VA awards $53M contract for mental health outreach, with J.R. Reingold & Associates Inc. as the primary contractor

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $53,052,730 ($53.1M)

Contractor: J.R. Reingold & Associates, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2021-09-12

End Date: 2023-03-15

Contract Duration: 549 days

Daily Burn Rate: $96.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: VA GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20001

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $53.1 million to J.R. REINGOLD & ASSOCIATES, INC. for work described as: VA GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract value of $53.05 million over its duration suggests a significant investment in mental health awareness. 2. Competition dynamics for this contract were full and open, indicating a potentially competitive bidding process. 3. The fixed-price contract type may offer cost certainty for the government, but requires careful scope management. 4. Performance is assessed against a 549-day duration, providing a clear timeline for service delivery. 5. The contract falls under IT services, specifically custom computer programming, which is a key area for modern government operations. 6. The award to a single entity, J.R. Reingold & Associates, Inc., highlights their specific capabilities in this domain.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of approximately $53 million over its 549-day term represents a substantial investment in mental health awareness and outreach. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT service contracts for awareness campaigns, this figure appears within a reasonable range, though specific service delivery metrics would be needed for a precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure suggests an expectation of defined deliverables and costs, which can be advantageous if the scope is well-managed. Without direct comparisons of per-unit costs for specific outreach activities, a definitive value assessment is challenging, but the overall investment level is notable.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The data indicates one award, suggesting that while multiple entities may have bid, J.R. Reingold & Associates, Inc. was selected as the most advantageous offer. A full and open competition generally fosters price discovery and allows the government to select from a broad range of capabilities, potentially leading to better value. The specific number of bidders is not provided, which would offer further insight into the intensity of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages a wider pool of bidders, potentially driving down costs through competitive pricing and ensuring the government receives the best value for its investment.

Public Impact

Veterans are the primary beneficiaries, receiving enhanced mental health and suicide prevention awareness and education. The services delivered are expected to improve access to mental health resources and reduce stigma among the veteran population. The contract's geographic impact is likely nationwide, given the VA's broad reach, though specific deployment details are not provided. The contract supports the IT sector by engaging custom computer programming services for outreach initiatives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in a large, multi-year awareness campaign.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical mental health outreach messaging.
Ensuring effective and measurable impact of digital and outreach strategies.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Focus on a critical area of veteran care: mental health and suicide prevention.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming (NAICS 541511). This sector is characterized by rapid technological advancements and a high demand for specialized skills. The contract's focus on awareness and education outreach suggests the use of digital platforms, data analytics, and communication technologies. Comparable spending in this area often involves significant investments in software development, system integration, and digital marketing services to reach large and dispersed populations, such as the veteran community.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, J.R. Reingold & Associates, Inc., is likely a larger entity. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this contract may be limited unless the prime contractor voluntarily includes them in their supply chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed budget. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting, although detailed performance metrics may not always be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

VA Mental Health Services
Veteran Suicide Prevention Programs
Public Health Awareness Campaigns
IT Services for Government Agencies
Custom Software Development Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues with a single awardee.
Ensuring effective reach and impact of awareness campaigns.
Dependency on contractor's technical capabilities for message delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $53.1 million to J.R. REINGOLD & ASSOCIATES, INC.. VA GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is J.R. REINGOLD & ASSOCIATES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $53.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-12. End: 2023-03-15.

What is the track record of J.R. Reingold & Associates, Inc. with VA contracts, particularly in IT and health outreach?

J.R. Reingold & Associates, Inc. has a history of securing contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs, primarily within the IT services domain. Their expertise appears to align with custom computer programming and related services. While specific details on their past performance in health outreach campaigns are not immediately available from the provided data, their selection for this significant contract suggests a demonstrated capability to meet VA requirements. Further analysis of their contract history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and effectiveness in delivering similar services to the VA.

How does the $53 million contract value compare to similar VA mental health awareness initiatives?

The $53.05 million contract value for VA General Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Awareness and Education Outreach Support Services is substantial. To benchmark this effectively, one would need to compare it against the total spending on similar, large-scale awareness and education campaigns within the VA over comparable periods. Factors such as the duration of the contract (549 days), the scope of services (awareness, education, outreach), and the target population (veterans) are critical. Without access to historical data on comparable VA initiatives or broader federal health outreach programs, it's difficult to definitively state if this represents high or low spending. However, the significant investment indicates a high priority placed on mental health and suicide prevention for veterans.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will success be measured?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for an awareness and education outreach contract of this nature, typical KPIs would likely include metrics related to reach (e.g., website traffic, social media engagement, number of materials distributed), engagement (e.g., participation in events, resource downloads), and potentially qualitative measures of message reception and impact on help-seeking behaviors. Success would be measured against the contractor's ability to meet these defined performance standards within the firm fixed-price framework. The VA program office would be responsible for monitoring these KPIs and assessing the contractor's performance throughout the contract duration.

What is the risk associated with relying on a single contractor for such a critical public health message?

Relying on a single contractor, J.R. Reingold & Associates, Inc., for critical public health messages like mental health and suicide prevention awareness carries inherent risks. These include potential disruptions if the contractor faces financial instability, operational issues, or fails to meet performance expectations. There's also a risk of a narrow perspective or lack of diverse approaches in messaging if the contractor's capabilities are not broad enough. Mitigation strategies often involve robust contract oversight, clear performance standards, contingency planning, and potentially incorporating mechanisms for feedback and adjustments throughout the contract lifecycle to ensure the messages remain effective and reach the intended audience.

How does the IT service classification (NAICS 541511) relate to the stated goal of mental health outreach?

The classification of Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511) relates to the mental health outreach goal by encompassing the development and implementation of the technological infrastructure required for modern awareness campaigns. This includes designing and building websites, mobile applications, data management systems for tracking outreach effectiveness, creating digital content (videos, infographics), and potentially developing platforms for virtual support or information dissemination. Essentially, the IT services provide the digital tools and platforms necessary to deliver the awareness and education messages efficiently and effectively to a wide audience, particularly veterans who may be geographically dispersed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1321 DUKE ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $53,052,730

Exercised Options: $53,052,730

Current Obligation: $53,052,730

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA21D001F

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline