USDA's APHIS Awards $150K for Avian Influenza Testing Services to Cornell University

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $150,000 ($150.0K)

Contractor: Cornell University

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2027-04-02

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $412/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: MORATORIUM EXCEPTION: HPAI NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SERVICES FOR HPAI AVIAN INFLUENZA TESTING

Place of Performance

Location: AMES, STORY County, IOWA, 50010

State: Iowa Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $150,000 to CORNELL UNIVERSITY for work described as: MORATORIUM EXCEPTION: HPAI NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SERVICES FOR HPAI AVIAN INFLUENZA TESTING Key points: 1. The contract focuses on critical diagnostic testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). 2. Cornell University is the sole awardee, raising questions about competition. 3. The fixed-price contract aims to mitigate cost overruns. 4. This spending supports national animal health and disease surveillance efforts.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $150,000 for a one-year period appears reasonable for specialized diagnostic services. However, without a competitive bidding process, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represents the best value compared to potential market alternatives.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in a higher cost than if multiple vendors had submitted bids.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this award. The lack of competition means there's a potential for overpayment, though the fixed-price nature offers some cost control.

Public Impact

Ensures continued diagnostic capacity for a significant animal disease threat. Supports agricultural sector stability by enabling rapid response to outbreaks. Contributes to public health by monitoring zoonotic disease potential.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Sole-source award

Positive Signals

Supports critical national animal health mission
Fixed-price contract limits cost uncertainty

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the scientific and research services sector, specifically focusing on biological testing and diagnostics. Spending benchmarks for similar specialized laboratory services can vary widely based on complexity and required expertise.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement. The award was made directly to Cornell University, suggesting a focus on established research institutions rather than small business set-asides.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Agriculture, through APHIS, is responsible for overseeing this contract. Standard oversight mechanisms for sole-source awards should be in place to ensure performance and adherence to contract terms.

Related Government Programs

Veterinary Services
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and potentially increases cost.
Lack of transparency regarding the justification for sole-sourcing.
Potential for higher costs due to absence of competitive bidding.
No clear indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $150,000 to CORNELL UNIVERSITY. MORATORIUM EXCEPTION: HPAI NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SERVICES FOR HPAI AVIAN INFLUENZA TESTING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $150,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2027-04-02.

What is the justification for the sole-source award, and were any efforts made to explore competitive options?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and is a sole-source award. A formal justification for this approach, such as a lack of qualified sources or urgent need, would typically be required. Without this documentation, it's unclear if competitive options were genuinely unavailable or if other procurement strategies were overlooked.

How does the cost of these services compare to similar contracts awarded competitively?

Benchmarking the cost is challenging without competitive data. The $150,000 award for 364 days of service needs to be evaluated against the specific scope of work and the unique capabilities of Cornell University. A comparison to other sole-source or competitively awarded contracts for similar HPAI diagnostic services would be necessary for a thorough assessment.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will Cornell University's performance be measured?

The data does not specify the KPIs or performance measurement plan. For a contract of this nature, KPIs would likely include turnaround time for test results, accuracy rates, reporting completeness, and adherence to biosafety protocols. Effective oversight would involve regular performance reviews against these metrics.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Veterinary Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 341 PINE TREE RD, ITHACA, NY, 14850

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private), Higher Education (Public), Veterinary College

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $150,000

Exercised Options: $150,000

Current Obligation: $150,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12639521D0056

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline