DHS Awards $37.6M for Medical Staffing to Amergis Healthcare, Despite No Small Business Set-Aside
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $37,624,992 ($37.6M)
Contractor: Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2024-09-23
End Date: 2026-09-22
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $51.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 7
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: MEDICAL STAFFING SERVICES FOR THE ICE HEALTH SERVICE CORPS (IHSC)
Place of Performance
Location: COLUMBIA, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 21046
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $37.6 million to AMERGIS HEALTHCARE STAFFING, INC. for work described as: MEDICAL STAFFING SERVICES FOR THE ICE HEALTH SERVICE CORPS (IHSC) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Amergis Healthcare Staffing for $37.6M. 2. Full and open competition was used, but no small business set-aside was noted. 3. The contract is for medical staffing services for the ICE Health Service Corps. 4. The period of performance is from September 2024 to September 2026.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $37.6M for 7 delivery orders over two years appears reasonable for specialized medical staffing. Benchmarking against similar federal contracts for healthcare staffing services is needed for a definitive assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded using full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the absence of a small business set-aside might limit the pool of potential bidders and potentially impact price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential medical staffing services. The competitive nature of the award is intended to ensure fair pricing, but the lack of small business participation warrants further review.
Public Impact
Ensures critical medical staffing for immigration detention facilities. Supports the health and well-being of detainees. Potential for increased costs if competition was not fully leveraged. Impacts the operational capacity of ICE Health Service Corps.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- No small business set-aside
- Limited data on price benchmarks
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition utilized
- Clear need for services
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under miscellaneous ambulatory health care services, a sector that often relies on specialized staffing agencies. Federal spending in this area is driven by agency needs for qualified medical professionals, particularly in unique environments like detention facilities.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the data indicates that Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc. is not a small business. This means that opportunities for small businesses in this procurement were not explicitly prioritized.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, suggesting some level of pre-qualification. Further oversight would involve reviewing the specific performance metrics and any associated task orders to ensure accountability and value.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Miscellaneous Ambulatory Health Care Services
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for higher costs due to lack of small business participation.
- Need for detailed price analysis to ensure value.
- Reliance on a single large contractor for critical services.
- Performance monitoring is crucial for service quality.
Tags
all-other-miscellaneous-ambulatory-healt, department-of-homeland-security, md, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $37.6 million to AMERGIS HEALTHCARE STAFFING, INC.. MEDICAL STAFFING SERVICES FOR THE ICE HEALTH SERVICE CORPS (IHSC)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMERGIS HEALTHCARE STAFFING, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $37.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-23. End: 2026-09-22.
What is the average hourly rate paid under this contract compared to market rates for similar medical staffing services?
Without specific hourly rate data from the contract, a direct comparison is difficult. However, federal contracts for medical staffing often include markups for agency fees, overhead, and profit. A thorough analysis would require access to the labor hour rates and comparison with industry benchmarks for registered nurses, physicians, and other medical personnel in similar geographic and operational contexts.
What is the risk of overpaying for medical staffing services given the lack of a small business set-aside?
The risk of overpaying is moderate. While full and open competition is intended to drive down prices, the absence of a small business set-aside may have limited the number of bidders. Smaller, specialized firms might offer more competitive pricing in certain niches. The government should ensure robust price analysis was conducted to validate the reasonableness of the awarded rates.
How effective is Amergis Healthcare Staffing in meeting the specific medical needs of the ICE Health Service Corps?
Effectiveness is primarily measured by Amergis's ability to consistently provide qualified and available medical staff as per the contract's requirements. Key performance indicators would likely include fill rates for open positions, staff qualifications, adherence to schedules, and compliance with ICE's operational and security protocols. Performance history and any past performance evaluations would provide insight into their effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Other Ambulatory Health Care Services › All Other Miscellaneous Ambulatory Health Care Services
Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › GENERAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 70CDCR24R00000003
Offers Received: 7
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Amergis Healthcare Staffing Inc.
Address: 7223 LEE DEFOREST DR, COLUMBIA, MD, 21046
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $190,492,358
Exercised Options: $70,025,765
Current Obligation: $37,624,992
Actual Outlays: $18,355,570
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 70CDCR23D00000010
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-09-23
Current End Date: 2026-09-22
Potential End Date: 2029-09-22 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-11-12
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