HHS awards $238K for interviewing skills and personal safety training to Watch House International LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,810 ($23.8K)

Contractor: Watch House International LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2026-04-20

End Date: 2026-05-24

Contract Duration: 34 days

Daily Burn Rate: $700/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND PERSONAL SAFETY REPORTS TRAINING (APRIL, 2026)

Place of Performance

Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20993

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $23,810 to WATCH HOUSE INTERNATIONAL LLC for work described as: INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND PERSONAL SAFETY REPORTS TRAINING (APRIL, 2026) Key points: 1. The contract value appears reasonable for specialized training services. 2. Competition dynamics for this contract are not fully detailed but were competed under SAP. 3. Risk indicators are low given the short duration and fixed-price nature. 4. Performance context is limited to a specific training requirement for FDA personnel. 5. This contract fits within the broader professional development and training sector for government agencies.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $238,100 for a 34-day training program appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized professional development. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for interviewing skills and personal safety training would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the contractor assumes the risk for cost overruns, which is a positive indicator for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a procurement valued below the threshold for full and open competition. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, SAP typically involves a limited number of quotes or proposals. This level of competition may not yield the most aggressive pricing compared to full and open competition but is often used for smaller value procurements to ensure efficiency.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, competing under SAP balances the need for timely procurement with achieving a fair price. While not as competitive as full and open, it avoids the administrative overhead of larger procurements, potentially saving taxpayer money on administrative costs.

Public Impact

FDA personnel will benefit from enhanced interviewing skills and personal safety knowledge. The training aims to improve the effectiveness and safety of FDA staff in their duties. The geographic impact is focused on Maryland, where the training is likely to be delivered. Workforce implications include upskilling federal employees in critical soft skills and safety protocols.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed competition data limits assessment of price discovery.
Scope of training is specific; broader applicability of skills is not detailed.
Geographic focus is limited to Maryland, potentially excluding other FDA locations.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract structure shifts cost risk to the contractor.
Short contract duration (34 days) suggests a focused and manageable project.
Training addresses essential skills for federal employees, enhancing operational effectiveness.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional and management development training sector, a segment of the broader government services market. This sector includes a wide range of training providers offering specialized courses to federal agencies. Spending in this area is driven by the need for continuous professional development, compliance training, and skill enhancement for federal workforces. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other training contracts awarded by HHS and other agencies for similar skill sets.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract included a small business set-aside or if Watch House International LLC is a small business. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem and subcontracting opportunities cannot be assessed from this information. Further investigation into the contractor's size status and any subcontracting plans would be necessary.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contracting officer and program officials. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract, requiring delivery of specified training services. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS, though detailed performance metrics are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Professional Development Training
Federal Employee Training Programs
Workforce Development Services
Government Contract Training

Risk Flags

Limited competition data available under SAP.
No specific performance metrics provided for training effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $23,810 to WATCH HOUSE INTERNATIONAL LLC. INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND PERSONAL SAFETY REPORTS TRAINING (APRIL, 2026)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WATCH HOUSE INTERNATIONAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23,810.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-20. End: 2026-05-24.

What is the track record of Watch House International LLC in delivering similar federal training contracts?

Information regarding Watch House International LLC's specific track record with federal training contracts, particularly in interviewing skills and personal safety, is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their past performance evaluations on federal contracts, including any awards, past performance questionnaires, and any reported issues or successes. Understanding their experience with government procurement processes and their ability to meet delivery timelines and quality standards is crucial for evaluating their reliability as a contractor for this specific training requirement.

How does the awarded amount compare to market rates for similar specialized training services?

The awarded amount of $238,100 for a 34-day training program on interviewing skills and personal safety is difficult to benchmark precisely without more granular data on the number of trainees, specific curriculum details, and the qualifications of the instructors. However, considering the specialized nature of the training and the firm-fixed-price structure, the cost appears to be within a plausible range for government contracts. To provide a more definitive comparison, one would need to analyze data from similar training contracts awarded by federal agencies, looking at per-diem rates, total contract values relative to training hours, and the specific subject matter expertise required.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

The primary risks associated with this contract are relatively low due to its nature and structure. Potential risks include the contractor failing to deliver the training as specified, the training not meeting the agency's quality standards, or unforeseen logistical issues. Mitigation strategies are primarily embedded in the contract terms: the firm-fixed-price structure incentivizes the contractor to complete the work within budget, and the short duration (34 days) limits the window for potential disruptions. The FDA's oversight and acceptance of deliverables would serve as the final quality control measure. The specific focus on interviewing and safety skills also suggests a well-defined scope, reducing ambiguity.

How effective is the training likely to be in improving FDA personnel's interviewing and personal safety skills?

The effectiveness of the training is contingent upon the quality of the curriculum, the expertise of the instructors provided by Watch House International LLC, and the engagement of the FDA personnel attending. While the contract specifies the subject matter, the provided data does not include details on the training methodology, learning objectives, or assessment methods. To gauge potential effectiveness, one would look for evidence of successful past performance by the contractor in similar training programs, and the FDA's internal metrics for evaluating skill improvement post-training. The focus on practical skills like interviewing and safety suggests a potentially high impact if delivered well.

What are the historical spending patterns for interviewing skills and personal safety training within the FDA or HHS?

Historical spending patterns for interviewing skills and personal safety training within the FDA or HHS are not detailed in the provided data. To analyze this, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS) for similar contracts awarded over previous fiscal years. This analysis would reveal the frequency of such training procurements, the typical contract values, the agencies or sub-agencies that most frequently procure these services, and the contractors that have historically been awarded these types of contracts. Understanding these patterns can help contextualize the current award and identify potential trends or shifts in training priorities.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8511 CEASE DR, LITTLE ROCK, AR, 72205

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,810

Exercised Options: $23,810

Current Obligation: $23,810

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75F40125D00015

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline