HHS awards $20.9M contract to Mathematica Inc. for Head Start survey services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $20,963,039 ($21.0M)
Contractor: Mathematica Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2013-09-26
End Date: 2019-06-28
Contract Duration: 2,101 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF HEAD START FAMILY AND CHILD EXPERIENCES SURVEY (FACES) 2014-2018
Place of Performance
Location: PRINCETON, MERCER County, NEW JERSEY, 08540
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $21.0 million to MATHEMATICA INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF HEAD START FAMILY AND CHILD EXPERIENCES SURVEY (FACES) 2014-2018 Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Mathematica Inc. for a significant duration (2013-2019). 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns. 3. Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources indicates a specific, limited approach. 4. The service falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure requires careful monitoring to ensure costs remain reasonable. Benchmarking against similar consulting contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The competition method, 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources,' suggests that while open, certain sources were initially excluded, potentially limiting the competitive pool and impacting price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The total award of $20.9 million represents a significant investment of taxpayer funds for data collection and analysis services.
Public Impact
Impacts Head Start programs nationwide by providing data for program improvement. The survey data will inform policy decisions related to early childhood education. Ensures continued data collection and analysis for a critical federal program.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize higher costs.
- Limited competition method may not yield the best price.
- Long contract duration increases risk of scope creep or inefficiency.
Positive Signals
- Awarded for a critical federal program (Head Start).
- Contract aims to gather important data for program evaluation.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically administrative and management consulting. Spending in this area can vary widely based on government needs for specialized expertise.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract award.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract's duration and cost-plus nature necessitate robust oversight from HHS to ensure efficient use of funds and adherence to the fixed fee.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
- Competition method may have limited the bidder pool.
- Long contract duration.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-health-and-human-services, nj, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $21.0 million to MATHEMATICA INC.. IGF::OT::IGF HEAD START FAMILY AND CHILD EXPERIENCES SURVEY (FACES) 2014-2018
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MATHEMATICA INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-09-26. End: 2019-06-28.
What specific deliverables were expected under this contract, and how was their quality assessed?
The contract focused on the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES). Deliverables likely included data collection instruments, raw data, analysis reports, and potentially presentations. Quality assessment would involve adherence to survey methodologies, data accuracy, and the comprehensiveness and clarity of the final reports provided by Mathematica Inc.
What were the primary risks associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure for this survey contract?
The main risk with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract is that the contractor may have less incentive to control costs, as their fee is fixed regardless of the actual expenses incurred. This could lead to higher overall spending than anticipated if costs escalate beyond initial projections, requiring diligent oversight from the agency.
How effectively did the 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' method ensure value for taxpayer money?
This method, while technically 'full and open,' implies that certain potential bidders were excluded upfront. The effectiveness in ensuring value depends on the justification for exclusion and whether the remaining pool of competitors was sufficient to drive competitive pricing. Without knowing the excluded sources, it's hard to definitively assess if the best possible value was achieved.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Mathematica Inc (UEI: 154125140)
Address: 600 ALEXANDER PARK, PRINCETON, NJ, 08540
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Subchapter S Corporation
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,421,773
Exercised Options: $20,963,039
Current Obligation: $20,963,039
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HHSP23320095642WC
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-09-26
Current End Date: 2019-06-28
Potential End Date: 2019-06-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2019-01-25
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