VA's $20.9M patient satisfaction survey contract with Ipsos Public Affairs awarded in 2007, ending 2013

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,945,623 ($20.9M)

Contractor: Ipsos Public Affairs, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2007-05-09

End Date: 2013-12-31

Contract Duration: 2,428 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PATIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $20.9 million to IPSOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC for work described as: PATIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS Key points: 1. Contract awarded for marketing research and public opinion polling services. 2. The contract duration was over 6 years, indicating a long-term need. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 4. The contract was a firm-fixed-price type, providing cost certainty. 5. The agency and the service acquisition office are both the Department of Veterans Affairs. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541910.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $20.9 million over approximately 6.7 years averages to about $3.1 million per year. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale market research contracts for federal agencies is challenging without more specific service details. However, for a contract of this duration and scope, the overall value appears within a reasonable range, assuming the quality and breadth of the patient satisfaction surveys met the VA's needs. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests the government aimed for predictable costs.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bidders indicates a degree of competition, though the exact number of bids received is not specified. Full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government compared to limited or sole-source procurements.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the assurance that the contract was awarded through a process designed to solicit the best value from a wide range of potential providers, promoting efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are veterans, whose feedback on satisfaction surveys directly informs VA service improvements. The services delivered include comprehensive marketing research and public opinion polling focused on healthcare delivery. The geographic impact is nationwide, covering all VA facilities and serving veterans across the United States. Workforce implications are indirect, primarily related to the analysis of survey data to inform VA operational and strategic decisions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or quality assurance details in the provided data.
The long duration of the contract could potentially lead to vendor complacency if not actively managed.
The specific scope of 'patient satisfaction surveys' is broad and could encompass varying levels of complexity and cost.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract served a critical function of gathering feedback to improve veteran healthcare services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically market research and public opinion polling. This sector is vital for government agencies to understand public sentiment, measure program effectiveness, and guide policy decisions. The market size for federal market research is substantial, with numerous firms competing for these contracts. The VA's spending on such services is consistent with its mandate to provide healthcare and support to veterans, requiring continuous feedback mechanisms.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any small business set-aside provisions for this contract, nor does it specify subcontracting plans. As it was awarded under full and open competition, it is possible that small businesses could have participated as prime contractors or subcontractors, but there is no explicit information to confirm this. The absence of set-aside information suggests it was not specifically targeted for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs' contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be tied to the contract's performance work statement and deliverables, ensuring the quality and timeliness of the survey data. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases like FPDS, though detailed performance reports are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Services
Federal Market Research Contracts
Public Opinion Polling Services
Veteran Satisfaction Measurement

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Scope Definition
Performance Metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $20.9 million to IPSOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC. PATIENT SATISFACTION 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 Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-05-09. End: 2013-12-31.

What was the specific methodology used for the patient satisfaction surveys, and how did it ensure data reliability?

The provided data does not detail the specific methodologies employed for the patient satisfaction surveys conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. Typically, such methodologies would involve survey design, sampling strategies (e.g., random sampling, stratified sampling), data collection modes (e.g., mail, phone, online), and statistical analysis techniques. Data reliability would be ensured through rigorous quality control measures, including pilot testing of survey instruments, interviewer training, validation of responses, and adherence to established polling standards. Without access to the contract's statement of work or performance reports, a precise assessment of the methodology and its reliability is not possible.

How does the $20.9 million contract value compare to similar large-scale federal market research contracts?

Comparing the $20.9 million contract value requires context regarding the scope, duration, and specific services rendered. For a contract spanning over six years (2007-2013) for nationwide patient satisfaction surveys, this value appears reasonable. Large federal market research contracts can range from a few million to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the agency, the complexity of the research, and the population being surveyed. For instance, contracts for broad public opinion polling or detailed program evaluations for agencies like HHS or DoD could reach similar or higher figures. The VA's consistent need for veteran feedback likely justified this investment over the contract's lifespan.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and did Ipsos Public Affairs meet them?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established for this contract. Typically, KPIs for market research contracts would include metrics related to survey response rates, data accuracy, timeliness of report delivery, and the quality of insights provided. Assessing whether Ipsos Public Affairs met these KPIs would require access to performance evaluations, contract close-out reports, or any formal feedback documented by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the contract period. Without this information, it's impossible to determine performance against specific objectives.

What is the track record of Ipsos Public Affairs with federal government contracts, particularly with the Department of Veterans Affairs?

Ipsos Public Affairs has a significant track record of performing market research and public opinion polling for various U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs. This specific contract, valued at $20.9 million and spanning over six years, indicates a substantial and long-term engagement with the VA. Their extensive experience in social science research, survey design, and data analysis positions them as a capable contractor for such requirements. A review of federal procurement data would likely reveal numerous other contracts awarded to Ipsos across different agencies, demonstrating their established presence in the federal contracting space.

Were there any identified risks or challenges during the performance of this contract, and how were they mitigated?

The provided data does not explicitly list any risks or challenges encountered during the performance of this contract. However, potential risks inherent in large, long-term survey contracts include difficulties in achieving adequate response rates, ensuring sample representativeness across diverse veteran populations, managing data security and privacy, and adapting to evolving research methodologies or VA needs. Mitigation strategies would typically involve proactive communication between the contractor and the VA, flexible contract management, rigorous quality assurance protocols, and potentially contract modifications if significant unforeseen issues arose.

How has spending on patient satisfaction surveys by the VA evolved since the completion of this contract in 2013?

The provided data focuses solely on this specific contract ending in 2013 and does not offer insights into subsequent VA spending on patient satisfaction surveys. However, it is highly probable that the VA has continued to invest significantly in gathering veteran feedback, given the critical importance of satisfaction metrics for healthcare quality assessment and improvement. Post-2013 spending patterns would likely reflect evolving technological capabilities in survey administration (e.g., increased use of online surveys), potentially different contracting vehicles, and shifts in VA priorities or budget allocations. A comprehensive analysis would require examining VA's budget and contract awards from 2014 onwards.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1650 TYSONS BLVD STE 110, MC LEAN, VA, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,945,623

Exercised Options: $20,945,623

Current Obligation: $20,945,623

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline