HHS Awards $24.4M BPA Call to SEMANTICBITS LLC for Measure Authoring Tool
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $24,408,068 ($24.4M)
Contractor: Semanticbits LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2019-08-26
End Date: 2024-08-25
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $13.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: BONNIE AND MEASURE AUTHORING TOOL (MAT) BPA CALL
Place of Performance
Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $24.4 million to SEMANTICBITS LLC for work described as: BONNIE AND MEASURE AUTHORING TOOL (MAT) BPA CALL Key points: 1. Contract awarded to SEMANTICBITS LLC for the Measure Authoring Tool (MAT). 2. The contract has a total value of $24.4 million. 3. The contract falls under 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519). 4. This is a Firm Fixed Price contract, indicating predictable costs. 5. The contract duration is 1826 days, ending August 25, 2024.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $24.4 million for a 5-year BPA Call appears reasonable for specialized software development and support services. Benchmarking against similar IT service contracts of this scope would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process that likely resulted in fair market pricing. The BPA Call mechanism allows for task orders against a pre-established agreement.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to better value for taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that drives down prices.
Public Impact
Supports the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in developing and maintaining critical healthcare measures. Enhances the ability to create and manage quality measures for healthcare providers. Impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare quality reporting and improvement initiatives. Ensures continued development and support for a vital government IT system.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in long-term IT development contracts.
- Dependency on a single vendor for critical system maintenance and upgrades.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
- Long contract duration allows for stable development and support.
Sector Analysis
The IT services sector, particularly custom software development and support for government agencies, is highly competitive. Spending benchmarks for similar BPA calls vary widely based on complexity and duration, but $24.4M over 5 years for a specialized tool is within a typical range.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was sought or achieved through subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The award through a BPA Call suggests that the initial contract underwent a competitive process. Ongoing oversight would focus on task order performance, adherence to the Statement of Work, and vendor deliverables to ensure accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration may increase risk of obsolescence or scope creep.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
- Potential for vendor lock-in over the contract's life.
- Performance metrics and oversight are critical for success.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-health-and-human-services, va, bpa-call, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $24.4 million to SEMANTICBITS LLC. BONNIE AND MEASURE AUTHORING TOOL (MAT) BPA CALL
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SEMANTICBITS LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $24.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-08-26. End: 2024-08-25.
What specific functionalities does the Measure Authoring Tool (MAT) provide, and how critical are these to CMS operations?
The Measure Authoring Tool (MAT) is crucial for CMS in developing, testing, and implementing quality measures used in various healthcare programs. It streamlines the process of creating standardized measures that providers report on, impacting quality assessment and payment models. Its criticality lies in ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and usability of these measures, which directly influence healthcare quality improvement initiatives and public reporting.
What are the potential risks associated with a 5-year Firm Fixed Price contract for an IT development tool?
A significant risk with a long-term FFP IT contract is the potential for the vendor to become complacent or for requirements to evolve beyond the initial scope, leading to costly change orders or a tool that becomes outdated. There's also the risk of vendor lock-in, making it difficult and expensive to switch providers if performance issues arise or if a more innovative solution becomes available. Ensuring robust contract management and clear performance metrics is key to mitigating these risks.
How does the MAT contribute to the overall effectiveness of CMS's quality measurement and reporting programs?
The MAT significantly enhances the effectiveness of CMS's quality measurement programs by providing a standardized, efficient platform for measure development and maintenance. It allows CMS to adapt measures more quickly to evolving healthcare needs and policy changes. By ensuring the quality and consistency of measures, the MAT directly supports CMS's goals of improving healthcare quality, patient outcomes, and cost efficiency through data-driven insights and performance accountability.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: FCISJB980001B
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.
Address: 13921 PARK CENTER RD STE 420, HERNDON, VA, 20171
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $24,408,068
Exercised Options: $24,408,068
Current Obligation: $24,408,068
Actual Outlays: $18,820,423
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HHSM500201600011B
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-08-26
Current End Date: 2024-08-25
Potential End Date: 2024-08-25 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-04
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