HHS awards $6.47M contract for health workforce training and technical assistance to ABT Global LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,473,310 ($6.5M)

Contractor: ABT Global LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-09-27

End Date: 2025-09-26

Contract Duration: 730 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: NATIONAL HEALTH WORKFORCE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INSTITUTE (THE WORKFORCE INSTITUTE)

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20857

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $6.5 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC for work described as: NATIONAL HEALTH WORKFORCE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INSTITUTE (THE WORKFORCE INSTITUTE) Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative management and general management consulting services for the health sector. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration is 730 days, indicating a medium-term engagement. 4. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs and provide budget certainty. 5. The award value is relatively modest for federal contracts in this service category.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $6.47 million over two years for administrative management and general management consulting services appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar contracts for workforce development and technical assistance programs within HHS or other agencies would provide a more precise assessment. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which is generally favorable for the government. The specific deliverables and their impact on the national health workforce will be key to fully evaluating the value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific requirement. A higher number of bidders typically leads to more competitive pricing and a wider range of innovative solutions. However, the fact that it was competed openly is a positive sign for price discovery and ensuring the government receives fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The open competition process helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by driving down costs through competitive bidding. It also provides an opportunity for multiple companies to demonstrate their capabilities, fostering a more dynamic market for government services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely healthcare organizations and professionals who will receive training and technical assistance. Services delivered will focus on improving the national health workforce's capacity and effectiveness. The geographic impact is national, aiming to bolster healthcare systems across the United States. Workforce implications include potential improvements in healthcare access, quality, and efficiency due to a better-trained workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the definition of 'technical assistance' is not tightly managed.
Dependence on the contractor's ability to deliver effective and scalable training solutions.
Ensuring the training content remains current with evolving healthcare needs and technologies.

Positive Signals

Clear focus on a critical area: the national health workforce.
Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a fair process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract duration allows for meaningful program development and implementation.

Sector Analysis

The healthcare sector is a significant area of federal spending, with substantial investment in workforce development, training, and technical assistance. This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services, a broad category that supports various government functions. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar workforce initiatives within agencies like HRSA, CDC, or CMS would provide context. The market for health consulting services is competitive, with many firms offering specialized expertise.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, ABT Global LLC, is likely a larger entity. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award notice. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether ABT Global LLC actively seeks small business partners for subcontracting opportunities, which is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) contracting officer's representative (COR). The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by linking payment to performance and deliverables. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases like FPDS. The Inspector General for HHS may conduct audits or investigations if performance issues or potential fraud are identified.

Related Government Programs

National Health Service Corps
Health Workforce Loan Repayment Programs
HRSA Primary Health Care Programs
Public Health Training and Workforce Development

Risk Flags

Contractor performance risk
Scope definition and management risk
Relevance and effectiveness of training content risk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $6.5 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC. NATIONAL HEALTH WORKFORCE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INSTITUTE (THE WORKFORCE INSTITUTE)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ABT GLOBAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Health Resources and Services Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-27. End: 2025-09-26.

What is the specific scope of work for the NATIONAL HEALTH WORKFORCE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INSTITUTE (THE WORKFORCE INSTITUTE)?

The specific scope of work for the NATIONAL HEALTH WORKFORCE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INSTITUTE (THE WORKFORCE INSTITUTE) contract, awarded to ABT Global LLC, involves providing administrative management and general management consulting services. This likely includes developing and delivering training programs, offering technical assistance to stakeholders within the health sector, and potentially managing or supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the national health workforce. The exact deliverables, performance metrics, and target audiences would be detailed in the contract's statement of work (SOW). The objective is to enhance the capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare professionals and organizations across the United States through expert guidance and support.

How does the $6.47 million award compare to historical spending on similar health workforce initiatives by HRSA?

To accurately compare the $6.47 million award to historical HRSA spending on similar initiatives, one would need to analyze past contract data for workforce training, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs managed by HRSA or its sub-agencies. This contract's value appears moderate for a national-level program over two years. For instance, HRSA manages numerous programs that involve significant funding for workforce development, such as the National Health Service Corps or various grant programs supporting primary care training. A detailed analysis of FPDS or agency budget documents would reveal if this award is in line with, higher than, or lower than previous investments in comparable areas, considering factors like program scope, duration, and the number of beneficiaries.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) expected from ABT Global LLC under this contract?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract would be defined in the Statement of Work (SOW) and are crucial for measuring the success of the health workforce training and technical assistance. While not explicitly provided in the summary data, typical KPIs for such a contract might include: the number of individuals or organizations trained, participant satisfaction rates with training and technical assistance, demonstrated improvements in workforce skills or knowledge post-training (measured through assessments), the successful implementation of technical assistance recommendations by recipient organizations, and the overall impact on healthcare delivery metrics in targeted areas. The government's COR would monitor these KPIs to ensure ABT Global LLC meets its contractual obligations and delivers value.

What is ABT Global LLC's track record with federal health contracts, particularly those involving training and technical assistance?

ABT Global LLC's track record with federal health contracts, especially those focused on training and technical assistance, would need to be assessed through databases like FPDS or SAM.gov. A review would reveal their past performance on similar contracts, including client agencies, award values, contract types, and performance ratings (if available). Understanding their experience in managing complex training programs, delivering technical support to diverse healthcare stakeholders, and meeting federal requirements is essential. Their success in previous, comparable engagements would provide a strong indicator of their capability to successfully execute this $6.47 million award for the Health Resources and Services Administration.

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

Potential risks for this contract include the contractor's ability to deliver high-quality, scalable training and technical assistance to a diverse national audience, ensuring the content remains relevant to evolving healthcare needs, and managing the project effectively within the firm fixed-price budget. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust government oversight by the COR, clearly defined performance standards and deliverables in the SOW, regular progress reviews, and potentially phased payments tied to milestones. ABT Global LLC's own risk management processes, including quality control for training materials and technical support, would also be critical. The fixed-price nature inherently mitigates cost overrun risks for the government.

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

Solicitation ID: 75R60223R00047

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6130 EXECUTIVE BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,346,767

Exercised Options: $6,473,310

Current Obligation: $6,473,310

Actual Outlays: $4,498,419

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $2,846,707

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75R60219D00032

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline