Agency Human Services Dept

Contractor ICF Incorporated, LLC

SWIFT Contract Number 115980

Project Name Conduct Analysis of Child Care Market Price Data

Project Number (if applicable) N/A

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: The Minnesota Department of Human Services required a vendor to conduct analyses of child care market price data and report on results in a variety of formats. The contractor analyzed and reported on child care market rate survey data generated by all data collection methods (paper, phone, and online). The survey data is used to help determine Child Care Assistance Program maximum reimbursement rates. CCAP maximum rates and the access they provide families to the child care market receive annual legislative and public attention. It is important that the State utilize an equitable and statistically sound methodology that is accurately applied when assigning maximum rates and/or evaluating the impact of maximum rates on family access. The vendor also conducted a narrow cost analysis and formal report, which estimated the expenses and revenues of child care providers in Minnesota as they vary by provider type, ages served, geographic location, and quality of care. The market price analysis and narrow cost analysis are necessary to meet federal requirements.

Project Duration

Start Date Mon, 02/27/2017 - 00:00

Original end date Fri, 08/31/2018 - 00:00

Actual end date Tue, 08/31/2021 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $36884

Amendments $225383

Contract total $262267

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? Federal Child Care Development Funds

Is this a sole source contract? No

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) {Empty}

Evaluator Name Sheila Garceau

Evaluator Email Address sheila.garceau@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness The timeliness of the completed tasks was average. On occasion, timely communications could be improved. At times, it seems as if the vendor is managing multiple requests from multiple contracts. Clear communication describing requests and timelines helps manage this.

Evaluate the contractor's quality The vendor produced project management plans and data analysis documentation in plain language, which are considered living documents and subject to edits over time. The vendor produced many analytical reports using market price survey data, and also produced final reports on the market price data and narrow cost analysis. The quality of this work was high.

Evaluate the contractor's cost Contractor’s cost was reasonable for the scope of this project.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance We were very happy with this vendor's service. Staff brought an excellent level of organization and project management to our work together. Staff performed very well when managing the project, scheduling regular touch-base conference calls during time periods of significant work. Staff brought a high level of technical skill to the analysis work portion of our contract and did a good job identifying clarifications to our data analysis requests.
The vendor was good to work with when needing to adjust funding between certain tasks or when amending the contract to add funds.
We were very satisfied with their project management and technical skills as well as an overall positive relationship with the vendor.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): No formal negative action was taken during the duration of this contract. Child Care Services management did meet with the vendor on one occasion to discuss a lapse in timeliness. The vendor did improve significantly and has since met deadlines in a timely manner.

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 4 - satisfied