HHS awarded $14.8M for knowledge transfer on emergencies and child trauma, spanning 6 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,872,102 ($14.9M)

Contractor: Educational Services, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2003-09-30

End Date: 2009-07-31

Contract Duration: 2,131 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.0K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: COORDINATED KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROJECT ON EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS, AND CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20036

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $14.9 million to EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC for work described as: COORDINATED KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROJECT ON EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS, AND CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS Key points: 1. Contract focused on educational services and consulting, indicating a knowledge-sharing objective. 2. Long duration of over 6 years suggests a sustained need for expertise in a specialized area. 3. Awarded as a competitive delivery order, implying multiple vendors were considered. 4. The contract's value, while significant, needs benchmarking against similar knowledge transfer initiatives. 5. Sector positioning within Health and Human Services highlights a focus on public health and mental well-being. 6. Performance context is tied to coordinating knowledge transfer for critical areas like emergencies and child trauma.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award of $14.8 million over approximately six years averages to about $2.47 million per year. This figure needs to be benchmarked against similar contracts for knowledge transfer and educational services within the federal government, particularly those focused on specialized areas like child traumatic stress. Without comparable data, assessing value for money is challenging. The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract type suggests that contractor performance influences the final fee, potentially incentivizing efficiency and effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that it was competed among multiple vendors. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, the 'full-and-open' competition suggests a robust process. This level of competition is generally expected to drive better pricing and service quality as vendors vie for the award. The delivery order mechanism implies it was likely part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a competitive environment, which typically leads to more favorable pricing and a wider range of innovative solutions being considered.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries include professionals and organizations involved in emergency response and child mental health services. Services delivered focus on coordinating knowledge transfer, likely through training, resource development, and dissemination. Geographic impact is national, given the federal nature of the agency and the subject matter. Workforce implications involve enhancing the skills and knowledge of individuals working with children affected by trauma and during emergencies.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure can lead to higher costs if not carefully managed and if award fees are consistently maximized.
The long contract duration (over 6 years) may present risks related to evolving needs and potential for contractor complacency.
Lack of specific performance metrics or outcome data makes it difficult to assess the true effectiveness and impact of the knowledge transfer.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that likely yielded fair pricing.
Focus on a critical public health area (emergencies, child trauma) indicates alignment with important government missions.
The sustained funding over several years suggests a recognized and ongoing need for the services provided.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically consulting. The market for such services is broad, encompassing numerous firms specializing in public health, education, and specialized consulting. Federal spending in this area often supports critical government functions, research, and program implementation. Benchmarking would involve comparing this contract's value and scope to other federal contracts for similar consulting and knowledge transfer services, particularly those managed by HHS or related agencies.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting goals is not explicitly provided in the data. As a competitive delivery order, it's possible that small businesses could have participated, either as prime contractors or subcontractors, depending on the structure of the parent IDIQ contract and the specific solicitation. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within HHS. As a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract, performance monitoring and evaluation are crucial to determine the award fees. Transparency would be enhanced through public contract databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Programs
Child Traumatic Stress Network
Emergency Preparedness and Response Initiatives
Federal Health Education and Training Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of evolving requirements.
CPAF contract type requires careful oversight to ensure cost efficiency.
Effectiveness metrics not provided, making impact assessment difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $14.9 million to EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC. COORDINATED KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROJECT ON EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS, AND CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-09-30. End: 2009-07-31.

What was the specific nature of the 'coordinated knowledge transfer' provided under this contract?

The contract focused on 'COORDINATED KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROJECT ON EMER ώστεCIES, DISASTERS, AND CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS'. This implies activities such as developing and disseminating best practices, training materials, and resources related to managing emergencies and addressing the psychological impact of trauma on children. The goal was likely to improve the capacity of relevant professionals and organizations to respond effectively to these critical situations. The educational services and consulting nature of the contract suggests a strong emphasis on information sharing, skill-building, and potentially policy guidance.

How does the $14.8 million award compare to similar federal contracts for knowledge transfer in public health?

Benchmarking the $14.8 million award requires identifying comparable federal contracts. Factors to consider include the duration (over 6 years), the specific subject matter (emergencies, child trauma), the type of services (knowledge transfer, educational services, consulting), and the awarding agency (HHS/SAMHSA). Without direct comparisons, it's difficult to definitively state if this represents high or low spending. However, given the specialized and critical nature of the subject matter, and the extended period of performance, the investment appears substantial, suggesting a significant federal commitment to enhancing expertise in this domain.

What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract of this duration?

The primary risks with a CPAF contract, especially one spanning over six years, include potential cost overruns and a lack of strong incentive for cost control if award fees are consistently high regardless of efficiency. Contractors might focus on maximizing the award fee rather than minimizing costs. For long-duration contracts, there's also the risk of scope creep, evolving requirements that may not be adequately captured in the initial contract, and potential contractor complacency. Effective oversight and clearly defined performance metrics are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure value for money.

What was the track record of Educational Services, Inc. with federal contracts prior to or during this award?

Information on the specific track record of 'EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC' prior to or during this award is not detailed in the provided data. However, the fact that they were awarded this significant, competitively bid contract suggests they met the qualifications and demonstrated capability required by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). A deeper dive into federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would be necessary to analyze their past performance, other contract awards, and any reported performance issues or successes.

How effective was the knowledge transfer in improving outcomes related to emergencies and child traumatic stress?

The provided data does not contain specific metrics or evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the knowledge transfer. Effectiveness would typically be measured by indicators such as improved response times during emergencies, better implementation of trauma-informed care practices, increased availability of resources for affected children and families, or enhanced professional competency in the field. Without post-award reports, program evaluations, or outcome data, determining the actual impact and success of this contract is not possible from the given information.

What is the historical spending trend for similar knowledge transfer or consulting services within SAMHSA?

The provided data only includes details for this single contract. To understand historical spending trends for similar services within SAMHSA, one would need to analyze procurement data over multiple fiscal years. This would involve identifying contracts with similar North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes (like 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), keywords, and objectives. Analyzing this broader dataset would reveal patterns in spending levels, contract types, and key contractors within SAMHSA for knowledge transfer and consulting.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SOCIAL SERVICES › SOCIAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1150 CONNECTICUT AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 98

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,872,102

Exercised Options: $14,872,102

Current Obligation: $14,872,102

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 280033600

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline