HHS awarded $93.8M to Iron Vine Security for publishing services, with 11 bids received

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $93,853,979 ($93.9M)

Contractor: Iron Vine Security LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2016-08-26

End Date: 2021-08-28

Contract Duration: 1,828 days

Daily Burn Rate: $51.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 11

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF ISPSS

Place of Performance

Location: WINDSOR MILL, BALTIMORE County, MARYLAND, 21244

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $93.9 million to IRON VINE SECURITY LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF ISPSS Key points: 1. The contract value of $93.8M over five years suggests a significant investment in publishing services. 2. With 11 bids, the competition level indicates a healthy market for these services, potentially driving competitive pricing. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type generally transfers risk to the contractor, which can be beneficial for the government. 4. The contract duration of 1828 days (approximately 5 years) allows for sustained service delivery but also requires ongoing performance monitoring. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 511199 (All Other Publishers) points to specialized publishing needs. 6. The contract was awarded as a Delivery Order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery contract vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award of $93.8M over five years averages to approximately $18.7M annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale publishing contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the presence of 11 bidders suggests that the pricing was likely competitive. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract is a positive indicator for value, as it caps the government's financial exposure.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, with 11 bids received. This high number of bidders suggests a robust and accessible market for the required publishing services. A competitive bidding process typically leads to better price discovery and can result in more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A high level of competition benefits taxpayers by driving down costs and ensuring that the government receives services at a fair market price. It also increases the likelihood of innovative solutions being proposed.

Public Impact

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the primary beneficiary, receiving essential publishing services. The services delivered likely support the dissemination of critical health information, policy documents, and public-facing materials. The contract's geographic impact is national, given CMS's role in healthcare administration across the United States. Workforce implications may include support for internal CMS staff and potentially external contractors managed by Iron Vine Security LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if publishing requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical publishing functions over a long period.
Risk of service quality degradation if performance monitoring is insufficient.
Potential for cost overruns if the firm fixed-price model does not adequately account for unforeseen complexities.

Positive Signals

The firm fixed-price contract structure incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost control.
The high number of bidders indicates a competitive market, likely leading to favorable pricing.
The long-term nature of the contract allows for continuity of essential publishing services.
Awarded to a single entity, potentially streamlining management and communication.

Sector Analysis

The publishing industry is diverse, encompassing print, digital, and specialized content creation. This contract, under NAICS 511199, likely falls into a niche within the broader publishing sector, possibly related to government documentation, regulatory publications, or specialized information dissemination. The federal government is a significant consumer of publishing services, particularly for official records, public outreach, and technical documentation. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend heavily on the specific nature of the publishing services required by CMS.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether Iron Vine Security LLC utilizes small business subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is generally maintained through federal contract databases, though specific performance metrics and detailed reporting may not be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Government Printing Office Services
Public Information Dissemination Contracts
Health Information Publishing
CMS Administrative Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of vendor lock-in.
Potential for performance degradation over the contract term.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical publishing functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $93.9 million to IRON VINE SECURITY LLC. IGF::OT::IGF ISPSS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is IRON VINE SECURITY 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 $93.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-08-26. End: 2021-08-28.

What specific types of publishing services does Iron Vine Security LLC provide under this contract?

The provided data indicates the NAICS code is 511199 (All Other Publishers), suggesting specialized publishing activities beyond general printing or book publishing. Given the agency (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - CMS), these services could encompass the production and dissemination of health-related documents, policy manuals, public health advisories, regulatory notices, and online content. This might include editing, formatting, printing, digital publishing, and distribution management for a wide range of CMS materials aimed at healthcare providers, beneficiaries, and the general public. Without further details on the Statement of Work (SOW), the exact scope remains broad but is clearly tied to CMS's mission.

How does the $93.8M contract value compare to historical CMS spending on similar publishing services?

Direct comparison of the $93.8M award to historical CMS spending on similar publishing services is difficult without specific historical data points and a precise definition of 'similar services.' However, the substantial value suggests a long-term, comprehensive publishing support requirement. CMS, as a major federal agency, consistently requires significant resources for communication and information dissemination. This award represents a considerable portion of their potential annual budget for such services, averaging nearly $18.7M per year. Analyzing past contracts under the same or similar NAICS codes awarded by CMS would be necessary for a robust historical comparison.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate Iron Vine Security LLC's performance?

Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. However, typical KPIs for publishing services contracts often include metrics related to timeliness of delivery (e.g., meeting publication deadlines), accuracy and quality of content (e.g., error rates in editing and printing), adherence to brand and style guidelines, cost control within the firm fixed-price structure, and responsiveness to CMS requests. Performance would likely be monitored through regular progress reports, quality reviews, and potentially user feedback mechanisms, all assessed by CMS program managers and contracting officers.

What is the track record of Iron Vine Security LLC in performing federal publishing contracts?

The provided data identifies Iron Vine Security LLC as the contractor but does not offer details on their specific track record or past performance on federal contracts. To assess their track record, one would need to examine their contract history, including previous awards, performance evaluations (such as Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any history of disputes or contract terminations. A thorough review would determine their experience with similar scope, scale, and complexity of publishing services, particularly for health-related government agencies like CMS.

Are there any identified risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Potential risks include scope creep, service quality issues, contractor performance failures, and reliance on a single vendor for an extended period. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust contract management by CMS, clear definition and enforcement of the Statement of Work (SOW), regular performance monitoring against defined KPIs, and maintaining open communication channels with the contractor. The firm fixed-price nature also mitigates financial risk for the government by capping costs, provided the scope is well-managed. The competitive award process itself suggests a baseline level of confidence in the market's ability to meet CMS needs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › All Other Publishers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: HHSM5002016RFQ0003

Offers Received: 11

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7520 WALTON LN, ANNANDALE, VA, 22003

Business Categories: Category Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $93,853,979

Exercised Options: $93,853,979

Current Obligation: $93,853,979

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0590V

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline