HHS awarded $90K task order for physician services to Tribal Health, LLC, with a 1-year duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $130,809 ($130.8K)

Contractor: Tribal Health, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2019-11-27

End Date: 2020-11-30

Contract Duration: 369 days

Daily Burn Rate: $354/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: TASK ORDER 75H70920F07003; NCSU PHYSICIANS/MID-LEVEL PROVIDERS; DOS: 12/01/2019-11/30/2020; AMOUNT: $90,000.00

Place of Performance

Location: LAME DEER, ROSEBUD County, MONTANA, 59043

State: Montana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $130,809.44 to TRIBAL HEALTH, LLC for work described as: TASK ORDER 75H70920F07003; NCSU PHYSICIANS/MID-LEVEL PROVIDERS; DOS: 12/01/2019-11/30/2020; AMOUNT: $90,000.00 Key points: 1. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The task order is for temporary physician and mid-level provider services, indicating a need for immediate staffing support. 3. The contract duration is one year, aligning with typical needs for temporary staffing solutions. 4. The award amount is relatively small, suggesting a focused scope of services. 5. The contractor, Tribal Health, LLC, is likely specialized in providing healthcare professionals to federal agencies. 6. The contract falls under the Temporary Help Services NAICS code, categorizing the service accurately.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The awarded amount of $90,000.00 for a one-year period for physician and mid-level provider services appears to be within a reasonable range for temporary staffing needs. Without specific details on the number of providers or hours worked, a direct comparison to similar contracts is difficult. However, the fixed-price nature of the contract provides some cost certainty. Further analysis would require benchmarking against prevailing rates for locum tenens physicians and mid-level providers in the relevant geographic area.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' which indicates that the opportunity was broadly advertised, and multiple sources were allowed to bid. The presence of two bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific task order. While not a large number, it still implies that the agency sought multiple proposals and evaluated them to determine the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition, even with a limited number of bidders, is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages competitive pricing and allows for the selection of the most cost-effective solution.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries include patients served by the Indian Health Service, who will receive medical care from the contracted physicians. Services delivered are temporary physician and mid-level provider staffing to ensure continuity of care. The geographic impact is focused on the area served by the specific Indian Health Service facility in Montana. Workforce implications include supplementing the existing healthcare staff and potentially alleviating workload for permanent employees.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for over-reliance on temporary staff impacting long-term workforce planning.
Ensuring consistent quality of care across different temporary providers.
The limited number of bidders could indicate challenges in attracting sufficient competition for specialized healthcare roles.

Positive Signals

Addresses immediate staffing needs, ensuring patient care is not disrupted.
The use of full and open competition promotes fairness and potentially better pricing.
Contracting with a specialized firm like Tribal Health, LLC, can bring specific expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader healthcare services sector, specifically focusing on the provision of temporary medical personnel. The market for healthcare staffing is substantial, driven by ongoing shortages and the need for flexible workforce solutions. This contract represents a small component of federal spending on healthcare services, which includes a wide range of medical supplies, equipment, and personnel. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing rates for locum tenens physicians and nurse practitioners across various federal agencies and private healthcare systems.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses, nor is there information on subcontracting plans. As the contractor is Tribal Health, LLC, further investigation into its size and ownership structure would be needed to determine its small business status and any potential impact on the broader small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Indian Health Service contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Health and Human Services. Accountability measures are inherent in the contract terms, including performance standards and payment schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Indian Health Service Medical Staffing Contracts
Department of Health and Human Services Temporary Staffing
Federal Physician and Provider Services
Locum Tenens Staffing Contracts

Risk Flags

Limited number of bidders may indicate potential market challenges.
Need for further analysis on contractor's past performance.
Geographic concentration of services could limit broader impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $130,809.44 to TRIBAL HEALTH, LLC. TASK ORDER 75H70920F07003; NCSU PHYSICIANS/MID-LEVEL PROVIDERS; DOS: 12/01/2019-11/30/2020; AMOUNT: $90,000.00

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TRIBAL HEALTH, LLC.

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 $130,809.44.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-11-27. End: 2020-11-30.

What is the track record of Tribal Health, LLC in fulfilling federal contracts, particularly within the Indian Health Service?

A review of federal contract databases would be necessary to fully assess Tribal Health, LLC's track record. This would involve examining past performance evaluations, any history of contract disputes or terminations, and the types and values of previous contracts awarded to the company. For contracts within the Indian Health Service, specific attention should be paid to their experience in providing physicians and mid-level providers to tribal health facilities, as this often involves unique operational and cultural considerations. Understanding their past performance provides insight into their reliability and capability to meet the requirements of this task order.

How does the awarded amount of $90,000.00 for one year of physician services compare to market rates for similar temporary staffing in Montana?

Benchmarking the $90,000.00 award against market rates requires detailed information on the specific physician or mid-level provider specialty, the number of hours or days of service required, and the geographic location within Montana. Generally, physician locum tenens rates can vary significantly, ranging from several hundred to over a thousand dollars per day, depending on specialty and demand. For a full year of service, $90,000 might represent a part-time commitment or a lower-cost specialty. A comprehensive comparison would involve consulting industry rate surveys for locum tenens providers in Montana or analyzing similar federal contracts awarded in the region for comparable services.

What are the specific risks associated with relying on temporary physician staffing for the Indian Health Service?

Relying on temporary physician staffing can introduce several risks. One primary risk is the potential for inconsistent quality of care, as temporary providers may have varying levels of experience and familiarity with the IHS system and patient population. There's also a risk of continuity of care disruption if there are frequent changes in temporary staff. Furthermore, the recruitment and onboarding process for temporary staff can be time-consuming and may not always guarantee the best fit for the facility's specific needs. Finally, depending on the contract structure, there could be risks related to cost overruns if not managed tightly, although this is mitigated by the firm-fixed-price nature of this award.

What is the typical duration and value of task orders for temporary medical staffing issued by the Indian Health Service?

Task orders for temporary medical staffing issued by the Indian Health Service can vary widely in duration and value, depending on the specific needs of the facility, the type of medical professional required, and the urgency of the staffing gap. Durations can range from a few weeks to several months or even a year, as seen in this case. Values are similarly variable, from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. This $90,000 task order for a one-year period appears to be on the lower to mid-range for such services, suggesting it may cover a specific, limited need or a part-time role, rather than a full-time physician replacement.

How does the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' method impact price discovery and taxpayer value for this contract?

The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' method is designed to maximize competition by allowing all responsible sources to submit offers, while also providing a mechanism to exclude specific sources if necessary (though the reason for exclusion is not detailed here). This approach generally enhances price discovery by bringing multiple bidders into the marketplace, forcing them to offer competitive prices to win the contract. For taxpayers, this typically translates to better value, as the agency is more likely to secure services at or near the lowest feasible price. The presence of two bidders, while not extensive, still indicates some level of market engagement and price negotiation.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Employment Services › Temporary Help Services

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND SURGICAL SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: RFQ1018035REL

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7332 E BUTHERUS DR HANGAR 1, SCOTTSDALE, AZ, 85260

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $220,809

Exercised Options: $220,809

Current Obligation: $130,809

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75H70919D00017

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline