DoD awards $35.2M contract for TRICARE patient surveys to Ipsos Public Affairs, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $35,195,860 ($35.2M)

Contractor: Ipsos Public Affairs, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-06-01

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 1,278 days

Daily Burn Rate: $27.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: TRICARE PATIENT EXPERIENCE SURVEYS

Place of Performance

Location: FALLS CHURCH, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22042

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $35.2 million to IPSOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC for work described as: TRICARE PATIENT EXPERIENCE SURVEYS Key points: 1. Contract value of $35.2M over 4.5 years suggests a significant investment in understanding patient satisfaction. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 4. The Defense Health Agency is the primary recipient of these survey services. 5. The contract duration of over 4 years allows for consistent data collection and trend analysis. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 points to management consulting services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $35.2 million over approximately 4.5 years averages to about $7.8 million annually. Without specific benchmarks for patient survey contracts within the DoD or healthcare sector, a direct value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests an effort to contain costs. The scale of the contract implies a comprehensive approach to gathering patient feedback across the TRICARE program.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bidders (indicated by 'no': 2) suggests some level of competition, though the exact number of proposals received is not detailed. A competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it encourages multiple companies to bid, potentially driving down costs and leading to better service offerings.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries of this contract are TRICARE beneficiaries, whose feedback will inform improvements to healthcare services. The services delivered include the administration and analysis of patient experience surveys. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, covering all TRICARE beneficiaries. The contract supports the Defense Health Agency's mission to provide healthcare services to military members and their families.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition with only two bidders could potentially lead to higher prices than a more robust bidding environment.
The long contract duration might reduce flexibility to adapt to evolving survey methodologies or emerging technologies without modification.

Positive Signals

The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Awarding through full and open competition ensures a broad range of potential contractors could participate.
The contract's duration allows for consistent tracking of patient satisfaction trends over time.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. The market for healthcare consulting and survey services is substantial, with government contracts forming a significant portion. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large-scale patient satisfaction survey contracts within federal health agencies or large healthcare systems.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses mandated by this award. The primary contractor, Ipsos Public Affairs, LLC, is a large business, and their subcontracting plans, if any, are not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the contracting officer and the Defense Health Agency's program management office. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by fixing the cost. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance metrics and detailed survey results may not always be publicly disclosed.

Related Government Programs

TRICARE Health Benefits
Patient Satisfaction Surveys
Defense Health Agency Programs
Healthcare Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Potential for low survey response rates impacting data reliability.
Risk of survey fatigue among beneficiaries.
Data security and privacy concerns related to health information.
Ensuring the representativeness of the surveyed population.
Potential for contractor performance issues affecting data quality or timeliness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $35.2 million to IPSOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC. TRICARE PATIENT EXPERIENCE SURVEYS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is IPSOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Health Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $35.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-06-01. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for TRICARE patient experience surveys?

Analyzing historical spending on TRICARE patient experience surveys requires access to detailed procurement data over multiple fiscal years. Without specific historical data for this exact service category, it's difficult to provide precise figures. However, the current award of $35.2 million over approximately 4.5 years suggests a significant and ongoing investment in understanding beneficiary satisfaction. Federal agencies often conduct regular surveys to gauge program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. The consistency of such contracts often reflects a sustained commitment to quality assurance and beneficiary feedback mechanisms within large healthcare systems like TRICARE.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar patient survey contracts?

A direct comparison of pricing for this $35.2 million TRICARE patient experience survey contract to similar contracts is challenging without access to a broader dataset of comparable federal healthcare survey procurements. Factors influencing price include the scope of the survey (number of beneficiaries surveyed, depth of questions), the methodology used (online, phone, mail), data analysis complexity, and reporting requirements. The firm-fixed-price nature of this contract aims to provide cost certainty. Benchmarking would ideally involve comparing the per-beneficiary cost or the cost per survey response against other large-scale government healthcare surveys, considering the specific services rendered.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for a contract focused on patient experience surveys typically revolve around the quality and timeliness of data collection and reporting. Specific KPIs might include survey response rates, data accuracy, adherence to survey protocols, on-time delivery of interim and final reports, and the clarity and actionability of the insights provided. The Defense Health Agency would likely establish specific metrics to ensure the contractor effectively captures beneficiary feedback and provides valuable information for improving TRICARE services. These KPIs are crucial for assessing contractor performance and ensuring the government receives the intended value.

What is the track record of Ipsos Public Affairs, LLC in performing similar government contracts?

Ipsos Public Affairs, LLC has a significant track record in conducting research and surveys for government agencies. As a large, established market research firm, they have likely been involved in numerous federal contracts, potentially including healthcare-related surveys and public opinion research. Assessing their specific track record for this type of contract would involve reviewing their past performance evaluations in federal procurement databases, such as the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). This would provide insights into their past performance regarding quality, timeliness, cost control, and overall customer satisfaction on similar projects.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract?

Potential risks associated with this contract include challenges in achieving adequate survey response rates, which could impact the representativeness and reliability of the data. There's also a risk of survey fatigue among beneficiaries if they are frequently asked to participate. Ensuring data security and privacy for sensitive health information is paramount. Furthermore, if the survey design or analysis is flawed, the insights generated may not accurately reflect patient experiences or lead to ineffective service improvements. Contractor performance issues, such as delays or quality deficiencies, also pose a risk.

How does this contract contribute to the overall mission of the Defense Health Agency?

This contract directly supports the Defense Health Agency's (DHA) mission by providing critical data on the experiences of TRICARE beneficiaries. Understanding patient satisfaction is essential for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services delivered through the TRICARE program. The insights gained from these surveys can inform strategic decision-making, identify areas needing improvement in healthcare delivery, patient access, and overall beneficiary support. Ultimately, this contract helps the DHA ensure it is meeting the healthcare needs of the military community and fulfilling its mandate to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Solicitation ID: HT001121R0013

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 501 MERRITT 7 STE 2, NORWALK, CT, 06851

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $67,009,118

Exercised Options: $36,242,280

Current Obligation: $35,195,860

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00F123DA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline