HHS awards $3.6M for IHS staff self-care training, aiming to build capacity for patient interventions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $36,000 ($36.0K)

Contractor: THE General Hospital Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-07-17

End Date: 2025-12-31

Contract Duration: 898 days

Daily Burn Rate: $40/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO AN EVIDENCE-BASED, OFF-THE-SHELF TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR IHS STAFF THAT TEACHES SELF-CARE PRACTICES AND CREATES CAPACITY AND FOR BOTH SCALED AND PATIENT LEVEL INTERVENTIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: BEMIDJI, BELTRAMI County, MINNESOTA, 56601

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $36,000 to THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION for work described as: TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO AN EVIDENCE-BASED, OFF-THE-SHELF TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR IHS STAFF THAT TEACHES SELF-CARE PRACTICES AND CREATES CAPACITY AND FOR BOTH SCALED AND PATIENT LEVEL INTERVENTIONS. Key points: 1. The contract focuses on providing an evidence-based, off-the-shelf training curriculum. 2. The training aims to enhance self-care practices and build capacity for interventions. 3. The contract duration spans over two years, indicating a sustained need for this training. 4. The award is a firm-fixed-price purchase order, providing cost certainty. 5. The training is intended for Indian Health Service (IHS) staff, targeting a specific federal healthcare workforce.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.6 million for professional development training appears reasonable given the scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar training contracts for federal agencies requires access to a broader dataset of comparable procurements. However, the firm-fixed-price nature of the award suggests that the contractor is responsible for all costs associated with delivering the specified training curriculum, which can be advantageous for the government in managing expenses. The focus on an off-the-shelf curriculum may also contribute to cost-effectiveness by avoiding custom development expenses.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a competitive process suitable for smaller dollar values. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, SAP generally encourages broad participation. The competitive nature of this procurement suggests that the government sought multiple offers to ensure fair pricing and access to qualified training providers. The use of SAP implies that the acquisition was conducted in a manner that maximized competition within the constraints of the dollar threshold.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process under SAP likely resulted in a fair market price for the training services, benefiting taxpayers by ensuring efficient use of funds.

Public Impact

Indian Health Service (IHS) staff will benefit from enhanced self-care practices and improved capacity for patient-level interventions. The training aims to create a more resilient and effective healthcare workforce within the IHS. Improved staff well-being can indirectly lead to better patient care outcomes within the communities served by IHS. The training supports the development of scalable interventions, potentially impacting a larger number of patients. The contract is geographically focused on Minnesota (ST: MN, SN: MINNESOTA), suggesting a pilot or regional implementation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific metrics to measure the direct impact of the training on staff well-being or patient care outcomes.
The 'off-the-shelf' nature of the curriculum might require adaptation to the specific needs and cultural contexts of IHS staff.
Limited information on the contractor's prior experience specifically with federal healthcare training programs.

Positive Signals

Focus on evidence-based practices suggests a commitment to effective training methodologies.
The firm-fixed-price contract provides budget certainty for the government.
The training addresses a critical need for staff self-care, which can improve retention and reduce burnout.
The goal of building capacity for both scaled and patient-level interventions indicates a strategic approach to workforce development.

Sector Analysis

The professional and management development training sector within the federal government is diverse, encompassing a wide range of services aimed at improving employee skills and organizational effectiveness. This contract falls within the broader category of human capital services. Spending in this area is often driven by the need for continuous professional development, compliance training, and specialized skill acquisition. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found by analyzing other federal training contracts awarded to various agencies and contractors, looking at per-participant costs or total contract values for similar training topics.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. As this was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), it is possible that small businesses were encouraged to participate. However, without specific details on set-aside goals or awarded subcontracting amounts, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem remains unclear. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were prime contractors or significant subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Indian Health Service (IHS) contracting officer and program officials within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As a purchase order, it is a less formal instrument than a contract, but still subject to federal procurement regulations. Accountability measures would be tied to the successful delivery of the training curriculum as specified in the purchase order terms and conditions. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available.

Related Government Programs

HHS Professional Development Programs
Indian Health Service Workforce Training
Federal Employee Wellness Initiatives
Healthcare Staff Training Contracts
Self-Care and Mental Health Support Programs

Risk Flags

Potential lack of curriculum customization for specific IHS needs.
Need for clear metrics to demonstrate training effectiveness and ROI.
Contractor's specific experience with federal healthcare workforce training is not detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $36,000 to THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION. TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO AN EVIDENCE-BASED, OFF-THE-SHELF TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR IHS STAFF THAT TEACHES SELF-CARE PRACTICES AND CREATES CAPACITY AND FOR BOTH SCALED AND PATIENT LEVEL INTERVENTIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Indian Health Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $36,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-07-17. End: 2025-12-31.

What is the track record of The General Hospital Corporation in delivering federal training contracts, particularly for healthcare workforces?

The provided data indicates The General Hospital Corporation as the contractor for this $3.6 million award. To assess their track record, a review of federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) would be necessary to identify previous contracts awarded to this entity. Specifically, one would look for prior awards related to professional development, training services, or healthcare workforce support, especially within agencies like HHS or IHS. Analyzing the past performance, contract values, and duration of these previous awards would provide insight into their experience, reliability, and capacity to fulfill similar government requirements. Without this external data, it is difficult to definitively assess their specific track record for federal training delivery.

How does the per-participant cost of this training compare to similar federal programs?

The total award is $3.6 million with a duration of 898 days (approximately 2.5 years). The number of intended participants is not specified in the provided data, making a direct per-participant cost calculation impossible. To benchmark this, we would need to know the estimated number of IHS staff to be trained. If, for example, 1,000 staff were trained over the contract period, the average cost per participant would be $3,600. This figure would then need to be compared against industry standards and similar federal training initiatives. Factors such as the depth of the curriculum, the delivery method (in-person, online, hybrid), and the qualifications of the trainers would influence the per-participant cost. A higher per-participant cost might be justified for highly specialized or intensive training programs.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this training program?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure the success of this training program. Typically, for training contracts, KPIs might include participant satisfaction surveys, pre- and post-training knowledge assessments, observed changes in behavior or skill application in the workplace, and potentially longer-term metrics related to staff retention or reported well-being. The effectiveness of the 'evidence-based' curriculum and its impact on 'capacity for scaled and patient level interventions' would likely be assessed through such measures. The contracting officer and program officials would work with the contractor to define and monitor these KPIs throughout the contract period to ensure the training meets its objectives.

What is the historical spending pattern for professional development and training within the Indian Health Service?

Historical spending data for professional development and training within the Indian Health Service (IHS) is not provided in the current data extract. To analyze this, one would typically examine historical contract awards and obligations for IHS over several fiscal years, filtering for categories related to training, professional development, and management services. This analysis would reveal trends in spending, identify major training initiatives, and highlight the types of services most frequently procured. Understanding past spending levels can help contextualize the $3.6 million award, indicating whether it represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of investment in staff training. It would also help identify any recurring contractors or dominant training areas.

Are there any specific risks associated with using an 'off-the-shelf' training curriculum for federal employees?

Using an 'off-the-shelf' training curriculum can present several risks. Firstly, the curriculum may not be perfectly tailored to the specific needs, roles, or cultural context of the target audience, in this case, IHS staff. This could lead to reduced relevance and engagement, potentially diminishing the training's effectiveness. Secondly, while intended to be cost-effective, the generic nature might necessitate additional customization or supplementary materials, potentially increasing overall costs or requiring more effort from the government's program managers. Thirdly, the 'evidence-based' claims of an off-the-shelf product need rigorous vetting to ensure the evidence is robust and applicable to the federal environment. Finally, there's a risk that the curriculum might not align with specific federal regulations, policies, or performance standards without modification.

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

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mass General Brigham Incorporated

Address: 55 FRUIT ST, BOSTON, MA, 02114

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Hospital, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $36,000

Exercised Options: $36,000

Current Obligation: $36,000

Actual Outlays: $36,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline