HHS Awards $2.6M Contract for Health Insurance Marketplace Outreach Research to Marketing for Change Co
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,599,988 ($2.6M)
Contractor: Marketing for Change CO.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2024-08-26
End Date: 2026-08-25
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: RESEARCH TO SUPPORT HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20006
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $2.6 million to MARKETING FOR CHANGE CO. for work described as: RESEARCH TO SUPPORT HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Marketing for Change Co. for $2.6M. 2. Focus on research for health insurance marketplace outreach and education. 3. Competition method: Full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 4. Sector: Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (NAICS 541910).
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $2.6M for a 2-year period appears reasonable for specialized market research. Benchmarking against similar contracts for public health outreach research would provide a clearer assessment of value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. However, the 'after exclusion of sources' clause suggests specific criteria were applied, which could influence the pool of bidders and potentially the final price.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is the direct cost of $2.6M for research aimed at improving health insurance marketplace access and understanding.
Public Impact
Aims to improve public understanding and enrollment in health insurance marketplaces. Research findings could influence future federal outreach strategies and budget allocations. Potential for increased health insurance coverage among targeted populations.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Clarity on 'exclusion of sources' impact on competition.
- Ensuring research methodology is robust and unbiased.
Positive Signals
- Supports a critical public health initiative.
- Utilizes competitive procurement process.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling sector. Spending in this sector often supports government agencies in understanding public sentiment and informing policy. Benchmarks for similar research contracts would be useful for detailed analysis.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will be managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within HHS. Accountability will be tied to the delivery of research findings and their impact on outreach effectiveness.
Related Government Programs
- Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for limited innovation due to 'exclusion of sources'.
- Need for clear metrics to assess research impact.
- Dependence on research findings for future strategy effectiveness.
- Contract duration of 2 years requires ongoing monitoring.
Tags
marketing-research-and-public-opinion-po, department-of-health-and-human-services, dc, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2.6 million to MARKETING FOR CHANGE CO.. RESEARCH TO SUPPORT HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MARKETING FOR CHANGE CO..
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 $2.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-08-26. End: 2026-08-25.
What is the specific methodology for the outreach and education research, and how will its effectiveness be measured?
The contract details should specify the research methodologies, such as surveys, focus groups, or data analysis, to be employed. Effectiveness will likely be measured by the quality and actionability of the research findings, and ultimately, by their impact on improving marketplace enrollment and consumer understanding, as defined by specific performance metrics within the contract.
How does the 'exclusion of sources' clause in the full and open competition affect the potential for innovation and cost savings?
The 'exclusion of sources' clause, while still operating under a full and open framework, implies that certain types of firms or approaches were pre-qualified or that others were specifically excluded based on defined criteria. This could limit the breadth of innovative solutions considered and potentially impact price discovery if the eligible pool of competitors is significantly narrowed.
What is the anticipated return on investment for this $2.6M research contract in terms of increased health insurance enrollment or reduced healthcare costs?
Quantifying the direct ROI is challenging as it's a research contract. However, the investment is expected to yield improved outreach effectiveness, leading to higher enrollment in subsidized health insurance plans. This, in turn, could reduce uncompensated care costs and improve population health outcomes, representing an indirect but significant return.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 110 S COLUMBUS ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,399,988
Exercised Options: $2,599,988
Current Obligation: $2,599,988
Actual Outlays: $759,598
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 75FCMC22D0008
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-08-26
Current End Date: 2026-08-25
Potential End Date: 2026-08-25 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-24
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