HHS awarded $19.9M for CDC's Community Transformation Grants evaluation, a 7-year effort

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,887,468 ($19.9M)

Contractor: Research Triangle Institute

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2011-09-30

End Date: 2018-09-29

Contract Duration: 2,556 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION GRANTS (CTG): ENHANCED EVALUATION ACTIVITIES

Place of Performance

Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $19.9 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION GRANTS (CTG): ENHANCED EVALUATION ACTIVITIES Key points: 1. The contract aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of public health initiatives. 2. Competition was robust, suggesting fair pricing and value for taxpayer dollars. 3. Performance was tracked over a significant period, allowing for comprehensive assessment. 4. The contract falls within administrative and management consulting services. 5. This spending supports critical public health research and evaluation efforts.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $19.9M over seven years for evaluation services appears reasonable, especially considering the scope of assessing public health grants. Benchmarking against similar large-scale evaluation contracts for federal health programs suggests this falls within expected ranges. The firm-fixed-price structure likely provided cost certainty for the government, although it may have limited flexibility for scope changes.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The presence of three bidders suggests a healthy level of competition for this type of service, which generally leads to better pricing and quality outcomes for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition ensures that the government receives the best value by leveraging market forces, which is beneficial for taxpayers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the public health community, who receive data-driven insights into program effectiveness. Services delivered include comprehensive evaluation of the Community Transformation Grants (CTG) program. The geographic impact is national, as the CTG program aimed to improve health outcomes across various communities. Workforce implications include support for researchers, evaluators, and public health professionals involved in the CTG initiative.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if evaluation metrics were not clearly defined upfront.
Reliance on contractor's expertise for accurate and unbiased evaluation findings.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Long performance period allows for in-depth analysis and trend identification.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. The market for such services supporting federal health initiatives is substantial, with numerous firms capable of providing evaluation and research expertise. This contract represents a significant investment in understanding the efficacy of public health interventions.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of small business subcontracting requirements. This suggests that the primary awardee, Research Triangle Institute, is a large business, and the focus was on securing specialized evaluation expertise rather than promoting small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight was likely managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program officials. The firm-fixed-price contract structure provides a degree of accountability for deliverables. Transparency would be dependent on the public release of evaluation reports and data, which is standard for federally funded research.

Related Government Programs

Community Transformation Grants (CTG)
Public Health Program Evaluation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research

Risk Flags

Contract duration may exceed the immediate needs if program goals shift.
Potential for contractor performance issues impacting evaluation quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $19.9 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION GRANTS (CTG): ENHANCED EVALUATION ACTIVITIES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $19.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-09-30. End: 2018-09-29.

What was the primary objective of the Community Transformation Grants (CTG) program that this contract was designed to evaluate?

The Community Transformation Grants (CTG) program, funded by the CDC, aimed to support communities in implementing evidence-based strategies to prevent chronic diseases and improve overall public health. The grants focused on key areas such as nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, and access to healthcare services. The evaluation activities funded by this contract were intended to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of these community-level interventions in achieving their public health goals and to provide lessons learned for future public health initiatives.

How does the contract's duration of 2556 days (approximately 7 years) impact the evaluation of public health initiatives?

A seven-year duration for evaluating public health initiatives is highly beneficial as it allows for the tracking of long-term outcomes and the assessment of sustainability. Short-term evaluations might only capture immediate effects, which can be misleading. This extended period enables the researchers to observe how interventions evolve, how communities adapt, and whether the intended health improvements are sustained over time. It also provides a more robust dataset for understanding the complex interplay of factors influencing public health outcomes, leading to more reliable and actionable insights for policymakers and public health practitioners.

What does the 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' (NAICS 541611) classification imply about the nature of the work performed?

The NAICS code 541611, 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services,' indicates that the contractor provided expert advice and assistance to federal agencies on a wide range of management and administrative issues. For this specific contract, it means Research Triangle Institute was engaged to offer consulting services related to the planning, execution, and analysis of the evaluation for the Community Transformation Grants. This likely involved developing evaluation methodologies, collecting and analyzing data, reporting findings, and providing strategic recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public health programs.

Given the firm-fixed-price contract type, what are the implications for cost control and potential risks?

A firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is designed to provide cost certainty for the government. The contractor assumes most of the risk for cost overruns. For this $19.9 million contract, the CDC knew the maximum expenditure upfront. This structure incentivizes the contractor to manage costs efficiently. However, it can also introduce risks if the scope of work is not precisely defined, potentially leading to disputes or the contractor cutting corners to maintain profitability. For evaluation services, an FFP contract requires very clear performance work statements and deliverables to mitigate these risks.

What is the significance of the contract being awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?

The award by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signifies that this contract is directly tied to the agency's mission of protecting public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. The CDC is a leading national public health institute, and its involvement in evaluating public health grants underscores the importance of evidence-based decision-making in its programs. This contract supports the CDC's role in understanding the impact of its investments and informing future public health strategies and resource allocation.

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: 2011Q13611

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3040 E CORNWALLIS RD, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 27709

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $57,409,183

Exercised Options: $57,409,183

Current Obligation: $19,887,468

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $3,055,075

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0097L

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline