HHS Awards $14.2M Quality Improvement Contract to Primaris for Public Health Programs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,211,469 ($14.2M)

Contractor: Primaris

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2008-02-08

End Date: 2009-11-09

Contract Duration: 640 days

Daily Burn Rate: $22.2K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION

Place of Performance

Location: COLUMBIA, BOONE County, MISSOURI, 65201

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $14.2 million to PRIMARIS for work described as: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Primaris for $14.2M. 2. Primaris is the sole contractor for this specific service. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee. 4. This falls under Administration of Public Health Programs.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $14.2M for a 640-day duration appears reasonable for specialized quality improvement services. However, without specific deliverables or performance metrics, a precise value assessment is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not available for competition, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially reduces competitive pressure to achieve the lowest possible cost.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully competitive procurement.

Public Impact

Ensures continued quality improvement services for public health programs. Supports the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' mission. Potential for cost overruns due to Cost Plus Award Fee structure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Cost Plus Award Fee structure can incentivize higher costs.
Contract duration is relatively short (640 days).

Positive Signals

Addresses a specific need within public health programs.
Awarded to a single, potentially specialized, entity.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the healthcare sector, specifically focusing on quality improvement for public health programs administered by CMS. Spending benchmarks for similar QIO services can vary widely based on scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific contract award, as it was a sole-source procurement. Further analysis would be needed to determine overall small business participation within the broader program.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would be crucial for a Cost Plus Award Fee contract to ensure that award fees are tied to performance and that costs are reasonable and allocable. The specific oversight mechanisms employed by CMS are not detailed here.

Related Government Programs

Administration of Public Health Programs
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to higher costs.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in the data.
Potential for insufficient oversight on cost and performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $14.2 million to PRIMARIS. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PRIMARIS.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-02-08. End: 2009-11-09.

What specific quality improvement metrics were established to justify the award fee?

The provided data does not specify the quality improvement metrics used to determine the award fee. A Cost Plus Award Fee contract typically links a portion of the payment to contractor performance against pre-defined objectives. Without these metrics, it's impossible to assess if the award fee was justified or if it incentivized the most impactful improvements for the taxpayer.

What is the risk of cost overruns given the Cost Plus Award Fee structure?

The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure inherently carries a risk of cost overruns. While it aims to incentivize performance, the 'cost-plus' component means the government pays the contractor's allowable costs, plus a fee that can be adjusted based on performance. If costs are not tightly controlled or if performance targets are not stringent, the total cost to the government can exceed initial estimates.

How effective was Primaris in achieving the contract's objectives?

The effectiveness of Primaris in achieving the contract's objectives cannot be determined from the provided data alone. Effectiveness would be measured against the specific performance standards and deliverables outlined in the contract, which are not detailed here. A review of performance reports and outcomes would be necessary for a complete assessment.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Public Administration › Administration of Human Resource Programs › Administration of Public Health Programs

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › DEPENDENT MEDICARE SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 200 N KEENE ST, COLUMBIA, MO, 65201

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,211,469

Exercised Options: $14,211,469

Current Obligation: $14,211,469

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline