HHS awards $13.6M for Educational Support Services to Westat, Inc. under full and open competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,623,781 ($13.6M)
Contractor: Westat, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2005-02-15
End Date: 2008-08-31
Contract Duration: 1,293 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: HEAD START NATIONAL REPORTING SYSTEM
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 $13.6 million to WESTAT, INC. for work described as: HEAD START NATIONAL REPORTING SYSTEM Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Westat, Inc. for $13.6M. 2. Service category is Educational Support Services. 3. Procurement method was full and open competition. 4. Contract duration was 1293 days. 5. Contract type was Cost Plus Fixed Fee.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar educational support service contracts is difficult without more detailed scope information.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a robust price discovery process. However, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure may limit the incentive for the contractor to control costs.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for educational support services. The effectiveness of the spending depends on the quality of services delivered and cost control.
Public Impact
Supports educational programs through specialized services. Contractor selection based on competitive bidding. Potential for cost efficiencies if services are well-defined and managed.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize higher costs.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition ensures a broad range of potential bidders.
- Contract duration provides stability for service delivery.
Sector Analysis
Educational Support Services fall under the broader professional services sector. Benchmarking is challenging without specific service details, but typical contracts in this area range from a few million to tens of millions.
Small Business Impact
No information is available regarding small business participation in this contract. Full and open competition does not guarantee small business involvement.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically be managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration within HHS. Accountability relies on contract performance metrics and reporting.
Related Government Programs
- Educational Support Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
- Lack of detailed service scope.
- Potential for cost overruns.
- Limited insight into performance metrics.
Tags
educational-support-services, department-of-health-and-human-services, md, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $13.6 million to WESTAT, INC.. HEAD START NATIONAL REPORTING SYSTEM
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTAT, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $13.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-02-15. End: 2008-08-31.
What specific educational support services were provided under this contract?
The provided data lacks specifics on the exact nature of the 'Educational Support Services.' Understanding the scope, deliverables, and performance metrics is crucial for assessing the value and effectiveness of the $13.6 million award. Without this detail, it's difficult to determine if the funds were optimally utilized.
How were cost controls managed under the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure?
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type allows the contractor to recover all allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee. Effective cost control under CPFF relies heavily on robust government oversight, clear definition of allowable costs, and rigorous auditing to prevent unnecessary expenditures and ensure the fixed fee remains appropriate for the work performed.
What was the impact of the full and open competition on the final contract price?
Full and open competition generally leads to more competitive pricing by allowing all responsible sources to submit offers. While it increases the likelihood of a fair market price, the CPFF structure means that the final price is also influenced by the contractor's ability to manage costs and the government's oversight effectiveness, rather than solely by the initial bid.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services
Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › NURSING, NURSING HOME, EVAL/SCREEN
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1650 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $25,142,876
Exercised Options: $21,784,820
Current Obligation: $13,623,781
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-02-15
Current End Date: 2008-08-31
Potential End Date: 2008-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-04-18
More Contracts from Westat, Inc.
- THE Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (path) Study Period of Performance: 04/01/2016-11/30/2016 Base Award — $505.3M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- "critical Functions" Igf::ct::igf the Sampling and Data Collection Contractor Designs and Conducts the Sampling and Data Collection Activities and Prepares the Sampling and Variance Estimation Weights for the Operational Assessments, Pilot Tests, and Special Studies Required by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (naep) for the 2013-2017 Assessment Cycles. Additionally, the SDC Contractor Conducts the Naep High School Transcript Study (hsts). the SDC Contractor Shall Pursue Creative and Innovative Lines of Methodological and Operational Inquiry for Improving Sampling, Data Collection and Weighting Methodologies That Will Strategically Position Naep and the Hsts to Meet the Upcoming Challenges in the Next Decade Such AS Technology-Based and Multi-Stage Adaptive Testing; Making Naep More Educationally Relevant by Linking With Other State, National, and International Assessments; and Improving Access to the Broadest Range of Students Including Students With Disabilities and English Language Learners — $344.4M (Department of Education)
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey — $302.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- R&d-Other R & D-B RES — $292.6M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Nhanes Contract — $279.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts
- Contact Center Operations (CCO) — $5.5B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- TAS::75 0849::TAS Oper of Govt R&D Goco Facilities — $4.8B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Provide the Full Complement of Services Necessary to Care for UC in ORR Custody Including Facilities Set-Up, Maintenance, and Support Internal and Perimeter (IF Applicable) Security, Direct Care and Supervision Inc — $3.5B (Rapid Deployment Inc)
- Contact Center Operations — $2.6B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- Federal Contract — $2.4B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →