HHS Awards $6M FFP GSA STARS III Task Order to Applied Intellect LLC for UC Portal Support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,035,401 ($6.0M)

Contractor: Applied Intellect LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2024-12-01

End Date: 2025-11-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS IS A FIRM FIXED PRICE (FFP) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)STARS III SHORT TERM TASK ORDER AWARD FOR ORR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN (UC) PORTAL APPLICATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE ALL PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES

Place of Performance

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

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $6.0 million to APPLIED INTELLECT LLC for work described as: THIS IS A FIRM FIXED PRICE (FFP) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)STARS III SHORT TERM TASK ORDER AWARD FOR ORR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN (UC) PORTAL APPLICATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE ALL PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical IT support for unaccompanied children's portal. 2. Applied Intellect LLC, a small business, is the awardee. 3. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) type. 4. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The $6.04M award for 364 days appears reasonable for specialized IT application management and support services. Benchmarking against similar GSA STARS III task orders for portal management would provide further validation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential services.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation and support for a critical application serving unaccompanied children. Supports the Department of Health and Human Services' mission in managing child welfare services. Provides stability and continuity for a vital IT system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in application management.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical system support.

Positive Signals

FFP contract type provides cost certainty.
Awarded under GSA STARS III, a pre-competed contract vehicle.
Supports a critical humanitarian mission.

Sector Analysis

This IT contract falls under Computer Systems Design Services. Spending in this sector is substantial, with government agencies increasingly relying on specialized IT support for complex applications and data management.

Small Business Impact

Applied Intellect LLC is identified as a small business. The award contributes to the government's goal of supporting small businesses in the federal contracting space.

Oversight & Accountability

Task orders under GSA schedules are subject to oversight through the GSA and the awarding agency (HHS). Performance monitoring and contract closeout procedures are key accountability mechanisms.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to specialized support.
Dependence on GSA STARS III vehicle.
Scope definition clarity is crucial for performance.
Ensuring data privacy and security for sensitive UC information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $6.0 million to APPLIED INTELLECT LLC. THIS IS A FIRM FIXED PRICE (FFP) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)STARS III SHORT TERM TASK ORDER AWARD FOR ORR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN (UC) PORTAL APPLICATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE ALL PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is APPLIED INTELLECT LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-12-01. End: 2025-11-30.

What is the specific scope of 'portal application management and support' to ensure it aligns with the needs of unaccompanied children services?

The scope likely includes maintaining the application's infrastructure, ensuring uptime, applying security patches, managing user access, and providing technical support for any issues that arise. Detailed requirements in the PWS would clarify the exact services, including help desk functions, bug fixes, and potential minor enhancements, all tailored to the sensitive nature of the UC portal.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract to measure the effectiveness of the support provided?

Key performance indicators could include application uptime percentage, response times for critical issue resolution, user satisfaction ratings, and successful completion of scheduled maintenance. These metrics would be defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and monitored by HHS to ensure Applied Intellect LLC meets its contractual obligations effectively.

How does the 'exclusion of sources' clause in the full and open competition impact the potential for cost savings or innovation?

Excluding specific sources, while still allowing full and open competition among others, can sometimes limit the pool of potential bidders. This might reduce the intensity of competition compared to an unrestricted full and open process, potentially impacting price negotiation. However, it could also be used strategically to ensure bidders possess highly specialized capabilities relevant to the unique needs of the UC portal.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 75ACF125Q00008

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 43457 BETTYS FARM DR STE 100, CHANTILLY, VA, 20152

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,035,401

Exercised Options: $6,035,401

Current Obligation: $6,035,401

Actual Outlays: $6,035,401

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCB21D0210

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline