HHS Awards $55M for Biotech R&D Expertise to Tunnell Consulting Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $55,000,000 ($55.0M)
Contractor: Tunnell Consulting Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2025-06-05
End Date: 2026-06-04
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $151.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: R&D
Official Description: PROVIDE ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIFIC SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE (SMES) PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES IN R&D/AR&D OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOPHARMACEUTICALS WITH AN ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING OF THE LICENSURES/APPROVAL OF PRODUCTS THROUGH THE FOOD
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20001
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $55.0 million to TUNNELL CONSULTING INC for work described as: PROVIDE ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIFIC SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE (SMES) PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES IN R&D/AR&D OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOPHARMACEUTICALS WITH AN ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING OF THE LICENSURES/APPROVAL OF PRODUCTS THROUGH THE FOOD Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical biotechnology and biopharmaceutical R&D, including product licensure. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Potential risks include reliance on specific expertise and the complexity of regulatory approvals. 4. Spending falls within administrative management and general management consulting services.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $55 million over one year appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for advanced scientific subject matter expertise in R&D is difficult without more specific data, but the price seems aligned with high-level consulting.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential R&D support, aiming to advance critical health technologies. The competitive award process suggests an effort to maximize value for the investment.
Public Impact
Enhances government's capacity to navigate complex biotechnology and biopharmaceutical research and development. Supports the crucial process of product approval and licensure, potentially accelerating public access to new treatments. Invests in specialized expertise vital for national health security and preparedness initiatives.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for knowledge transfer gaps if key personnel depart.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical, specialized expertise.
- Complexity of R&D and regulatory pathways may lead to unforeseen cost increases.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition promotes fair pricing.
- Focus on advanced R&D aligns with strategic health priorities.
- Contract duration allows for focused project execution.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services, specifically targeting the highly specialized biotechnology and biopharmaceutical R&D sector. Spending benchmarks for such niche expertise are difficult to establish broadly, but the value reflects the advanced scientific and regulatory knowledge required.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was solicited or if subcontracting opportunities exist.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, is responsible for this contract. Oversight will be critical to ensure the delivery of advanced expertise and adherence to project milestones.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Programs
Risk Flags
- Reliance on specialized expertise.
- Complexity of R&D and regulatory approval.
- Potential for knowledge transfer gaps.
- Contract value and duration.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-health-and-human-services, dc, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $55.0 million to TUNNELL CONSULTING INC. PROVIDE ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIFIC SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE (SMES) PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES IN R&D/AR&D OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOPHARMACEUTICALS WITH AN ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING OF THE LICENSURES/APPROVAL OF PRODUCTS THROUGH THE FOOD
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TUNNELL CONSULTING INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $55.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-06-05. End: 2026-06-04.
How will the government ensure the continued relevance and accuracy of the subject matter expertise provided, given the rapid pace of innovation in biotech?
The government can ensure continued relevance by incorporating performance metrics tied to staying abreast of scientific advancements, requiring regular knowledge-sharing sessions, and potentially including clauses for updating expertise throughout the contract period. Periodic reviews of the contractor's personnel qualifications and their engagement with the scientific community will also be crucial for maintaining high-quality, up-to-date support.
What are the primary risks associated with relying on external consultants for critical R&D subject matter expertise, particularly concerning product licensure?
Key risks include potential over-reliance on the contractor, leading to a decline in internal government expertise. There's also a risk of knowledge loss if key personnel leave the contractor's employ. Furthermore, ensuring objective advice, especially during complex and high-stakes product licensure processes, requires robust government oversight to mitigate potential conflicts of interest or biases.
How effectively will this contract contribute to accelerating the approval and licensure of new biopharmaceutical products for public benefit?
The effectiveness hinges on the contractor's proven track record and the clarity of the defined objectives within the contract. If Tunnell Consulting Inc. provides deep insights into regulatory pathways, identifies potential roadblocks early, and facilitates efficient communication between researchers and regulatory bodies, it can significantly accelerate the process. Success will be measured by tangible progress in R&D milestones and timely progression through the approval pipeline.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 75A50125R0004
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1235 WESTLAKES DRIVE, BERWYN, PA, 19312
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $622,437,134
Exercised Options: $55,000,000
Current Obligation: $55,000,000
Actual Outlays: $18,752,767
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D0004
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-06-05
Current End Date: 2026-06-04
Potential End Date: 2035-06-04 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-29
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