exercised Options: $30,786,857

Current Obligation: $16,065,765

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSD200199700633I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline