HHS Youth Tobacco Prevention Campaign Costs $93.4M, Awarded to True North Communications
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $93,429,320 ($93.4M)
Contractor: True North Communications Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2016-10-24
End Date: 2018-10-24
Contract Duration: 730 days
Daily Burn Rate: $128.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF "THE REAL COST" YOUTH TOBACCO PREVENTION CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10011
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $93.4 million to TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF "THE REAL COST" YOUTH TOBACCO PREVENTION CAMPAIGN SUPPORT Key points: 1. Significant investment in public health messaging. 2. Competition method suggests potential for fair pricing. 3. Risk of campaign effectiveness is a key concern. 4. Public Relations sector spending benchmark is relevant.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $93.4M over two years for a public relations campaign appears substantial. Benchmarking against similar large-scale public health campaigns is necessary to fully assess value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and potentially better pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being utilized for a public health initiative aimed at youth tobacco prevention, with the ultimate goal of reducing healthcare costs associated with smoking.
Public Impact
Campaign aims to reduce youth smoking rates. Public health messaging targets a vulnerable demographic. Effectiveness of the campaign will be measured by its impact on youth behavior.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Campaign effectiveness is difficult to measure definitively.
- Long-term impact on youth behavior is uncertain.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical public health issue.
- Utilizes a competitive procurement process.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Public Relations Agencies sector, which supports government agencies in communication and outreach. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on campaign scope and duration.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded to a small business. Analysis of opportunities for small business participation in subcontracts would be beneficial.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight by the Food and Drug Administration is expected to ensure the campaign meets its objectives and adheres to contract terms. Accountability for campaign outcomes is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- Public Relations Agencies
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Food and Drug Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Campaign effectiveness measurement.
- Long-term behavioral impact.
- Potential for message fatigue.
- Attribution of results to campaign activities.
Tags
public-relations-agencies, department-of-health-and-human-services, ny, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $93.4 million to TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC. IGF::OT::IGF "THE REAL COST" YOUTH TOBACCO PREVENTION CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $93.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2016-10-24. End: 2018-10-24.
What is the expected return on investment for this youth tobacco prevention campaign in terms of reduced healthcare costs?
Quantifying the direct return on investment for public health campaigns like this is challenging. While the goal is to reduce future healthcare costs associated with smoking, the immediate impact is measured in behavioral changes and awareness. A comprehensive evaluation would likely involve tracking youth smoking initiation rates and comparing them to pre-campaign benchmarks, alongside long-term health outcome studies.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this campaign?
Key performance indicators for such a campaign typically include metrics like campaign reach and frequency, message recall among the target audience, changes in attitudes towards tobacco use, and ultimately, reductions in youth smoking initiation and prevalence rates. The FDA would likely have established specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to evaluate the campaign's effectiveness.
How does the cost of this campaign compare to similar youth tobacco prevention efforts by other government agencies or large non-profits?
A direct cost comparison requires detailed data on the scope, duration, and specific activities of other campaigns. However, $93.4 million over two years for a national youth tobacco prevention campaign suggests a significant investment. Benchmarking against similar federal or state-level initiatives, considering population size and campaign intensity, would provide a clearer picture of its relative cost-effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services › Public Relations Agencies
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
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: THE Interpublic Group of Companies Inc (UEI: 006985790)
Address: 100 W 33RD ST 5TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY, 10001
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $93,429,320
Exercised Options: $93,429,320
Current Obligation: $93,429,320
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS23F0037K
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2016-10-24
Current End Date: 2018-10-24
Potential End Date: 2018-10-24 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-01-23
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