Consumer Research and Communications

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a Master IDIQ for consumer research and communications on September 29, 2005, with ordering authority ending September 28, 2010. This vehicle is no longer active; ordering closed over 15 years ago and has been succeeded by Consumer Research and Communications II, awarded September 1, 2010.

The IDIQ supported qualitative and quantitative social marketing research, consumer testing, and assessment of CMS outreach, education, and communication activities, with particular emphasis on Medicare-focused audiences. Task orders funded research on communications materials testing, Medicare handbook development, Medicare Part D consumer research, beneficiary ombudsman assessments, and generational communications strategies. Pricing across delivered work mixed firm fixed price and cost-plus fixed fee structures.

CMS awarded 23 task orders totaling $14.7 million in combined potential value, fully obligating the $32 million shared ceiling through July 7, 2010. Ordering momentum peaked in 2007 with six awards, declining to two awards in both 2006 and 2010. All task orders served CMS exclusively; no other federal agencies placed orders under the vehicle.

Competition concentrated among five prime contractors. Aeffect Inc. captured the largest share with eight orders and $5.9 million combined potential value, closely followed by IPG Dxtra, Inc. with nine orders and $5.3 million. American Institutes For Research In The Behavioral Sciences, ABT Global LLC, and Deloitte Consulting LLP held three, two, and one orders respectively. Task-order values ranged from approximately $310 thousand to $1.7 million, with most deliverables completing within 12 months. All 23 awards were unrestricted and competed.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded a Master IDIQ to provide CMS a mechanism to assist in a full range of activities associated with qualitative and quantitative social marketing research and consumer testing. The research under this contract will primarily be focused on conducting appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative research to support the implementation of CMS outreach, education and communication efforts, as well as assessing consumer communication activities.