HHS Awards $16M to RAND Corp for CAHPS Survey Implementation, Boosting Value-Based Care Data
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $15,958,526 ($16.0M)
Contractor: THE Rand Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2021-06-04
End Date: 2026-06-30
Contract Duration: 1,852 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAHPS SURVEYS FOR MERIT-BASED INCENTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM, MEDICARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM, AND NEXT GENERATION ACO
Place of Performance
Location: SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 90407
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $16.0 million to THE RAND CORPORATION for work described as: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAHPS SURVEYS FOR MERIT-BASED INCENTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM, MEDICARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM, AND NEXT GENERATION ACO Key points: 1. Value: $16M contract for critical survey implementation, supporting value-based care initiatives. 2. Competition: Full and open competition ensures market-driven pricing and vendor selection. 3. Risk: Potential for scope creep or data integrity issues in survey administration. 4. Sector: Healthcare administration and consulting services, vital for CMS program evaluation.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $15.96M over 5 years for survey implementation appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar large-scale data collection and analysis contracts is needed for a definitive assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Full and open competition was utilized, allowing multiple vendors to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and encourages efficient service delivery by selecting the most qualified offeror.
Taxpayer Impact: The investment supports data collection for programs aimed at improving healthcare quality and reducing costs, potentially leading to long-term taxpayer savings through better program design and outcomes.
Public Impact
Enhances data collection for Medicare Shared Savings Program and Next Generation ACOs. Supports the CAHPS survey program, crucial for patient experience measurement. Provides insights into healthcare provider performance and patient satisfaction. Facilitates evidence-based policy decisions for CMS.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for delays in data collection impacting program evaluation timelines.
- Ensuring data accuracy and security for sensitive patient information.
Positive Signals
- Supports critical government healthcare initiatives.
- Utilizes a competitive procurement process.
- Long-term contract provides stability for program implementation.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the healthcare consulting and administrative services sector. Spending in this area is significant as agencies like CMS rely on external expertise for program management and data analysis to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to The RAND Corporation, a large research organization. There is no explicit indication of small business participation in this specific award, suggesting opportunities may lie in subcontracting roles.
Oversight & Accountability
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is overseeing this contract. Standard oversight mechanisms for delivery orders under a larger contract should be in place to monitor performance, cost, and adherence to scope.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs
Risk Flags
- Data security and privacy concerns.
- Potential for vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.
- Ensuring consistent data quality across diverse healthcare settings.
- Timeliness of data analysis and reporting for actionable insights.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-health-and-human-services, ca, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $16.0 million to THE RAND CORPORATION. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAHPS SURVEYS FOR MERIT-BASED INCENTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM, MEDICARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM, AND NEXT GENERATION ACO
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE RAND CORPORATION.
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 $16.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-06-04. End: 2026-06-30.
What is the specific methodology for ensuring the validity and reliability of the CAHPS survey data collected under this contract?
The contract likely mandates adherence to established CAHPS survey protocols, including standardized sampling, data collection instruments, and quality control measures. The RAND Corporation's expertise suggests a focus on rigorous methodological standards to ensure data integrity and comparability across different healthcare providers and programs.
How will the data collected inform future policy adjustments or program modifications within CMS?
The collected survey data is intended to provide crucial feedback on patient experiences and provider performance within value-based care programs. This information will enable CMS to identify areas of success, pinpoint challenges, and make data-driven decisions regarding program design, incentive structures, and quality improvement initiatives.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this contract's implementation?
Key performance indicators would likely include timely and accurate survey administration, high response rates, data completeness, and adherence to budget. Success may also be measured by the utility of the generated data in informing CMS's strategic objectives for its value-based care programs.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1776 MAIN ST, SANTA MONICA, CA, 90401
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $16,210,039
Exercised Options: $15,958,526
Current Obligation: $15,958,526
Actual Outlays: $13,018,032
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 5
Total Subaward Amount: $5,645,106
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS10F0275P
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-06-04
Current End Date: 2026-06-30
Potential End Date: 2026-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-09
More Contracts from THE Rand Corporation
- 200610!000022!5700!fa7014!air Force DST of Washington !FA701406C0001 !A!N! !Y! !p00002!20051202!20100930!006914071!006914071!006914071!n!rand Corporation !1776 Main ST !santa Monica !ca!90401!70000!037!06!santa Monica !LOS Angeles !california!+000000500000!n!n!000000000000!az16!rdte/Other Research & Development-Mgmt Support !S1 !services !000 !NOT Discernable !541710!E! !3! ! !C! ! !99990909!B! ! !n!z!d!n!u!1!001!n!3a!z!n!z! ! !N!Z!N! ! ! ! ! !a!a!000!a!b!n! ! ! !y!5700!f1af1k!0001! ! — $466.8M (Department of Defense)
- Ffrdc Rand Arroyo — $328.2M (Department of Defense)
- Ffrdc Rand Ndri — $307.5M (Department of Defense)
- Project: AT&L 12-408 — $225.6M (Department of Defense)
- National Defense Research Institute Federally Funded Research and Development Center Operated by the Rand Corporation - FY16-20 Task Order 0001 — $192.3M (Department of Defense)
Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts
- Contact Center Operations (CCO) — $5.5B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- TAS::75 0849::TAS Oper of Govt R&D Goco Facilities — $4.8B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Provide the Full Complement of Services Necessary to Care for UC in ORR Custody Including Facilities Set-Up, Maintenance, and Support Internal and Perimeter (IF Applicable) Security, Direct Care and Supervision Inc — $3.5B (Rapid Deployment Inc)
- Contact Center Operations — $2.6B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- Federal Contract — $2.4B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →