NIH awards $25.6M for biomedical research to University of Colorado over 19 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $25,662,538 ($25.7M)
Contractor: THE Regents of the University of Colorado
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 1992-09-29
End Date: 2011-12-31
Contract Duration: 7,032 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: BIOMEDICAL (BASIC)
Place of Performance
Location: AURORA, ADAMS County, COLORADO, 80045, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $25.7 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO for work described as: BIOMEDICAL (BASIC) Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. Long contract duration of over 19 years may indicate a stable, ongoing research need. 3. Award type 'COST NO FEE' suggests the government reimburses allowable costs without a fixed profit margin. 4. The contract was awarded by the National Institutes of Health, a primary funder of biomedical research. 5. The significant duration and value point to a substantial, long-term research initiative.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's value of $25.6 million over nearly 20 years averages to approximately $1.35 million per year. Without specific deliverables or comparable 'COST NO FEE' contracts for similar biomedical research, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The 'COST NO FEE' structure implies that the government bears the risk of cost overruns, which could impact overall value if not managed effectively. Benchmarking this against other large-scale, long-term NIH grants would provide better context.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This suggests a robust bidding process where multiple entities likely had the opportunity to compete for the work. The presence of two bids (as indicated by 'no': 2) suggests some level of competition, though the exact number of proposals received is not detailed.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to more favorable pricing and innovative solutions.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiary is the biomedical research community, particularly at the University of Colorado. The contract supports fundamental biomedical research, potentially leading to advancements in understanding and treating diseases. The geographic impact is centered in Colorado, where the research activities will be conducted. The contract likely supports a workforce of researchers, technicians, and administrative staff.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long contract duration increases the risk of cost escalation or shifts in research priorities over time.
- The 'COST NO FEE' structure can incentivize higher spending if not rigorously monitored, potentially impacting overall cost-effectiveness.
- Limited information on specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the research's progress and impact.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a fair and transparent procurement process.
- The substantial funding indicates a commitment to a significant and potentially impactful research area.
- The long-term nature of the award provides stability for sustained research efforts.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader biomedical research sector, a critical area funded heavily by government agencies like the NIH. The market for such research is characterized by academic institutions and specialized research organizations competing for grants and contracts. Benchmarking involves comparing funding levels for similar long-term, large-scale research initiatives across different institutions and funding cycles.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that this contract included specific small business set-asides. Given the nature of large-scale biomedical research, it is unlikely that small businesses would be the primary awardees, though they could potentially be subcontractors if the prime contractor engages in subcontracting opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically be managed by the National Institutes of Health program officers and contracting officials. Accountability measures would be tied to research progress reports and adherence to the terms of the 'COST NO FEE' award. Transparency is generally maintained through public databases of federal contracts, though specific research details may be proprietary or subject to publication delays.
Related Government Programs
- National Institutes of Health Research Grants
- Biomedical Research and Development Contracts
- University Research Funding
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration
- Cost-reimbursement contract type
- Limited competition indicated (2 bids)
Tags
research-and-development, biomedical, basic-research, department-of-health-and-human-services, national-institutes-of-health, university-of-colorado, cost-reimbursement, full-and-open-competition, long-term-contract, colorado, completed-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $25.7 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. BIOMEDICAL (BASIC)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $25.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 1992-09-29. End: 2011-12-31.
What specific biomedical research areas does this contract cover?
The provided data does not specify the exact biomedical research areas covered by this contract. The designation 'BIOMEDICAL (BASIC)' suggests fundamental research rather than applied or developmental work. Typically, NIH contracts of this nature would detail the research scope in accompanying documentation, such as the Statement of Work or the contract award notice. Further investigation into the specific NIH funding announcement or solicitation under which this contract was awarded would be necessary to ascertain the precise research focus.
How does the $25.6 million total award compare to typical NIH funding for long-term basic research projects?
The $25.6 million awarded over approximately 19 years averages to about $1.35 million annually. This figure is substantial but falls within the range of large, multi-year grants and contracts awarded by the NIH for significant basic research initiatives. The NIH funds a wide spectrum of research, from smaller individual investigator grants to large center grants and center core facilities. For long-term, multi-disciplinary basic research programs, annual funding in the low millions is not uncommon, especially when considering personnel, equipment, and operational costs associated with sustained scientific inquiry.
What are the implications of the 'COST NO FEE' (Cost-Reimbursement No Fee) contract type for the government and the contractor?
A 'Cost-Reimbursement No Fee' contract means the government agrees to pay the contractor for all allowable costs incurred in performing the contract, but the contractor does not receive any fee or profit. This contract type is often used when the extent or nature of the work cannot be precisely defined at the outset, such as in basic research. For the government, the risk lies in potentially higher costs if the contractor's expenses are not well-managed, as there is no profit incentive for efficiency. For the contractor (The Regents of the University of Colorado in this case), it covers their operational expenses and direct costs associated with the research but offers no financial gain beyond cost recovery.
What is the significance of the contract award date (1992) and end date (2011) in today's context?
The contract award date of September 29, 1992, and the end date of December 31, 2011, indicate that this was a completed contract. The total award amount of $25.6 million represents the cumulative spending over that nearly 20-year period. In today's context, this data provides historical insight into NIH's long-term funding patterns for biomedical research and the duration of such awards. It can be used as a benchmark for comparing historical spending with current funding levels and contract structures for similar research endeavors.
Given the long duration, how might research priorities have evolved during the contract period?
During the nearly 20-year span of this contract (1992-2011), biomedical research priorities undoubtedly evolved significantly. Advances in genomics, molecular biology, and computational biology, among other fields, likely shifted the landscape of scientific inquiry. While the contract was awarded under 'BIOMEDICAL (BASIC)', the specific direction of research within that broad category may have adapted to emerging scientific opportunities and challenges. The NIH, as the awarding agency, would have mechanisms to monitor and potentially guide the research trajectory through program officers and review processes to ensure alignment with evolving scientific frontiers and national health priorities.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Contractor Details
Address: 13001 E 17TH PL BLDG 500 W1126, AURORA, CO, 80045
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $570,344,932
Exercised Options: $552,633,493
Current Obligation: $25,662,538
Timeline
Start Date: 1992-09-29
Current End Date: 2011-12-31
Potential End Date: 2011-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2015-07-01
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