CMS pulls back $5B research support contract award

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has backed away from a $5 billion contract it awarded in September to 17 companies after evaluating protests from four disappointed bidders.

CMS' Research Measurement Assessment Design and Analysis 2 contract, known as RMADA 2, supports the agency in developing new models, learning networks, surveys and other data collection projects.

Seventeen companies won spots on the vehicle such as IBM, Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, Abt Associates and General Dynamics IT.

Four companies filed protests in late September, including RMADA 1 incumbent Acumen. Other protestors were Customer Value Partners, Westat and FEI Systems. By late October, GAO had dismissed the protests because CMS recognized problems in the procurement after reviewing the protests.

CMS is reassessing proposals and will make a new award decision. Once CMS made that decision, GAO dismissed the protests.