HHS awards $26M contract to Pacific Health Research & Education Institute for unspecified services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $26,030,224 ($26.0M)
Contractor: Pacific Health Research & Education Institute
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2000-08-15
End Date: 2011-12-31
Contract Duration: 4,155 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: Healthcare
Place of Performance
Location: HONOLULU, HONOLULU County, HAWAII, 96819
State: Hawaii Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $26.0 million to PACIFIC HEALTH RESEARCH & EDUCATION INSTITUTE for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single entity, raising questions about competition. 2. Significant duration of the contract (over 11 years) warrants scrutiny. 3. The 'COST NO FEE' contract type suggests a focus on cost recovery rather than profit. 4. The awardee is located in Hawaii, potentially limiting broader participation.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type 'COST NO FEE' is unusual and lacks clear pricing benchmarks. Without knowing the specific services rendered, it's difficult to assess value for money against similar contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Despite being listed as 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION', the award to a single entity suggests potential limitations in the bidding process or a highly specialized requirement. The 'COST NO FEE' structure may have influenced price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The total award value of $26 million over 11 years represents a significant taxpayer investment. The lack of clear value assessment makes the ultimate taxpayer impact uncertain.
Public Impact
Public health research funding is crucial, but transparency in award processes is vital. Long-term contracts can offer stability but require ongoing oversight to ensure continued relevance and cost-effectiveness. The geographic location of the awardee may impact the accessibility of services or research findings to a wider population.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific service description
- Unusual contract type (COST NO FEE)
- Long contract duration
- Potential for limited competition despite 'full and open' designation
Positive Signals
- Award to an established research institute
- Potential for long-term research benefits
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under general health services, likely supporting medical research or public health initiatives. Benchmarking is difficult without specific service details, but large, long-term research grants are common in this sector.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. The focus appears to be on a single, established research entity.
Oversight & Accountability
The long duration of this contract necessitates robust oversight mechanisms to ensure performance, adherence to scope, and fiscal responsibility. Without a detailed service description, assessing the effectiveness of oversight is challenging.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of transparency regarding specific services.
- Potential for limited competition despite designation.
- Unusual contract type ('COST NO FEE').
- Long contract duration without clear performance metrics.
- Geographic concentration of awardee.
Tags
department-of-health-and-human-services, hi, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $26.0 million to PACIFIC HEALTH RESEARCH & EDUCATION INSTITUTE. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PACIFIC HEALTH RESEARCH & EDUCATION INSTITUTE.
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 $26.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2000-08-15. End: 2011-12-31.
What specific research or health services were funded by this $26 million contract, and how did the 'COST NO FEE' structure impact the project's execution and outcomes?
The provided data does not specify the exact services rendered under this contract. The 'COST NO FEE' structure typically means the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs but receives no additional fee or profit. This can incentivize cost control but might also limit innovation or contractor investment if not carefully structured.
Given the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' designation, what factors led to the award to a single entity, and were alternative proposals considered?
While designated as 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION', the award to a single entity suggests that either only one proposal met the requirements, or the nature of the requirement was highly specialized. Further investigation into the solicitation documents and evaluation process would be needed to understand why only one award was made.
How does the 11-year duration of this contract align with the typical lifecycle and funding cycles for the research or health services it supports, and what mechanisms were in place for performance re
An 11-year contract duration is substantial, especially in research where priorities can shift. It suggests a long-term project or program. Effective oversight would involve regular performance reviews, milestone assessments, and potentially options for modification or termination if objectives are not met or become obsolete.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Contractor Details
Address: 459 PATTERSON RD RM 4A101, HONOLULU, HI, 01
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Federally Funded Research and Development Corp, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $510,404,964
Exercised Options: $499,420,861
Current Obligation: $26,030,224
Timeline
Start Date: 2000-08-15
Current End Date: 2011-12-31
Potential End Date: 2011-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-09-12
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