HHS awards $26.9M for miscellaneous items to College of American Pathologists over 5 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $26,958,380 ($27.0M)

Contractor: College of American Pathologists

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2003-06-30

End Date: 2008-06-29

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14.8K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Place of Performance

Location: NORTHFIELD, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60093

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $27.0 million to COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS for work described as: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Key points: 1. The contract value is substantial at $26.9 million over five years. 2. The contract was not competed, raising questions about price discovery. 3. The long duration of the contract could pose a risk if needs change. 4. The sector appears to be healthcare support services.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract was not competed, making it difficult to assess pricing against market benchmarks. The lack of competition suggests potential overpricing or suboptimal value for taxpayer dollars.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of competition. This method limits price discovery and may not yield the best value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source award means taxpayers may not have received the most competitive pricing available.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have paid more than necessary due to the lack of competition. The long contract term could lead to outdated services or inflated costs over time. The specific nature of 'miscellaneous items' is unclear, making public scrutiny difficult.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Long contract duration
Lack of transparency on 'miscellaneous items'

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a known entity (College of American Pathologists)

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under miscellaneous administrative or support services within the broader healthcare sector. Benchmarks for such diverse 'miscellaneous' items are hard to establish without more detail.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, suggesting missed opportunities for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants further oversight to ensure the pricing and necessity of the 'miscellaneous items' were adequately justified.

Related Government Programs

Directory and Mailing List Publishers
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Long contract duration
Unclear scope of 'miscellaneous items'
Potential for overpricing
Missed small business opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $27.0 million to COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS.

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 $27.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-06-30. End: 2008-06-29.

What specific 'miscellaneous items' were procured under this contract, and how were their prices determined without competition?

The data does not specify the 'miscellaneous items'. A sole-source award, by definition, bypasses competitive bidding. Pricing is typically based on the contractor's proposed costs, which are then negotiated with the agency. Without competition, there's no external market validation to ensure the price is fair and reasonable.

What is the risk associated with a 5-year contract for undefined 'miscellaneous items' awarded non-competitively?

The primary risk is paying above-market rates for items that may become obsolete or unnecessary over the 5-year period. The lack of competition exacerbates this, as the government lacks leverage to negotiate better terms or explore alternative solutions that may emerge during the contract's life.

How effective is this contract in meeting the NIH's needs for these 'miscellaneous items' given the procurement method?

Effectiveness is difficult to gauge without knowing the specific items and their performance. However, the non-competitive award method inherently limits the government's ability to ensure it's receiving the most effective solutions or best value. The long duration also poses a risk to sustained effectiveness if needs evolve.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › Directory and Mailing List Publishers

Product/Service Code: MISCELLANEOUS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 325 WAUKEGAN RD, WINNETKA, IL, 60093

Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $69,670,430

Exercised Options: $49,053,715

Current Obligation: $26,958,380

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Timeline