Hager Sharp Inc. awarded $20.8M for health outreach, with 11,110 days of service delivery

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,775,825 ($20.8M)

Contractor: Hager Sharp, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2012-08-01

End Date: 2017-09-14

Contract Duration: 1,870 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS IN SUPPORT OF BREAST FEEDING, STD AWARENESS, HEALTH WRITING, AND DISEASE OUTREACH TO WOMEN.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20005

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $20.8 million to HAGER SHARP, INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS IN SUPPORT OF BREAST FEEDING, STD AWARENESS, HEALTH WRITING, AND DISEASE OUTREACH TO WOMEN. Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the extensive duration and scope of services. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a robust bidding process, potentially leading to better pricing. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, with a long contract duration potentially increasing execution risks. 4. Performance context is broad, covering multiple health awareness and outreach initiatives. 5. Sector positioning is within public relations and health communication services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's total value of $20.8 million over approximately five years suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar public relations and health communication contracts is challenging without more granular data on specific deliverables. However, the duration and breadth of services indicate a significant investment. The pricing structure, based on time and materials, can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly, but it also offers flexibility for evolving project needs.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, with four bids received. The presence of multiple bidders suggests a healthy competitive environment, which typically benefits the government by driving down prices and encouraging innovation. The selection process likely involved evaluating technical capabilities, past performance, and price. The level of competition indicates that the government had a reasonable range of options to choose from.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of securing services at a competitive market rate, preventing potential overpayment.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries include women and the general public through improved health awareness and disease outreach. Services delivered encompass breast feeding support, STD awareness campaigns, health writing, and disease outreach. Geographic impact is national, given the nature of public health campaigns. Workforce implications include potential employment for public relations specialists, health communicators, and support staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration (over 5 years) increases the risk of scope creep and potential cost escalation.
Time and materials pricing model requires diligent oversight to prevent inefficient resource utilization.
Broad scope of services may lead to challenges in measuring specific campaign effectiveness and ROI.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive pricing environment.
Multiple bidders participated, suggesting a robust market for these services.
Contract addresses critical public health issues, aligning with government mission objectives.

Sector Analysis

The public relations and advertising industry is a significant sector, with government contracts forming a notable portion of the market. This contract falls within the professional services category, specifically focusing on health communication and public awareness campaigns. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within agencies like HHS for similar outreach and information dissemination efforts. The market size for such specialized health communication services is substantial, driven by ongoing public health needs and government initiatives.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a specific small business set-aside. However, the prime contractor, Hager Sharp, Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill specific aspects of the contract. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on the extent of subcontracting opportunities offered and the ability of small businesses to compete for those subcontracts.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside within the Department of Health and Human Services, likely managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration. Accountability measures would be tied to performance metrics outlined in the contract's statement of work. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific project details might be proprietary. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Public Health Campaigns
Health Communication Services
Disease Awareness Programs
Women's Health Initiatives
Public Relations Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Risk of scope creep over the long contract duration.
Difficulty in directly measuring the ROI of broad public health campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $20.8 million to HAGER SHARP, INC.. IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS IN SUPPORT OF BREAST FEEDING, STD AWARENESS, HEALTH WRITING, AND DISEASE OUTREACH TO WOMEN.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HAGER SHARP, 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 $20.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-08-01. End: 2017-09-14.

What was Hager Sharp, Inc.'s track record with similar government contracts prior to this award?

Hager Sharp, Inc. has a history of performing work in the public relations and health communication space. While specific details on prior government contracts are not provided in this data snippet, their ability to win a significant contract like this suggests a demonstrated capability. A deeper dive into their contract history with federal agencies, including performance reviews and any past issues, would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment of their track record. This would involve searching databases like SAM.gov or FPDS for previous awards and performance information to understand their experience with similar scopes of work and client agencies.

How does the $20.8 million total contract value compare to similar health outreach contracts awarded by HHS?

The $20.8 million total contract value for Hager Sharp, Inc. represents a substantial investment in health outreach over its five-year duration. To benchmark this effectively, one would need to compare it against other contracts awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for similar public relations, health communication, and awareness campaigns. Factors such as the specific health topics, target audiences, geographic scope, and duration of those comparable contracts are crucial. Without access to a broader dataset of HHS contracts, it's difficult to definitively state if this value is high, low, or average. However, given the breadth of services mentioned (breastfeeding, STD awareness, disease outreach), the value appears commensurate with a large-scale, multi-faceted public health initiative.

What are the primary risks associated with a five-year 'Time and Materials' contract for public health outreach?

A significant risk with a five-year 'Time and Materials' (T&M) contract for public health outreach is the potential for cost overruns. T&M contracts pay contractors for the actual labor hours and materials used, which can lead to escalating costs if projects are not managed efficiently or if the scope expands unexpectedly. For public health outreach, this could manifest as extended campaign durations, increased staff time allocated to tasks, or unforeseen material costs. Another risk is the potential for 'scope creep,' where the objectives or deliverables of the contract gradually expand beyond the original agreement without a corresponding adjustment in price or a formal modification. Diligent oversight, clear performance metrics, and robust change control processes are essential to mitigate these risks.

How effective are public relations contracts in achieving measurable public health outcomes?

The effectiveness of public relations contracts in achieving measurable public health outcomes is highly dependent on the contract's design, execution, and the specific metrics used for evaluation. Well-designed campaigns that utilize targeted messaging, appropriate communication channels, and robust data collection can lead to significant improvements in public awareness, behavior change, and ultimately, health outcomes. For instance, campaigns on vaccination or disease prevention have demonstrably increased uptake and reduced incidence. However, attributing direct causality solely to PR efforts can be challenging, as public health is influenced by numerous factors. Success requires clear objectives, continuous monitoring, and adaptation based on campaign performance data. Contracts that include specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals are more likely to demonstrate effectiveness.

What is the historical spending trend for public relations and health communication services within HHS?

Historical spending trends for public relations and health communication services within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) generally show a consistent need for these services to support public health initiatives, disease prevention, and health education campaigns. Agencies within HHS, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, frequently contract for these services. Spending levels can fluctuate based on emerging public health crises, administration priorities, and specific campaign needs. While this specific contract represents a significant award, it should be viewed within the broader context of HHS's overall budget for public outreach and communication, which can amount to hundreds of millions of dollars annually across various programs and agencies.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1090 VERMONT AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,775,825

Exercised Options: $20,775,825

Current Obligation: $20,775,825

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS23F0024M

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline