HHS Awards $14.45M for Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiative Support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,449,788 ($14.4M)

Contractor: National Opinion Research Center

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2017-05-29

End Date: 2022-11-28

Contract Duration: 2,009 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF FOR CRITICAL FUNCTIONS MEDICARE-MEDICAID FINANCIAL ALIGNMENT INITIATIVE OPERATION SUPPORT CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60603

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $14.4 million to NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF FOR CRITICAL FUNCTIONS MEDICARE-MEDICAID FINANCIAL ALIGNMENT INITIATIVE OPERATION SUPPORT CONTRACT Key points: 1. Contract supports critical financial alignment operations for Medicare and Medicaid. 2. Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities sector. 3. Risk is moderate, tied to program complexity and long-term effectiveness. 4. Spending is within typical ranges for large-scale federal IT and research support contracts.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure allows for flexibility but requires careful monitoring of costs to ensure value. Benchmarking against similar large-scale research and program support contracts suggests the pricing is competitive for the scope of work.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

Full and open competition was utilized, which typically leads to better price discovery and value for the government. The use of a delivery order under a larger contract framework suggests a streamlined procurement process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to support essential government functions related to healthcare program alignment and financial operations.

Public Impact

Enhances operational efficiency for Medicare and Medicaid programs. Supports financial alignment initiatives, potentially leading to cost savings and improved patient care. Provides critical research and development for social science aspects of healthcare policy. Ensures continuity of essential government services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns with Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts.
Long-term effectiveness dependent on successful program implementation.
Reliance on contractor expertise for critical functions.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition promotes value.
Supports vital healthcare initiatives.
Contract duration aligns with program needs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities sector, often involving complex analysis and program support. Spending benchmarks for similar large-scale federal research and operational support contracts vary widely but this award appears reasonable for its scope.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate specific participation or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The contract type and duration necessitate ongoing monitoring to ensure performance and cost control.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Programs

Risk Flags

Contract duration is substantial.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure requires diligent oversight.
Dependence on contractor for critical operational support.
Complexity of aligning Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $14.4 million to NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER. IGF::CT::IGF FOR CRITICAL FUNCTIONS MEDICARE-MEDICAID FINANCIAL ALIGNMENT INITIATIVE OPERATION SUPPORT CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER.

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 $14.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-05-29. End: 2022-11-28.

What is the primary objective of the Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiative Operation Support Contract?

The primary objective is to provide essential operational support for the Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiative. This involves research and development in social sciences to facilitate smoother financial operations, improve coordination between the two programs, and ultimately enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery for dual-eligible beneficiaries.

What are the key risks associated with this contract's Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure?

The main risk with a CPFF contract is the potential for the contractor to incur higher costs than anticipated, as the government agrees to cover all allowable costs plus a fixed fee. This necessitates robust oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and necessary, and that the contractor is incentivized to manage expenses effectively to avoid scope creep or inefficiencies.

How does this contract contribute to the overall effectiveness of federal healthcare programs?

This contract contributes to effectiveness by ensuring the smooth operation of critical financial alignment initiatives between Medicare and Medicaid. By supporting research and development in social sciences, it helps address complex policy and operational challenges, leading to better coordination, potentially reduced administrative burden, and improved health outcomes for beneficiaries.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

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

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1155 E 60TH ST, CHICAGO, IL, 60637

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: $14,449,788

Exercised Options: $14,449,788

Current Obligation: $14,449,788

Actual Outlays: $3,475,106

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSM500201400035I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline