HHS awards $5.76M for COVID-19 analytics, with I3 Federal LLC as prime

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,757,276 ($5.8M)

Contractor: I3 Federal LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2021-01-15

End Date: 2021-10-21

Contract Duration: 279 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HHS SCT / PROJECT GREENLIGHT ANALYTICS SOLUTION - COVID-19

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20001

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $5.8 million to I3 FEDERAL LLC for work described as: HHS SCT / PROJECT GREENLIGHT ANALYTICS SOLUTION - COVID-19 Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 279 days indicates a focused, short-term project. 3. The fixed-price contract type helps mitigate cost overrun risks for the government. 4. This award falls under 'Other Computer Related Services,' a broad category. 5. The contract was awarded as a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger contract vehicle. 6. The prime contractor, I3 Federal LLC, is responsible for delivering the analytics solution.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $5.76 million for a 9-month period for COVID-19 analytics services appears within a reasonable range for specialized IT support. Benchmarking against similar, albeit less specific, IT services contracts suggests that the pricing is not excessively high. However, without detailed task breakdowns and performance metrics, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The fixed-price nature provides some cost certainty.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating that the opportunity was publicly advertised, and multiple bids were likely considered. This method generally promotes price discovery and allows the government to select the best value offer. The specific exclusion of sources might relate to pre-existing contract vehicles or specific capabilities required.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down prices and encouraging high-quality service delivery.

Public Impact

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) benefits from enhanced data analytics capabilities. The services delivered are crucial for understanding and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The geographic impact is national, supporting federal-level pandemic response efforts. The contract supports the IT and data analytics workforce, potentially including specialized roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the analytics solution.
The broad NAICS code (541519) offers limited insight into the specific technical services provided.
The contract is a delivery order, so its true scope and value might be part of a larger, less transparent contract vehicle.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
Fixed-price contract type helps control costs and manage financial risk.
The project addresses a critical national need related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on data analytics and related computer services. The market for such services is substantial, driven by increasing government needs for data-driven decision-making, particularly in public health. Comparable spending benchmarks for IT services at HHS are in the billions annually, with analytics solutions representing a growing segment.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless I3 Federal LLC engages small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is likely managed by the contracting officer and the relevant program officials within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration at HHS. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award notice. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

HHS COVID-19 Response
Public Health Data Analytics
Federal IT Services
Contracting Vehicles

Risk Flags

Limited detail on specific analytics capabilities.
Contract is a delivery order, potentially obscuring total contract value.
Contractor's specific past performance on similar projects not detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $5.8 million to I3 FEDERAL LLC. HHS SCT / PROJECT GREENLIGHT ANALYTICS SOLUTION - COVID-19

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is I3 FEDERAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-01-15. End: 2021-10-21.

What specific analytics capabilities does Project Greenlight provide for HHS's COVID-19 response?

Project Greenlight, awarded to I3 Federal LLC, is intended to provide analytics solutions for HHS's COVID-19 response. While the specific technical capabilities are not detailed in the award notice, such solutions typically involve data collection, processing, analysis, and visualization. This could include tracking disease spread, monitoring vaccine distribution, analyzing healthcare resource utilization, and identifying trends in public health data. The goal is to equip HHS with actionable insights to inform policy decisions, resource allocation, and public health interventions during the pandemic. The exact nature of the analytics would depend on the detailed statement of work within the contract.

How does the $5.76 million contract value compare to similar COVID-19 analytics projects at other federal agencies?

Comparing the $5.76 million contract value for Project Greenlight requires context regarding the scope, duration, and specific services. Federal agencies have awarded numerous contracts for COVID-19 related data analytics, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars. Contracts for broad data infrastructure or large-scale epidemiological modeling might exceed this amount significantly. However, for a focused 9-month analytics solution, $5.76 million appears to be within a reasonable range, especially considering the specialized nature of public health data and the urgency of the pandemic response. Without direct comparisons of identical service scopes and durations, precise benchmarking is difficult, but the value does not immediately suggest overpricing.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential underperformance by the contractor (I3 Federal LLC), scope creep, and the risk that the analytics solution may not yield the desired insights. Mitigation strategies are primarily embedded in the contract structure and oversight. The fixed-price nature helps mitigate financial risks for the government. The award under full and open competition suggests a selection process that favored a capable vendor. Ongoing oversight by HHS contracting officers and program managers is crucial for monitoring performance and ensuring deliverables meet requirements. Clear performance metrics and regular progress reviews would further mitigate performance risks.

What is the track record of I3 Federal LLC in delivering similar analytics solutions for government agencies?

Information regarding I3 Federal LLC's specific track record in delivering COVID-19 analytics solutions or similar large-scale data analytics projects for government agencies is not detailed in the provided award notice. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations, contract history, and client feedback. Federal procurement databases and past performance questionnaires are typically used to evaluate contractor capabilities. Without this additional data, it is difficult to definitively assess their experience and past success in this specific domain.

How has HHS's spending on IT services, particularly for data analytics, evolved over the past five years?

HHS's spending on IT services, including data analytics, has likely seen a significant increase over the past five years, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, there was a general trend across federal agencies towards greater investment in data analytics for improved decision-making, operational efficiency, and program effectiveness. The pandemic intensified this need, particularly in areas like disease surveillance, vaccine tracking, and public health response coordination. This specific $5.76 million award for COVID-19 analytics is a component of this broader trend. A detailed analysis would involve examining HHS's historical IT budget allocations and specific contract awards for analytics capabilities.

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 › IT AND TELECOM - PLATFORM

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 12030 HENDERSON RD, CLIFTON, VA, 20124

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,757,276

Exercised Options: $5,757,276

Current Obligation: $5,757,276

Actual Outlays: $5,757,276

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: NNG15SD31B

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline