HHS Awards $23.6M for Army Analytics Group Data Frameworks to Buchanan & Edwards, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,562,959 ($23.6M)

Contractor: Buchanan & Edwards, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2016-09-01

End Date: 2019-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF ARMY ANALYTICS GROUP (AAG) DATA FRAMEWORKS INITIATIVES

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22310

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $23.6 million to BUCHANAN & EDWARDS, INC. for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF ARMY ANALYTICS GROUP (AAG) DATA FRAMEWORKS INITIATIVES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is for Computer Systems Design Services, a common IT requirement. 3. The award value of $23.6M over approximately three years indicates a significant investment. 4. The contractor, Buchanan & Edwards, Inc., has experience in government IT services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's Time and Materials pricing structure can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. Benchmarking against similar IT services contracts is difficult without more detailed scope information.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing model used here can make price discovery challenging and may not always yield the most cost-effective outcome compared to fixed-price contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for IT services. The T&M pricing model necessitates robust oversight to ensure value for money and prevent potential cost escalations.

Public Impact

Enhances data capabilities for the Army Analytics Group, potentially improving decision-making. Supports the Department of Health and Human Services' broader IT infrastructure. Provides critical computer systems design services to a federal agency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing model
Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data

Positive Signals

Full and open competition
Experienced contractor

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design. Spending in this area is substantial across government, with significant variation based on project complexity and duration. Benchmarks for similar contracts are highly dependent on the specific services rendered.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any subcontracting to small businesses for this award. Further investigation would be needed to determine if small business participation was a requirement or occurred.

Oversight & Accountability

The use of a Time and Materials contract requires diligent oversight from the contracting officer and relevant program managers to ensure that costs remain reasonable and that the contractor is delivering effectively against the defined scope.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost overruns.
Lack of detailed performance metrics.
Potential for scope creep without strict management.
Limited insight into specific deliverables and their impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $23.6 million to BUCHANAN & EDWARDS, INC.. IGF::CT::IGF ARMY ANALYTICS GROUP (AAG) DATA FRAMEWORKS INITIATIVES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BUCHANAN & EDWARDS, 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 $23.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-09-01. End: 2019-08-31.

What specific data frameworks and analytics capabilities are being developed or enhanced under this contract, and how do they align with AAG's strategic objectives?

The provided data lacks specifics on the exact data frameworks and analytics capabilities. To assess value, one would need to understand if these enhancements directly support critical Army Analytics Group missions, improve data accessibility, or enable advanced analytical insights. Without this context, it's difficult to definitively gauge the strategic alignment and ultimate value delivered beyond the general provision of IT services.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how is performance being measured to mitigate risks associated with the Time and Materials pricing structure?

The data provided does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or details on performance measurement. For a Time and Materials contract, robust KPIs are crucial to manage risk and ensure value. Effective oversight would involve tracking deliverables, milestones, and resource utilization against established benchmarks to prevent cost overruns and ensure the contractor meets performance expectations.

How does the implemented solution compare to commercially available or other government-provided data framework solutions in terms of cost-effectiveness and functionality?

A direct comparison is challenging without detailed technical specifications of the developed data frameworks. However, the full and open competition suggests an attempt to solicit competitive proposals. Evaluating cost-effectiveness would require analyzing the total contract cost against the achieved capabilities and comparing these to similar solutions in the market or within other federal agencies, considering factors like scalability, security, and maintainability.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services

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

Solicitation ID: NIHJT2010001

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1700 N MOORE ST STE 2110, ARLINGTON, VA, 22209

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $35,184,364

Exercised Options: $23,562,959

Current Obligation: $23,562,959

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 6

Total Subaward Amount: $2,979,343

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSN316201200055W

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline