ACF’s $529 Million Sole Source Contract Award for Unaccompanied Alien Children Services Was Based on an Unsolicited Proposal, Double the Cost Estimate, and Noncompliant With Pre-Award Requirements

OBJECTIVE

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a program office of HHS's Administration for Children and Families (ACF), manages the Unaccompanied Children Program. In fiscal year 2021, an influx of unaccompanied children began arriving at the U.S. southern border, coinciding with the Nation's ongoing efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. As a result, ACF identified a need to increase the number of shelter beds in its provider network and entered into contracts for shelter and related services for unaccompanied children. These contracts included services for a new type of provider facility known as an emergency intake site (EIS). ACF awarded a sole source contract to Family Endeavors, Inc., a nonprofit social service agency, to operate as an EIS and provide services for unaccompanied children. Congress has expressed concerns about and the media has reported on ACF's awarding of the sole source contract to Family Endeavors, Inc. We will determine whether ACF awarded this sole source contract in accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, as well as HHS policies and procedures.

TIMELINE

• April 11, 2022
  Announced
• Today
  Office of Audit Services In-Progress
• Est FY2026
  Estimated Fiscal Year for Project Completion

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