Ripple Effect Communications
Ripple Effect Communications is a women-owned federal consulting firm providing biomedical, health policy, defense health, education research, communications, and digital transformation services to U.S. agencies including NIH, CMS, DHA, DoD, and ARPA-H through GSA, OASIS+, and agency IDIQ contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ripple Effect Communications does
Ripple Effect Communications, Inc. ("Ripple Effect") is a privately held, women-owned small business (WOSB) founded in 2003 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. The firm delivers professional consulting services across five integrated practice areas: Program Management & Policy, Technical & Scientific Support, Communications & Outreach, Research & Evaluation, and Digital Transformation. Its offerings span strategic planning, biomedical and clinical research support, grant and portfolio management, regulatory and policy analysis, communications strategy, public comment and rulemaking support, and AI-assisted digital modernization. Customer work is delivered to more than 180 credentialed staff (79% specialized in sciences, policy, or public health; 77% holding master's degrees; 35% holding PhDs, MDs, or JDs).
Ripple Effect's customers are predominantly U.S. federal agencies, with the heaviest concentration in the Department of Health and Human Services (NIH, CMS, HRSA, AHRQ, OHRP, PCORI, NIAAA, ARPA-H), the Department of Defense (DHA, CDMRP, Naval Medical Research Command), the Department of Education (IES), and DHS. The firm generates revenue through federal contract vehicles including GSA MAS 47QRAA22D008N (through 2042), OASIS+ (WOSB, SB, and Unrestricted vehicles), and a dozen agency-specific IDIQs (NIH SOAR, DHA OMNIBUS IV, Navy SeaPort NxG, NIH HBCU PEI, ED PRESTO, ARPA-H STATS, HRSA Evidence Building, CMS National Education, MDA SHIELD). It serves as both prime contractor and subcontractor to large systems integrators including Guidehouse, Booz Allen Hamilton, Porter Novelli, and AIR.
The go-to-market is enterprise field sales into federal health, defense health, and education mission owners, executed through competitive bidding on existing contract vehicles and past-performance-based task order pursuits. Ripple Effect also operates the Science and Health Policy Consulting Consortium (SHPCC), an ecosystem of independent science and health-policy consultants who contract through the firm's infrastructure in exchange for a $150 annual membership fee. The firm holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (since 2020), is CMMI appraised, and is SBA WOSB certified. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Ripple Effect Communications firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ripple Effect Communications
- Legal name
- Ripple Effect Communications, Inc.
- Website
- https://rippleeffect.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ripple Effect Communications is a women-owned federal consulting firm providing biomedical, health policy, defense health, education research, communications, and digital transformation services to U.S. agencies including NIH, CMS, DHA, DoD, and ARPA-H through GSA, OASIS+, and agency IDIQ contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ripple Effect Communications industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Federal Government Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Public Relations Agencies (54182)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emerging Tech (IoT, Blockchain, AR/VR, Edge) Consulting (BPAHAEAL), Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI)
Keywords
Where Ripple Effect Communications is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Ripple Effect Communications business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Federal Government Consulting: Professional consulting services and staff augmentation for federal agencies including NIH, CMS, DHA, DoD, ED, and others. Revenue generated through various contract vehicles including GSA MAS, OASIS+, and agency-specific IDIQs as both prime and subcontractor.
- Private and Non-Profit Sector: Consulting services for private sector and non-profit clients delivering policies and programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Government contracting services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ripple Effect Communications product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ripple Effect Communications provides professional consulting services and staff augmentation across five service divisions—Program Management & Policy, Technical & Scientific Support, Communications & Outreach, Research & Evaluation, and Digital Transformation—primarily to U.S. federal health, defense, and education agencies (NIH, CMS, DHA, HRSA, ARPA-H, and others). The firm delivers credentialed scientific, policy, communications, and data-analytics expertise under contract vehicles such as GSA MAS, OASIS+, and agency-specific IDIQs, both as a prime contractor and as a subcontractor.
Product overview
Ripple Effect Communications is a consulting firm offering five integrated service divisions (Program Management & Policy, Technical & Scientific Support, Communications & Outreach, Research & Evaluation, and Digital Transformation) along with specialized programs including the Science and Health Policy Consulting Consortium (SHPCC) and Public Comment Management & Analysis. The company provides professional consulting services and staff augmentation for federal, private, and non-profit clients, primarily in the biomedical sciences and health spaces. Services span strategic planning, policy development, clinical research support, regulatory compliance, communications strategy, digital transformation, and AI/ML integration. The firm operates as a women-owned small business (WOSB) and serves clients including NIH, CMS, DoD, DHA, HRSA, and other federal agencies through various contract vehicles including GSA MAS, OASIS+, and agency-specific IDIQs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Program Management & Policy Strategic planning, organizational development, project management, public comment analysis and rulemaking, policy and regulatory support, and research and measurement services for federal clients. Targeted at federal agencies needing program management and policy expertise.
- Technical & Scientific Support Portfolio management, advanced development, clinical research, grants management, support operations, and regulatory support for biomedical research and development programs. Targeted at NIH, DoD, and other federal biomedical research clients.
- Communications & Outreach Communications research, strategy development, conference and events services, content and materials development, creative design services, and public and media relations for federal health and science programs. Targeted at federal program offices needing integrated communications support.
- Research & Evaluation Process, outcome and impact evaluations, quantitative/qualitative/mixed methods analysis, data collection, study design, and formative research for evidence-based decision-making. Targeted at federal agencies such as ED IES, HRSA, AHRQ, and PCORI.
- Digital Transformation Business modernization, customer experience enhancement, AI integration, technology strategy, data management, and data analysis and reporting built on cloud services, automation, AI, and low-code/no-code tools. Targeted at federal agencies modernizing operations, including commerce, infrastructure, and research clients.
- Science and Health Policy Consulting Consortium (SHPCC) Membership-based consortium that brings independent science, science policy, and health policy consultants together under Ripple Effect's shared infrastructure and federal contracting mechanisms to deliver niche expertise to federal agencies. Targeted at independent science and health policy consultants and federal client agencies.
- Public Comment Management & Analysis Federal public comment solicitation, receipt, analysis, and synthesis using a five-step process including planning and release, collecting responses, managing and organizing data, data analysis, and report summaries. Targeted at federal agencies conducting rulemaking and regulatory policy programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Roadmap viewed nearly 23,000 times online, downloaded by thousands of stakeholders; became industry standard for APM design
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Ripple Effect Communications
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ripple Effect Communications technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
Ripple Effect Communications partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GuidehousecoreRipple Effect is a subcontractor to Guidehouse on the NIH Scientific Operations and Administrative Resource (SOAR) IDIQ contract, providing support services across clinical, basic and translational research support, professional administrative support, and facility operations.
- Booz Allen HamiltoncoreRipple Effect is a subcontractor to Booz Allen Hamilton on the DHA OMNIBUS IV Military Medical Research and Development IV contract, providing health-related R&D and support services.
- Porter NovellicoreRipple Effect is a subcontractor to Porter Novelli on the CMS National Education Campaign and Outreach Contract IDIQ for developing, implementing, and evaluating national integrated communications campaigns.
- AIRcoreRipple Effect is a subcontractor to AIR on the HRSA Evidence Building and Evaluation IDIQ, supporting evidence-building activities driven by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act.
- Science and Health Policy Consulting Consortium (SHPCC) MemberscoreConsortium of independent science, science policy, and health policy consultants joining together under Ripple Effect's infrastructure to access federal contracting opportunities. Annual membership fee of $150.
- Hiring Our HeroesminorU.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative launched March 2011 to connect veterans, service members, and military spouses with employment opportunities.
- Military Spouse Fellowship Program (MSFP)minorHiring Our Heroes program providing military spouses with professional training, networking, and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce.
- Government Services Administration (GSA)coreGSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract holder providing access to federal agencies. Contract 47QRAA22D008N (4/20/2022 - 4/20/2042) covering professional services, IT, marketing, and event services.
- OASIS+coreMultiple OASIS+ contract vehicles held including WOSB (47QRCA24DW116), SB (47QRCA25DSD43), and Unrestricted (47QRCA25DU637) covering management/engineering services.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ripple Effect Communications competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mathematica Policy Research: Nonprofit research and evaluation firm with deep federal health and education portfolio (CMS, ED, ACF). Direct peer in program evaluation, policy analysis, and technical assistance offerings.
- Insight Policy Research: Small, women-owned federal health and policy research firm supporting CMS, HHS, and ASPE. Closely mirrors Ripple Effect's size, WOSB status, and public comment/health policy service mix.
- NORC at the University of Chicago: University-affiliated research organization with major federal health research portfolio (NIH, AHRQ, CMS). Direct comparable in research, evaluation, and policy analysis services for federal health clients.
- Abt Associates: Mission-driven federal consulting firm delivering research, evaluation, and technical assistance to HHS, CMS, and NIH — closely overlapping with Ripple Effect's federal health/scientific consulting portfolio and similar WOSB-adjacent contracting posture.
- Eastern Research Group (ERG): Mid-size federal scientific and regulatory consulting firm supporting EPA, HHS, and DoD. Comparable in scientific consulting depth, federal contracting posture, and mission-driven service mix.
- Westat: Employee-owned federal research and evaluation firm supporting HHS, NIH, and DoD. Highly comparable in scale (1,000+ staff vs. Ripple's 180+) and in its research/evaluation service mix to federal health clients.
- RTI International: Nonprofit research institute delivering biomedical, public health, and policy research for federal agencies including NIH and HHS. Direct comparable in research, evaluation, and scientific consulting services.
- Atlas Research: Mid-size federal health services consulting firm supporting VA, DoD, and HHS. Highly comparable in size, health-focused client base, and services portfolio including research, evaluation, and program management.
Broad incumbents
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Premier federal health and defense consulting prime that retains Ripple Effect as a subcontractor (DHA OMNIBUS IV). Competes with Ripple on adjacent task orders while also serving as a channel partner.
- ICF International: Larger public-sector consulting firm with material federal health, defense, and digital transformation practices. Competes with Ripple on similar task orders but at materially greater scale and broader service scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ripple Effect Communications social profiles
Digital presenceRipple Effect Communications compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Ripple Effect Communications financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ripple Effect Communications leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Ripple Effect Communications funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ripple Effect Communications M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ripple Effect Communications
What does Ripple Effect Communications do?
Ripple Effect Communications provides professional consulting services and staff augmentation across five service divisions—Program Management & Policy, Technical & Scientific Support, Communications & Outreach, Research & Evaluation, and Digital Transformation—primarily to U.S. federal health, defense, and education agencies (NIH, CMS, DHA, HRSA, ARPA-H, and others). The firm delivers credentialed scientific, policy, communications, and data-analytics expertise under contract vehicles such as GSA MAS, OASIS+, and agency-specific IDIQs, both as a prime contractor and as a subcontractor.
Is Ripple Effect Communications a public or private company?
Ripple Effect Communications is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ripple Effect Communications founded?
Ripple Effect Communications was founded in 2003. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ripple Effect Communications based?
Ripple Effect Communications is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ripple Effect Communications make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Federal Government Consulting is the primary driver. The others are private and Non-Profit Sector.
Who are Ripple Effect Communications's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mathematica Policy Research, Insight Policy Research, NORC at the University of Chicago, Abt Associates, Eastern Research Group (ERG), Westat, RTI International and Atlas Research. Broad incumbents are Booz Allen Hamilton and ICF International.
Does Ripple Effect Communications have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ripple Effect Communications.
What industry is Ripple Effect Communications in?
Ripple Effect Communications's product category is Federal Government Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAI, Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management, with a secondary code of BPAHAEAL, Emerging Tech (IoT, Blockchain, AR/VR, Edge) Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.