HHS Awards $450K to Seqirus for Vaccine Immunogenicity Testing to Confirm Superiority
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $450,052 ($450.1K)
Contractor: Seqirus Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2026-04-02
End Date: 2026-11-08
Contract Duration: 220 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: TWO-WAY IMMUNOGENICITY TESTING ON EXISTING CLINICAL TRIAL SERA TO CONFIRM IMMUNOGENICITY SUPERIORITY OF A NEW VACCINE STRAIN VERSUS THE PROTOTYPE STRAIN
Place of Performance
Location: HOLLY SPRINGS, WAKE County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27540
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $450,052 to SEQIRUS INC for work described as: TWO-WAY IMMUNOGENICITY TESTING ON EXISTING CLINICAL TRIAL SERA TO CONFIRM IMMUNOGENICITY SUPERIORITY OF A NEW VACCINE STRAIN VERSUS THE PROTOTYPE STRAIN Key points: 1. Focus on confirming the superiority of a new vaccine strain over a prototype. 2. The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract, indicating a specific task. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The sector involves biological product manufacturing, crucial for public health preparedness.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $450,052 for 220 days of performance is moderate. Without specific benchmarks for immunogenicity testing services, a direct comparison is difficult, but the price appears reasonable for specialized biological testing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, allowing any qualified vendor to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is minimal given the relatively small award amount, which is focused on critical public health research and development.
Public Impact
Ensures the efficacy and superiority of new vaccine strains, potentially leading to better public health outcomes. Supports the development of improved countermeasures against infectious diseases. Provides data to inform future vaccine development and deployment strategies. Contributes to the nation's preparedness for public health emergencies.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited duration of the delivery order may require follow-on funding.
- Dependence on a single vendor for this specific testing phase.
- Potential for unforeseen scientific challenges in immunogenicity testing.
Positive Signals
- Clear objective to confirm vaccine superiority.
- Utilizes a competitive procurement process.
- Supports critical public health research.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing sector, specifically focusing on testing and validation. Spending in this area is critical for public health agencies like ASPR to ensure the effectiveness of medical countermeasures.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in the competition or subcontracting. The primary awardee, Seqirus Inc., is a large pharmaceutical company.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), a key agency for public health emergencies. Oversight would involve monitoring the testing progress and data integrity.
Related Government Programs
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for scientific uncertainty in test results.
- Limited duration of the delivery order.
- Dependence on specific laboratory capabilities.
- Need for clear data interpretation guidelines.
Tags
biological-product-except-diagnostic-man, department-of-health-and-human-services, nc, delivery-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $450,052 to SEQIRUS INC. TWO-WAY IMMUNOGENICITY TESTING ON EXISTING CLINICAL TRIAL SERA TO CONFIRM IMMUNOGENICITY SUPERIORITY OF A NEW VACCINE STRAIN VERSUS THE PROTOTYPE STRAIN
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SEQIRUS 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 $450,052.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-02. End: 2026-11-08.
What is the specific methodology for the two-way immunogenicity testing, and how does it ensure a robust comparison between vaccine strains?
The methodology likely involves standardized assays to measure immune responses (e.g., antibody levels, T-cell responses) in subjects who received either the new strain or the prototype. Two-way testing implies comparing responses in both directions, potentially using a crossover design or comparing against a common control group. Robustness is ensured through validated protocols, appropriate sample sizes, and statistical analysis to detect significant differences in immunogenicity.
What are the potential risks if the new vaccine strain does not demonstrate immunogenic superiority in this testing?
If the new strain isn't superior, risks include wasted R&D investment, delays in deploying a potentially more effective vaccine, and the need to re-evaluate the vaccine development strategy. This could impact public health preparedness timelines and necessitate further research or modification of the existing prototype strain, potentially affecting budget allocations for future development phases.
How will the results of this immunogenicity testing directly impact future public health strategies or vaccine procurement decisions by HHS?
Positive results confirming superiority will likely accelerate the adoption and potential procurement of the new vaccine strain, influencing future stockpiling and deployment plans. Negative or inconclusive results would prompt a reassessment, potentially leading to further research, modifications to the vaccine, or reliance on the existing prototype, thereby shaping the agency's investment and preparedness strategies.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing › Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: MEDICAL/DENTAL/VETERINARY EQPT/SUPP
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 475 GREEN OAKS PKWY, HOLLY SPRINGS, NC, 27540
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $450,052
Exercised Options: $450,052
Current Obligation: $450,052
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 75A50122D00004
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-02
Current End Date: 2026-11-08
Potential End Date: 2026-11-08 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-03
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