HHS awards $53.9M for clinical data abstraction services to Buccaneer Data Services LLC over 5 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $53,917,622 ($53.9M)

Contractor: Buccaneer Data Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2006-09-01

End Date: 2011-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,855 days

Daily Burn Rate: $29.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: IT

Official Description: TAS::75 0511::TAS CLINICAL DATA ABSTRACTION

Place of Performance

Location: YORK, YORK County, PENNSYLVANIA, 17402

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $53.9 million to BUCCANEER DATA SERVICES LLC for work described as: TAS::75 0511::TAS CLINICAL DATA ABSTRACTION Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the 5-year duration and cost-plus-fixed-fee structure. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting a deliberate procurement strategy. 3. Risk indicators include the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type, which can incentivize cost overruns. 4. Performance context is within clinical data abstraction, a critical function for healthcare analytics. 5. Sector positioning is within IT services, specifically data processing and hosting for healthcare. 6. The contract duration of 1855 days (approx. 5 years) is substantial for this type of service.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's total value of $53.9 million over approximately five years averages to about $10.8 million annually. While specific benchmarks for clinical data abstraction are difficult to ascertain without more granular data, the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure suggests that the government is paying for actual costs plus a negotiated profit. This structure can be less cost-effective than fixed-price contracts if not managed tightly. Comparing this to similar contracts would require access to a broader dataset of clinical data abstraction services procured by HHS or other agencies.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES'. This indicates that while the competition was intended to be full and open, there was a prior exclusion of specific sources, possibly due to pre-existing relationships or specific technical requirements. The number of bidders is not explicitly stated in the provided data, but the 'full and open' nature suggests multiple potential offerors were considered.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition, even with prior exclusions, generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing for taxpayers. However, the specific exclusion of sources might limit the breadth of competition and potentially impact the final price achieved.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries include healthcare providers and researchers who rely on accurate and timely clinical data. Services delivered involve the abstraction of clinical data, crucial for health information management and analysis. Geographic impact is likely national, supporting federal healthcare initiatives and data standardization. Workforce implications may involve specialized data abstractors and analysts employed by the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type can lead to higher costs if not managed effectively.
The 'exclusion of sources' in a full and open competition warrants further investigation into the rationale.
Long contract duration (5 years) increases the risk of scope creep or evolving requirements not being adequately addressed.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition, even with exclusions, suggests an effort to achieve a competitive outcome.
The contract is for a critical function (clinical data abstraction) supporting healthcare initiatives.
The contractor, BUCCANEER DATA SERVICES LLC, has secured a significant, long-term federal contract.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically under NAICS code 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services). This category encompasses services related to data processing, hosting, and management. The market for such services is large and growing, driven by the increasing digitization of healthcare and the need for robust data management solutions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within IT services procurements for data management and analytics, particularly within the federal healthcare domain.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false, and there is no indication of a small business set-aside (ss). This suggests the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. Subcontracting implications are not detailed, but for a contract of this size and duration, there may be opportunities for small businesses to participate as subcontractors, depending on the prime contractor's strategy and the specific requirements of the work.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically be managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined within the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS-NG, where basic award information is publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to investigations of fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

Clinical Data Management Services
Healthcare IT Services
Data Processing and Hosting
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Contracts
Health Information Exchange

Risk Flags

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type
Exclusion of sources in competition
Long contract duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $53.9 million to BUCCANEER DATA SERVICES LLC. TAS::75 0511::TAS CLINICAL DATA ABSTRACTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BUCCANEER DATA SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $53.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-09-01. End: 2011-09-30.

What is the specific nature of the 'exclusion of sources' in this full and open competition?

The designation 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' implies that while the procurement was intended to be open to all responsible sources, certain entities were excluded from consideration. The specific reasons for exclusion are not detailed in the provided data but could stem from various factors. These might include prior performance issues with certain contractors, specific technical expertise or certifications required that only a subset of companies possess, or perhaps a previous relationship or contract that led to a limited initial pool. Understanding the exact nature of this exclusion is crucial for assessing whether the competition was truly as broad as intended and if it potentially limited the government's ability to secure the best possible pricing and solutions.

How does the cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) structure compare to other contract types for similar data abstraction services?

Cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contracts are used when the exact costs are difficult to estimate upfront, and the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs plus a fixed fee representing profit. For data abstraction services, which can have variable data complexity and volume, CPFF might be chosen to ensure service continuity while managing uncertainty. However, CPFF contracts carry a higher risk of cost overruns compared to fixed-price contracts, as the contractor has less incentive to control costs once the fee is fixed. Fixed-price contracts, if feasible, generally offer better value for money for the government. The choice of CPFF here suggests that CMS prioritized flexibility and service delivery over strict cost certainty, or that the scope was inherently unpredictable.

What are the historical spending patterns for clinical data abstraction services at HHS or CMS?

Historical spending on clinical data abstraction services at HHS, particularly CMS, would likely show a trend of increasing investment over time, mirroring the growth in electronic health records (EHRs) and the demand for data analytics in healthcare. Prior to this $53.9 million contract, CMS would have likely engaged in similar data abstraction activities, potentially through multiple smaller contracts or task orders under larger IDIQs. Analyzing past spending would reveal the average contract values, durations, and the types of contractors previously used. This context helps determine if the current award represents a significant increase or shift in procurement strategy and pricing for these essential services.

What is the track record of BUCCANEER DATA SERVICES LLC with federal contracts, particularly within HHS?

Assessing the track record of BUCCANEER DATA SERVICES LLC is vital for understanding the risk associated with this contract. Information on their past performance, including contract values, types, and successful completion rates, would be available in federal procurement databases. Specifically, examining their history with HHS and CMS would reveal their experience in delivering similar IT and data services. A history of successful, on-time, and within-budget performance would be a positive indicator, while past issues could raise concerns about their capacity to fulfill this $53.9 million award effectively. Their specific expertise in clinical data abstraction would also be a key factor.

What are the potential performance risks associated with this specific contract and contractor?

Performance risks for this contract are multifaceted. Given the CPFF structure, a primary risk is cost escalation beyond initial projections, as the contractor is reimbursed for actual costs. Scope creep is another significant risk, especially over a five-year period, where requirements might evolve, leading to increased effort and cost. For BUCCANEER DATA SERVICES LLC, risks could include insufficient staffing, lack of specialized expertise in clinical data abstraction, or technical challenges in integrating with existing HHS systems. Ensuring robust contract management, clear performance metrics, and regular oversight by CMS will be critical to mitigating these potential risks and ensuring successful delivery of services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › DEPENDENT MEDICARE SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6799 KENNEDY RD STE J, WARRENTON, VA, 20187

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $53,917,622

Exercised Options: $53,917,622

Current Obligation: $53,917,622

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline