HHS awarded $22.7M for tribal training, with 3 bidders competing for this cost-plus contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,748,783 ($22.7M)

Contractor: Tribal Tech LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2013-09-13

End Date: 2018-09-12

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF TRIBAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22314

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $22.7 million to TRIBAL TECH LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF TRIBAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER Key points: 1. The contract's cost-plus award fee structure allows for flexibility but requires careful monitoring of costs against performance. 2. With three bidders, the competition level suggests a moderately contested market for these specialized services. 3. The contract duration of five years indicates a significant, long-term commitment by the agency. 4. The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code covers a broad range of activities, making direct comparisons challenging. 5. Performance context is crucial for evaluating the value delivered, given the nature of training and technical assistance. 6. The award to Tribal Tech LLC warrants a review of their past performance in similar engagements.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to the broad NAICS code and the specific nature of tribal training and technical assistance. The cost-plus award fee (CPAF) structure means that the final cost is dependent on performance, making direct price comparisons difficult without detailed performance metrics. However, the total award amount of $22.7 million over five years suggests a significant investment. Further analysis would require comparing the per-unit cost of training sessions or technical assistance hours to similar services provided to other tribal organizations or government entities.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, with three distinct bidders vying for the opportunity. This level of competition is generally positive, suggesting that multiple capable vendors were aware of and interested in the requirement. The presence of three bidders indicates a moderately competitive market for these specialized services, which can contribute to price discovery and potentially lead to more favorable terms for the government compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition with multiple bidders is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining competitive pricing and ensures that the government is not overpaying for the services. It also promotes a wider pool of potential contractors, fostering innovation and potentially leading to better service delivery.

Public Impact

Tribal communities across the nation are the primary beneficiaries, receiving essential training and technical assistance. Services delivered include capacity building, program development support, and guidance on navigating federal resources. The geographic impact is national, aiming to support tribal entities throughout the United States. Workforce implications include potential enhancements to tribal governance and service delivery capabilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The broad scope of 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' could lead to scope creep if not managed tightly.
Cost-plus award fee contracts require diligent oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and performance targets are met.
Reliance on a single awardee for critical training and technical assistance could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Awarding under full and open competition suggests a robust vetting process for potential contractors.
The five-year contract duration indicates a stable, long-term partnership, potentially leading to deeper expertise and improved service continuity.
The focus on tribal training and technical assistance addresses a critical need within indigenous communities.

Sector Analysis

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is vast and diverse. This contract falls under NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' which encompasses a wide array of specialized services not classified elsewhere. The market for tribal-specific training and technical assistance is a niche within this broader sector, often involving organizations with deep cultural understanding and specific expertise in federal-tribal relations. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish due to the unique nature of these services, but the overall federal spending in professional services is in the hundreds of billions annually.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned in the provided data. The award went to Tribal Tech LLC, which may or may not be a small business itself. Further investigation into the contractor's size status and any subcontracting plans would be necessary to fully assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services. As a cost-plus award fee contract, rigorous monitoring of expenditures and performance against stated objectives is essential. Transparency would be facilitated through contract reporting mechanisms and potentially through public disclosures of performance reviews, though specific details on IG jurisdiction or detailed oversight mechanisms are not provided in the data.

Related Government Programs

Tribal Self-Governance Programs
Indian Health Service Contracts
Bureau of Indian Affairs Programs
Federal Assistance to Tribal Governments

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns in Cost Plus Award Fee contracts.
Need for robust performance monitoring to justify award fees.
Broad NAICS code may obscure specific service delivery risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $22.7 million to TRIBAL TECH LLC. IGF::OT::IGF TRIBAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TRIBAL TECH LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $22.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-09-13. End: 2018-09-12.

What is the track record of Tribal Tech LLC in delivering similar training and technical assistance services to federal agencies or tribal organizations?

Assessing the track record of Tribal Tech LLC is crucial for understanding their capability to fulfill the requirements of this $22.7 million contract. While the provided data indicates they were awarded this definitive contract, it does not detail their past performance history. A thorough review would involve examining past federal contract awards to Tribal Tech LLC, including their performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), any documented issues or commendations, and the scope and success of previous training and technical assistance projects. Understanding their experience with similar client bases, such as other tribal entities or government programs focused on health and human services, would provide significant insight into their suitability and the potential risks associated with this award.

How does the pricing structure (Cost Plus Award Fee) compare to other contracts for similar tribal training and technical assistance services?

The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure for this contract allows the contractor to recover allowable costs plus a fee that is adjusted based on performance. This structure is often used when performance outcomes are difficult to define precisely upfront or when flexibility is needed. Comparing CPAF to other contract types (e.g., Firm-Fixed-Price) for similar services is complex. While CPAF can incentivize performance, it also carries a risk of cost overruns if not managed diligently. To benchmark value, one would need to compare the final negotiated costs and award fees against the achieved performance metrics for this contract against similar CPAF or other contract types awarded for tribal training and technical assistance. Without access to detailed performance data and final costs, a direct comparison is challenging, but the agency's choice of CPAF suggests a perceived need for performance incentives and cost flexibility in this specific service area.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to determine the award fee for Tribal Tech LLC, and how are they measured?

The key performance indicators (KPIs) used to determine the award fee for Tribal Tech LLC are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. However, for a contract focused on tribal training and technical assistance, typical KPIs would likely revolve around the quality and effectiveness of the training delivered, the responsiveness and expertise of the technical assistance provided, client satisfaction (e.g., feedback from tribal organizations), adherence to project timelines, and the achievement of specific program development or capacity-building goals. The measurement of these KPIs would likely involve a combination of client surveys, direct feedback from SAMHSA program managers, review of training materials and reports, and potentially outcome assessments of the tribal programs that received assistance. The 'award fee' component implies that a portion of the contractor's fee is contingent upon meeting or exceeding these performance standards, necessitating clear, objective, and measurable criteria.

What is the historical spending trend for tribal training and technical assistance services by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)?

The provided data focuses on a single contract awarded in 2013. To understand the historical spending trend for tribal training and technical assistance services by SAMHSA, a broader analysis of SAMHSA's procurement history would be necessary. This would involve examining contract databases to identify all contracts awarded for similar services over multiple fiscal years. Key metrics to track would include the total dollar amount spent annually on such services, the number of contracts awarded, the types of contract vehicles used (e.g., IDIQ, sole-source, competitive), and the primary contractors receiving funding. Analyzing these trends would reveal whether SAMHSA's investment in tribal training and technical assistance has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining relatively stable, and whether the agency relies on a consistent set of vendors or frequently re-competes these services.

How does the $22.7 million contract value compare to the overall budget or spending of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)?

The $22.7 million contract value represents a specific investment within SAMHSA's broader financial landscape. To contextualize this amount, one would need to compare it against SAMHSA's total annual budget or its total contracting expenditures. For instance, if SAMHSA's annual budget is in the billions of dollars, $22.7 million might represent a relatively small portion dedicated to this specific type of service. Conversely, if SAMHSA's budget is more constrained, this contract could represent a more significant allocation. Examining SAMHSA's annual reports or budget justifications would provide the necessary figures for comparison. This comparison helps in understanding the relative priority and scale of this particular contract within the agency's overall mission and resource allocation.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 218 N LEE ST STE 321, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,837,198

Exercised Options: $22,748,783

Current Obligation: $22,748,783

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline