HHS awarded $17M for temporary staffing, with NIH utilizing these services for scientific and technical support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,075,949 ($17.1M)

Contractor: Kelly Services, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2010-09-18

End Date: 2012-03-14

Contract Duration: 543 days

Daily Burn Rate: $31.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TAS::75 0849::TAS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHINCAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: TROY, OAKLAND County, MICHIGAN, 48084, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Michigan Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $17.1 million to KELLY SERVICES, INC. for work described as: TAS::75 0849::TAS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHINCAL SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the duration and scope of services. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a full and open process, suggesting potential for competitive pricing. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, with a fixed-price contract type mitigating some cost overruns. 4. Performance context shows these services were utilized over a 543-day period. 5. Sector positioning is within scientific and technical support services, a common need for research institutions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $17.1 million over approximately 1.5 years for temporary staffing services is within a reasonable range for large federal agencies like NIH. Benchmarking against similar contracts for scientific and technical support staffing is challenging without more granular data on skill sets and duration. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the government aimed to control costs upfront, which is a positive indicator for value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 6 bidders suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of service. A competitive bidding process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers by leveraging market forces to drive down costs.

Public Impact

Benefits researchers and scientific staff at NIH by providing necessary temporary support. Delivers essential scientific and technical support services to facilitate research operations. Geographic impact is primarily within the National Institutes of Health facilities. Workforce implications include providing flexible staffing solutions for specialized roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for over-reliance on temporary staff impacting institutional knowledge.
Ensuring consistent quality and vetting of temporary personnel is crucial.

Positive Signals

Contract utilized a competitive bidding process, indicating market responsiveness.
Firm-fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty.
Services provided support to a critical research institution (NIH).

Sector Analysis

The federal sector for temporary staffing services, particularly those supporting scientific and technical roles, is substantial. Agencies like NIH frequently require specialized personnel to augment their permanent workforce for research projects, clinical trials, and administrative functions. This contract fits within the broader IT and professional services category, where agencies often outsource to gain access to specific expertise or manage fluctuating workload demands. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific scientific disciplines and skill levels required.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engaged small business subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses participated as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded under firm-fixed-price terms, which inherently provides a degree of cost control. Oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers at NIH, ensuring that the services rendered meet the specified requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS, where contract awards are reported.

Related Government Programs

Temporary Staffing Services
Scientific and Technical Support
Professional and Management Support Services
Federal Workforce Augmentation

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Potential for Personnel Turnover
Quality Control of Temporary Staff

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $17.1 million to KELLY SERVICES, INC.. TAS::75 0849::TAS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHINCAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is KELLY SERVICES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-09-18. End: 2012-03-14.

What was the specific nature of the 'Scientific and Technical Support Services' provided under this contract?

The contract, identified by TAS 75 0849, falls under the category of Scientific and Technical Support Services, specifically utilizing NAICS code 561320 for Temporary Help Services. While the provided data does not detail the exact scientific disciplines or technical skills, this classification suggests the services likely involved providing temporary personnel with expertise in areas such as laboratory research, data analysis, scientific writing, technical documentation, or specialized equipment operation. These roles are crucial for supporting the extensive research activities conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), enabling them to manage fluctuating project needs, fill critical skill gaps, and maintain research momentum without immediate permanent hiring.

How does the $17 million award compare to other federal spending on temporary staffing for scientific support?

Comparing the $17.1 million award for temporary staffing to other federal spending on scientific support requires a broader market analysis. Federal agencies, particularly those in research and development like NIH, often rely on temporary staffing to manage project-based work and specialized needs. The total federal spending on temporary help services (NAICS 561320) is in the billions annually. This specific contract represents a moderate portion of NIH's overall operational budget for external support. Benchmarking this against similar contracts would involve looking at the duration, number of personnel, and specific skill sets procured by other agencies like the National Science Foundation or Department of Energy for comparable scientific support roles. Without more granular data on the specific services and rates, a precise comparison is difficult, but the full and open competition suggests it was priced competitively within the market.

What are the primary risks associated with using temporary staffing services for scientific and technical roles?

The primary risks associated with using temporary staffing services for scientific and technical roles include potential inconsistencies in quality and expertise, as the pool of available candidates can vary. There's also a risk of reduced institutional knowledge retention if temporary staff frequently cycle through without long-term integration. Security and background checks for sensitive research environments are critical. Furthermore, managing a large contingent of temporary workers can introduce administrative complexities. For NIH, ensuring that temporary staff adhere to strict research protocols, data integrity standards, and ethical guidelines is paramount. The firm-fixed-price nature of this contract helps mitigate cost overrun risks, but risks related to performance quality and personnel continuity remain.

What was the historical spending pattern for this specific contract or similar services at NIH prior to this award?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award from September 18, 2010, to March 14, 2012, totaling $17,075,949.41. It does not offer historical spending patterns for this specific contract or for similar services at NIH prior to this award. To assess historical spending, one would need to query federal procurement databases for previous contracts awarded by NIH under NAICS code 561320 or for 'Scientific and Technical Support Services' over multiple fiscal years. Analyzing such data would reveal trends in spending volume, average contract values, and the prevalence of different contract types (e.g., fixed-price vs. cost-reimbursement) for these services, providing context on whether this $17 million award was typical, an increase, or a decrease in federal investment in this area.

How effective was the contractor, Kelly Services, Inc., in fulfilling the requirements of this contract?

The provided data does not include performance evaluations or metrics to assess the effectiveness of Kelly Services, Inc. in fulfilling the requirements of this specific contract. Federal contract performance is typically documented through Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) or similar internal agency evaluations. Without access to these reports, it is impossible to determine the contractor's effectiveness, timeliness, quality of service, or adherence to contract terms. The fact that the contract was awarded and completed suggests that, at a minimum, the basic requirements were met, but it does not speak to exceptional performance or any issues encountered during the contract period.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Employment Services › Temporary Help Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 999 W BIG BEAVER RD, TROY, MI, 48084

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,075,949

Exercised Options: $17,075,949

Current Obligation: $17,075,949

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSN271201000005I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline