Consumer Research and Communications III
Ended Master IDIQ Awarded
- Federal agency
-
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Awardees
- 7
- Task orders
- 22
- Obligated
- $50,290,767
Vehicle facts
- Opportunity
-
- HHSM500201700068I, HHSM500201700072I, HHSM500201700073I, HHSM500201700069I, HHSM500201700071I and 2 more Solicitation numbers
- Agency
-
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services
- Combined task order value
-
- $50,290,767 Current, with exercised options
- $50,789,349 Potential, with all options
- Last date to order 100% complete
- Shared ceiling 84% used
- $60,000,000.00
- Predecessor
- Consumer Research and Communications II
IDV award and task order details come from SAM.gov/FPDS.
About this vehicle
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services established a Master IDIQ for qualitative and quantitative social marketing research and consumer testing to support CMS outreach, education, and communication efforts on September 15, 2017, with a shared ceiling of $60 million. Ordering closed on September 14, 2022, and this vehicle is no longer active; it has been succeeded by Consumer Research and Communication IV, awarded September 15, 2022.
The vehicle awarded 22 task orders over five years, with ordering momentum tapering in the final two years (two orders in 2022, four in 2021, two in 2020). Combined potential value across all task orders totals $51.3 million, with $50.8 million obligated—99 percent of the combined ceiling—indicating near-complete utilization of the vehicle before closure.
Task orders focused on Medicare consumer research, beneficiary tracking surveys, marketplace tools and education, provider communications, and digital experience improvement. Work involved both quantitative research (tracking surveys, beneficiary studies) and qualitative consumer testing. Pricing was mixed: most orders were cost-plus-fixed-fee, with a smaller number at firm-fixed-price. Task-order ceilings ranged from roughly $1.1 million to $9.4 million, with typical durations of two to four years.
Competition was moderately concentrated among a small pool of research firms. L&M Policy Research, LLC led by potential value at $21.5 million across five orders, followed closely by Alan S. Newman Associates, Inc. at $17.8 million across eight orders. Communicatehealth Inc., Marketing For Change CO., and Insight Policy Research, Inc. together held approximately $11 million across six orders. Seven distinct primes shared the work; the top five accounted for 98 percent of combined potential value. All orders placed by CMS; no interagency customer base existed.
Set-aside distribution skewed heavily toward unrestricted: 19 of 22 orders (86 percent) carried no set-aside, with only three small-business designations. Cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing dominated, reflecting the research and advisory nature of work and the need for flexible scope execution.
Description
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.
IDV awards
Latest task orders
Show all 22
Top awardees by obligations
| Rank | Awardee | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L&M Policy Research, LLC | $20,988,975 | 42% |
| 2 | Alan S. Newman Associates, Inc. | $17,297,903 | 34% |
| 3 | Communicatehealth Inc. | $4,916,306 | 10% |
| 4 | Marketing For Change CO. | $4,691,472 | 9% |
| 5 | Insight Policy Research, Inc. | $1,254,046 | 2% |
| 6 | Aeffect Inc. | $1,139,192 | 2% |
| 7 | QNA Chicago, Inc. | $2,874 | <1% |
Top funding agencies by obligations
| Rank | Funding agency | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Health and Human Services | $50,290,767 | 100% |
Obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$478,787 |
| FY2025 | -$39,626 |
| FY2024 | $4,080,480 |
| FY2023 | $7,295,749 |
| FY2022 | $8,356,153 |
| FY2021 | $9,868,053 |
| FY2020 | $7,523,671 |
| FY2019 | $6,454,494 |
| FY2018 | $5,752,108 |
| FY2017 | $1,478,472 |
Quick answers
What is the Consumer Research and Communications III contract vehicle?
Consumer Research and Communications III is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle run by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Department of Health and Human Services), awarded on September 15, 2017.
Which companies hold Consumer Research and Communications III?
7 companies hold Consumer Research and Communications III's IDV awards, one each. The latest went to QNA Chicago, Inc. on September 29, 2017. The awardees whose task orders obligated the most are L&M Policy Research, LLC, Alan S. Newman Associates, Inc. and Communicatehealth Inc.
How much has been spent through Consumer Research and Communications III?
22 task orders have been placed under Consumer Research and Communications III, obligating $50,290,767.
What is the shared ceiling of Consumer Research and Communications III?
Consumer Research and Communications III's shared ceiling is $60,000,000; its task orders have used 84% of it.
Which agencies use Consumer Research and Communications III the most?
The departments whose task orders under Consumer Research and Communications III obligated the most are Department of Health and Human Services ($50,290,767).
How much was obligated through Consumer Research and Communications III in fiscal year 2025?
Task orders under Consumer Research and Communications III obligated -$39,626 in fiscal year 2025.
What came before and after Consumer Research and Communications III?
Consumer Research and Communications III succeeded Consumer Research and Communications II. It was followed by Consumer Research and Communication IV (CRC IV).
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