HHS awards $17.3M for IT support, with 7 bidders vying for this contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,329,827 ($17.3M)

Contractor: MBL Technologies, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2009-09-28

End Date: 2013-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,462 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: AHRQ PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT (GENERAL IT SUPPORT SERVICES)

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $17.3 million to MBL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. for work described as: AHRQ PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT (GENERAL IT SUPPORT SERVICES) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to MBL Technologies, Inc. for IT support services. 2. The contract was competed under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources'. 3. A total of 7 bidders participated in the competition. 4. The contract duration is approximately 4 years. 5. The primary place of performance is Maryland. 6. This contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. Comparing it to similar IT support contracts within HHS or other agencies would require more granular data on the scope of services and labor categories.

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, indicating a broad solicitation. The participation of 7 bidders suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for these IT support services. This level of competition generally allows for better price discovery and potentially more competitive pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition indicates that taxpayer dollars were likely used efficiently, as multiple companies vied to offer their services at a competitive rate.

Public Impact

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) benefits from this contract through enhanced IT support. Services delivered include general IT support, crucial for the agency's operational efficiency. The primary geographic impact is in Maryland, where the place of performance is located. The contract supports the IT workforce within the contractor organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can pose a risk of cost escalation if not managed diligently.
The specific scope of 'general IT support' is broad and may require careful monitoring to ensure alignment with AHRQ's needs.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition with 7 bidders suggests a competitive environment that should drive value.
The contract is awarded to a single entity, allowing for focused service delivery and accountability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on administrative and management consulting related to IT. The federal IT services market is substantial, with agencies like HHS being significant spenders. This contract represents a portion of the government's investment in maintaining and improving its technological infrastructure to support its mission.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary impact on small businesses would be through potential subcontracting opportunities, which are not detailed here. Without specific subcontracting plans, it's difficult to assess the direct impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract would typically fall under the contracting officer and program managers within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available.

Related Government Programs

HHS IT Modernization Initiatives
Federal Civilian IT Services Contracts
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Operations Support

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
Broad scope of 'general IT support' may require diligent oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $17.3 million to MBL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. AHRQ PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT (GENERAL IT SUPPORT SERVICES)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MBL TECHNOLOGIES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-09-28. End: 2013-09-29.

What specific IT support services were included in this contract?

The contract description indicates 'GENERAL IT SUPPORT SERVICES' under the NAICS code 541611 for Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. While the specific tasks are not detailed in the provided data, typical general IT support services can encompass help desk support, network administration, system maintenance, cybersecurity support, IT asset management, and technical consulting. The 'Time and Materials' contract type suggests that the contractor would be reimbursed for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates, plus the actual cost of materials. The exact scope would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW).

How does the $17.3 million award compare to other IT support contracts at HHS?

Comparing this $17.3 million award to other IT support contracts at HHS requires access to a broader dataset of federal procurement. However, for a contract spanning approximately 4 years (1462 days), this represents an average annual value of roughly $4.3 million. This figure is moderate within the context of large federal agency IT spending. HHS, as a major health agency, procures a wide range of IT services, from large-scale system development to specialized support. Without specific benchmarks for similar 'general IT support' contracts at HHS, it's difficult to definitively state if this award is high or low, but it appears to be a significant, multi-year commitment.

What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for IT support?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one awarded here, carry inherent risks, primarily related to cost control. Since the contractor is reimbursed for labor hours and materials, there is less incentive for efficiency compared to fixed-price contracts. If the scope of work is not clearly defined or if project management is weak, costs can escalate beyond initial estimates. For IT support, this could mean longer-than-necessary troubleshooting times or the use of more expensive resources. Effective oversight, detailed tracking of labor hours, and robust change management processes are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure value for taxpayer money.

What does the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' mean for this contract?

The contract type 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' indicates that the solicitation was initially intended for full and open competition, but certain sources were excluded before the final award. This could mean that a previous contract or a specific set of circumstances led to the exclusion of some potential bidders. However, the 'full and open' aspect implies that the remaining competition was broad and not restricted to a small, pre-selected group. The presence of 7 bidders suggests that despite any exclusions, the competition was still robust enough to attract significant interest from the market.

What is the track record of MBL Technologies, Inc. with federal IT contracts?

Based on the provided data, MBL Technologies, Inc. is the awardee of this $17.3 million contract for AHRQ program management support (general IT support services). To assess their track record, one would need to examine their past performance on other federal contracts, including their performance history, any past performance evaluations, and their experience with similar types of IT services. Information from sources like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) would be necessary to provide a comprehensive view of their track record.

How does the number of bidders (7) impact the value for money in this contract?

A competition with 7 bidders is generally considered healthy and suggests a good level of market interest. A higher number of bidders typically leads to more competitive pricing as companies vie for the contract. This increased competition can drive down costs and improve the overall value for money for the government. It also provides the agency with a wider range of technical solutions and approaches to choose from. While 7 bidders is a positive indicator, the ultimate value for money also depends on the quality of the proposals received and the effectiveness of the source selection process.

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) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1 RESEARCH CT STE 450, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,329,827

Exercised Options: $17,329,827

Current Obligation: $17,329,827

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Timeline