Accenture files new protest over Healthcare.gov contract loss
By
Nick Wakeman
Accenture is arguing that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services didn't conduct a proper evaluation when it picked Deloitte to run the Healthcare.gov portal.
Accenture has again lost its bid to retain the high-profile Healthcare.gov portal work it won in 2014.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has again picked Deloitte for the $397.6 million contract. Deloitte first one the contract in November and Accenture filed in a protest in December.
CMS took a corrective action in February to take a second look at the solicitation and evaluation. After that review, CMS again awarded Deloitte the contract, a task order under the Strategic Partner Acquisition Readiness contract vehicle.
Like its first protest, Accenture is challenging the evaluation and CMS’ conclusion the Deloitte presented the best value for the government. Accenture filed its protest June 22 and a decision from the Government Accountability Office is expected by Sept. 30.
The Healthcare.gov was an important win for Accenture as CMS pulled them in to rescue the troubled portal, which was the public interface for the federal health insurance exchange at the heart of Obamacare.
Accenture executives often point to Healthcare.gov as an example of the challenging work the company takes on.
When contacted about the new protest, the company declined to comment. But in December, the company said it was proud of the work it had done on Healthcare.gov. Millions of people have used the portal to access health care benefits since 2014.
Work under the new contract includes operations, maintenance and development services.