CMS Awards $3.5 Billion RMADA 3 BPA to 17 Companies

On July 10, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the award of a five-year $3.5 billion blanket purchase agreement (BPA) named RMADA 3 to 17 companies. This contract, which supports an array of healthcare research, analytical modeling, and evaluation services, is instrumental in the ongoing development and refinement of healthcare delivery models under Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private payer initiatives. The competitive selection process attracted 34 offers and included both incumbent and new awardees, showcasing a robust landscape for companies specializing in healthcare analytics and policy research.

The RMADA series consists of significant contract vehicles tailored to propel CMS’s innovation agenda, a core component of President Biden’s healthcare priorities. Through these initiatives, CMS aims to enhance value-based care models that emphasize the quality and efficiency of healthcare services rather than the volume provided. As the previous RMADA 2 contract is set to expire on July 31, 2026, the transition to RMADA 3 will enable the agency to sustain momentum while exploring new avenues for improving health outcomes and managing associated costs.

The award under RMADA 3 is particularly strategic as it reflects CMS's commitment to leveraging data for better decision-making in health management. The contract encompasses a wide scope, providing analytical support and technical assistance for the design, implementation, and evaluation of models intended to optimize spending while maintaining or improving care quality. Awarded companies will be expected to undertake various tasks, including developing evaluative surveys, analyzing secondary data, and providing rapid-cycle evaluation feedback to inform service enhancements.

The competition for these contracts illustrates a healthy marketplace for health policy analysts, researchers, and technologists. Among the 17 awardees are notable firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte Consulting, and General Dynamics Information Technology, which reinforce the presence of established players in this field. However, the inclusion of newcomers like Guidehouse and Livanta (now part of Commence) indicates that innovative and nimble firms can also capture significant federal contracts, further enriching the competitive landscape.

CMS’s decision to potentially expand the number of awardees under the BPA indicates a forward-thinking approach, utilizing the flexibility innate to BPAs. This aspect allows for additional firms to join the contract as specific needs arise, thus fostering a broader range of services and expertise to meet evolving challenges in federal healthcare procurement. The anticipation of future awards under this BPA suggests companies should remain agile and prepared to present their capabilities.

As federal agencies like CMS pivot towards data-driven healthcare policy, firms in this sector must sharpen their competencies in analytics, evaluation, and model design to stay competitive. Engaging in collaboration with CMS, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of healthcare trends, and understanding CMS’s operational priorities will be crucial for contractors looking to benefit from forthcoming task orders under this BPA.

Another key takeaway from this contract award is the increasing importance of technology and advanced data capabilities. As highlighted by Bryan Dorsey, Vice President of Business Development at Commence, this award validates companies that have established robust systems capable of supporting complex clinical and technological needs: "This RMADA 3 award is a strong validation of Commence’s clinical, research, data, and advanced technology capabilities that we have built our reputation on for over two decades.”

The implications for all contractors interested in federal healthcare initiatives are clear: the demand for sophisticated solutions in health research and analysis will continue to grow, making this a pivotal moment for both established and emerging players in the healthcare analytics sector.

• The $3.5 billion contract ceiling indicates a major investment in healthcare analytics by CMS over the next five years.
• The competitive selection process received 34 offers, highlighting the active interest from industry players in healthcare research services.
• This BPA encompasses critical support for programs under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, among others.
• This contract reflects an emphasis on maintaining quality while controlling healthcare costs, aligned with federal priorities.
• Notable awardees include both incumbents and new entrants, indicating a diverse contractor base positioned for innovation.
• CMS retains the discretion to add more awardees over the contract period, providing opportunities for additional small or specialized firms.
• Companies must focus on enhancing capabilities in health data analytics and research methodologies to secure task orders under this BPA.