HHS Spends $32.2M on Medicare Outreach via Porter Novelli Public Services Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $32,253,935 ($32.3M)

Contractor: Porter Novelli Public Services Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2015-09-15

End Date: 2018-09-14

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $29.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20036

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $32.3 million to PORTER NOVELLI PUBLIC SERVICES INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Key points: 1. Significant contract value for advertising services. 2. Porter Novelli Public Services Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. Contract duration spans three years. 4. Focus on Medicare Open Enrollment education and outreach.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract was awarded on a Time and Materials basis, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar advertising contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the award type is a delivery order, which might indicate a specific task order within a larger contract vehicle.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for advertising and outreach, aiming to inform Medicare beneficiaries. The effectiveness of this spending in achieving enrollment goals is a key consideration.

Public Impact

Ensures Medicare beneficiaries are informed about enrollment periods. Supports public health initiatives through targeted communication. Potential for increased program participation and awareness.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing can inflate costs.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown for benchmarking.
Effectiveness of outreach not explicitly detailed.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition utilized.
Clear objective for Medicare outreach.
Experienced contractor in public relations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under advertising and public relations services, a sector that supports government agencies in communicating with the public. Spending benchmarks for similar outreach campaigns can vary widely based on scope and target audience.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses, suggesting this contract was awarded to a large business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was encouraged or subcontracted.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure the contractor meets performance expectations and stays within budget. Regular reporting and performance reviews are crucial.

Related Government Programs

Advertising Agencies
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data.
Limited insight into the specific strategies employed.
No clear indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $32.3 million to PORTER NOVELLI PUBLIC SERVICES INC.. IGF::OT::IGF MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PORTER NOVELLI PUBLIC SERVICES INC..

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 $32.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-09-15. End: 2018-09-14.

What was the specific outcome or ROI of this Medicare outreach campaign?

The provided data does not detail the specific outcomes or return on investment (ROI) of the Medicare Open Enrollment Education and Outreach campaign. To assess this, one would need access to performance reports, enrollment statistics, and beneficiary engagement metrics directly linked to this contract's activities.

How did the 'full and open competition' process ensure the best value for taxpayers?

Full and open competition theoretically ensures the best value by allowing all responsible sources to submit bids, fostering a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation. However, the effectiveness depends on the clarity of the solicitation, the evaluation criteria, and the actual number and quality of bids received.

Are there alternative, more cost-effective methods for Medicare outreach?

Alternative methods could include leveraging existing government communication channels, partnerships with healthcare providers, digital marketing strategies with precise targeting, or social media campaigns. Evaluating the cost-effectiveness would require comparing the reach, engagement, and conversion rates of these alternatives against the current contract's performance.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services › Advertising Agencies

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: RFPCMS20110012

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Omnicom Group Inc. (UEI: 147857429)

Address: 1909 K ST NW STE 400, WASHINGTON, DC, 20006

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $32,253,935

Exercised Options: $32,253,935

Current Obligation: $32,253,935

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSM500201100028I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline