HHS Awards $17.4M for Other Scientific Consulting Services to Arbor Research Collaborative
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $17,409,583 ($17.4M)
Contractor: Arbor Research Collaborative for Health
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2009-09-30
End Date: 2014-09-24
Contract Duration: 1,820 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.6K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: MIDS TASK ORDER 90644
Place of Performance
Location: ANN ARBOR, WASHTENAW County, MICHIGAN, 48103
State: Michigan Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $17.4 million to ARBOR RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE FOR HEALTH for work described as: MIDS TASK ORDER 90644 Key points: 1. The contract value is $17.4 million over approximately 5 years. 2. Arbor Research Collaborative for Health is the sole awardee. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns. 4. The sector is primarily 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services'.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which offers less price certainty than fixed-price contracts. Benchmarking against similar consulting services is difficult without more detailed scope information.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
This was awarded as a competitive delivery order, suggesting some level of competition, but the specific details of the competition are not provided. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure may incentivize higher costs.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for consulting services, with potential for cost inefficiencies due to the contract type.
Public Impact
The contract supports scientific and technical consulting, likely for health-related initiatives. The duration of nearly 5 years suggests a significant, ongoing project. The awardee, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, specializes in health research.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- Limited information on competition details
Positive Signals
- Award to a specialized research collaborative
- Long-term engagement indicates project importance
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services,' a broad category. Benchmarking requires comparison to similar specialized research and consulting contracts within the health sector.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates the awardee is not a small business. There is no information on subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates robust oversight to control costs and ensure performance.
Related Government Programs
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type may lead to cost overruns.
- Limited transparency on the competitive process.
- Lack of detailed scope of work makes value assessment difficult.
- Potential for contractor to maximize costs to increase fee.
Tags
other-scientific-and-technical-consultin, department-of-health-and-human-services, mi, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $17.4 million to ARBOR RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE FOR HEALTH. MIDS TASK ORDER 90644
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ARBOR RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE FOR HEALTH.
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 $17.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-09-30. End: 2014-09-24.
What specific scientific and technical services are being procured under this contract?
The contract is broadly categorized as 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services.' Without further details on the task order's statement of work, it's difficult to ascertain the precise nature of the services. However, given the awardee and the contracting agency (CMS), it likely pertains to health research, policy analysis, or program evaluation related to Medicare and Medicaid.
What is the risk associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type for this procurement?
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure carries inherent risk for the government. While it allows for flexibility, it can incentivize contractors to incur higher costs to increase their fixed fee profit margin, potentially leading to cost overruns. Robust government oversight is crucial to manage these risks effectively and ensure value for taxpayer money.
How effectively does this contract leverage competition to ensure optimal pricing?
The contract was awarded as a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' suggesting that competition was involved at some stage. However, the limited details provided do not specify the number of bidders or the extent of the competitive process. The 'limited' competition classification implies that not all potential sources were considered, which could impact the final pricing achieved.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 315 W HURON STE 360, ANN ARBOR, MI, 48103
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $17,409,583
Exercised Options: $17,409,583
Current Obligation: $17,409,583
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HHSM500200800022I
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-09-30
Current End Date: 2014-09-24
Potential End Date: 2014-09-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-06-16
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