DoD's $24.4M contract for helpline support awarded non-competitively to RAINN

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $24,423,701 ($24.4M)

Contractor: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network Rainn

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2018-05-27

End Date: 2023-05-26

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF SAFE HELPLINE SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20005

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $24.4 million to RAPE, ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK RAINN for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF SAFE HELPLINE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract's value of $24.4 million over five years represents a significant investment in individual and family services. 2. Awarded as a sole-source contract, the lack of competition raises questions about potential overpricing and missed opportunities for cost savings. 3. The contract's duration of 1825 days (5 years) suggests a long-term need for these critical support services. 4. The absence of a competitive bidding process limits the ability to benchmark pricing against market alternatives. 5. The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny regarding the justification for not seeking multiple offers. 6. The contract is categorized under 'Other Individual and Family Services,' indicating a focus on sensitive support needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to its sole-source nature. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to assess if the $24.4 million represents a fair market price for helpline support services. The absence of comparable contracts awarded through full and open competition makes it hard to determine if the pricing is optimal. Further analysis would require access to the contractor's cost structure or a comparison with similar, competitively awarded contracts for specialized support services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded using a sole-source justification, meaning only one vendor, RAINN, was solicited. The 'NOT COMPETED' status indicates that a full and open competition was not conducted. This approach bypasses the standard procurement process designed to foster competition and potentially achieve lower prices. The lack of multiple bidders means there was no direct price discovery through a competitive bidding environment.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the best possible value due to the absence of competition, which typically drives down costs. The government missed an opportunity to explore alternative solutions or pricing structures that might have been available from other qualified organizations.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals and families requiring support through the RAINN helpline, likely including victims of sexual assault, abuse, and incest. The services delivered are critical crisis intervention and support through a national helpline. The geographic impact is national, given RAINN's role as a national network. While not directly creating new jobs, the contract sustains the operational workforce of RAINN, ensuring continued service delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits price discovery and potential cost savings for taxpayers.
Lack of competition raises concerns about whether alternative, potentially more cost-effective, solutions were overlooked.
The significant dollar amount over five years warrants close monitoring of service delivery and outcomes.

Positive Signals

RAINN is a recognized leader in providing services for victims of sexual violence, suggesting specialized expertise.
The contract addresses a critical need for individual and family support services.
The long-term nature of the contract (5 years) provides stability for essential service provision.

Sector Analysis

The 'Other Individual and Family Services' sector encompasses a wide range of support functions, often involving sensitive personal assistance. Federal spending in this area can fluctuate based on societal needs and program priorities. While specific benchmarks for helpline support contracts are not readily available, the $24.4 million over five years for a national organization like RAINN suggests a substantial, albeit specialized, allocation within the broader social services landscape. This contract fits within the government's role of supporting vulnerable populations through established non-profit entities.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded to a small business, nor does it appear to have specific small business set-aside provisions. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. The focus is on a specialized national service provider, RAINN, rather than on fostering small business participation in this particular contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically involve the Department of Defense's contracting officers and potentially the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) to ensure compliance with terms and conditions. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature, as public scrutiny of the justification and pricing is reduced. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Victim Assistance Programs
Social Services Grants
Crisis Intervention Services
National Helplines

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for unbenchmarked pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $24.4 million to RAPE, ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK RAINN. IGF::OT::IGF SAFE HELPLINE SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RAPE, ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK RAINN.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Human Resources Activity).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-05-27. End: 2023-05-26.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis to RAINN?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' and awarded to 'RAPE, ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK RAINN' under a 'SOLE SOURCE' designation. While the specific justification document is not included, sole-source awards are typically made when only one responsible source is available or capable of providing the required services. This could be due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or an urgent need where competition is not feasible. For RAINN, this might stem from their established national infrastructure, specialized expertise in handling sensitive cases, and existing capacity to manage a federal contract of this nature. A formal Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) would detail these reasons.

How does the $24.4 million contract value compare to RAINN's typical annual operating budget or other federal funding?

Without access to RAINN's detailed financial statements or historical funding data, a direct comparison is difficult. However, $24.4 million spread over five years equates to approximately $4.88 million per year. This figure represents a significant portion of funding for a non-profit organization, suggesting this contract is a major source of revenue. It is plausible that RAINN receives funding from various sources, including federal grants, private donations, and potentially other state or local government contracts. This DoD contract likely represents a substantial increase in their overall funding, enabling expanded or sustained operations for their national helpline services.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, for a helpline support service contract, KPIs would likely include metrics such as call/contact volume handled, average response time, caller satisfaction rates, resolution rates for reported issues, and adherence to confidentiality protocols. SLAs would define the expected level of service, such as 24/7 availability, specific staffing requirements, and reporting frequencies. These details would be outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and would be crucial for the Department of Defense to monitor RAINN's performance and ensure the effective delivery of critical support services.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar helpline support services by the Department of Defense?

The provided data focuses on a single contract and does not offer historical spending patterns for similar services within the Department of Defense (DoD). To assess historical spending, one would need to analyze procurement databases for contracts with keywords related to 'helpline,' 'crisis support,' 'victim services,' or similar terms, across various DoD agencies and components over several fiscal years. It is possible that the DoD has previously contracted for such services, potentially through different mechanisms or with different providers. The absence of readily available comparative data for this specific type of service suggests it might be a niche requirement or that previous procurements were structured differently, making direct historical comparisons challenging without deeper research.

What is the risk associated with relying on a single, non-profit organization for critical national support services?

Relying on a single non-profit organization like RAINN for critical national support services carries inherent risks. The primary risk is service disruption if the organization faces financial instability, operational challenges, or leadership changes. Another risk is the potential for vendor lock-in, where the government becomes dependent on the unique capabilities of that specific provider, making it difficult and costly to switch to an alternative if needed. Furthermore, a sole-source arrangement limits the government's ability to leverage competition to drive innovation and cost efficiencies. While RAINN is a well-established entity, the concentration of such a critical service with one provider necessitates robust oversight and contingency planning by the contracting agency.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Individual and Family Services › Other Individual and Family Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: H9821018R0021

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1220 L ST NW SUITE 505, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $24,500,956

Exercised Options: $24,500,956

Current Obligation: $24,423,701

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline