Vanderbilt University Medical Center awarded $12.8M for vaccine effectiveness network studies

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,797,151 ($12.8M)

Contractor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-09-29

End Date: 2025-03-28

Contract Duration: 546 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: BAA FY23 NETWORK OF HOUSEHOLD TRANSMISSION STUDIES FOR VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS

Place of Performance

Location: NASHVILLE, DAVIDSON County, TENNESSEE, 37232

State: Tennessee Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $12.8 million to VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER for work described as: BAA FY23 NETWORK OF HOUSEHOLD TRANSMISSION STUDIES FOR VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical public health research for vaccine effectiveness. 2. Single award indicates a specific need or specialized capability. 3. Research and Development sector, with a focus on life sciences. 4. Longer contract duration suggests a multi-phase or ongoing study. 5. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to control costs. 6. Geographic focus on Tennessee may indicate regional study parameters.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $12.8 million for a 546-day period appears reasonable for a research and development project of this nature. Benchmarking against similar large-scale epidemiological studies or vaccine research grants would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests an effort to manage costs upfront. Without specific comparable contracts for vaccine effectiveness networks, a definitive comparison is challenging, but the allocated funds seem aligned with the scope of establishing and maintaining such a network.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple interested parties had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the competitive process suggests that the government sought the best value from a range of qualified research institutions. This approach is generally favorable for ensuring fair pricing and access to a broad pool of expertise.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a competitive environment, which can lead to more cost-effective proposals and a wider selection of innovative approaches to address public health research needs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are public health agencies and the general population, through improved understanding of vaccine efficacy. Services delivered include establishing and operating a network for household transmission studies. The geographic impact is initially focused on Tennessee, potentially serving as a pilot or specific regional study area. Workforce implications include employment for researchers, data analysts, and support staff at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in long-term research projects.
Reliance on a single institution may limit diverse perspectives.
Ensuring data integrity and privacy in sensitive health studies is paramount.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract helps manage budget predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Focus on vaccine effectiveness directly addresses critical public health needs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on life sciences. The market for health research, particularly concerning infectious diseases and vaccine development, is substantial and highly competitive, involving academic institutions, private research firms, and government laboratories. This award to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a prominent research institution, aligns with government efforts to leverage specialized expertise for critical public health initiatives. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found in grants and contracts awarded for large-scale epidemiological studies or clinical trials.

Small Business Impact

The contract does not indicate any specific small business set-aside. As a large research institution, Vanderbilt University Medical Center is likely to manage the majority of the work internally. There is potential for subcontracting opportunities for specialized services or equipment, which could benefit small businesses, but this is not explicitly detailed in the award information. The primary focus appears to be on the core research capabilities of the prime contractor.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would likely be managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. Mechanisms would include regular progress reports, data reviews, and potentially site visits to ensure adherence to research protocols and budget. Accountability is tied to the successful completion of study milestones and the quality of research outcomes. Transparency is generally maintained through public health reporting and scientific publications stemming from the research.

Related Government Programs

Vaccine Research Programs
Epidemiological Studies
Public Health Surveillance
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants
Biomedical Research Contracts

Risk Flags

Research Scope Uncertainty
Participant Recruitment Challenges
Data Integrity Risks
Long-term Project Management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $12.8 million to VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER. BAA FY23 NETWORK OF HOUSEHOLD TRANSMISSION STUDIES FOR VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-29. End: 2025-03-28.

What is Vanderbilt University Medical Center's track record in managing large-scale public health research grants and contracts?

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has a well-established and extensive track record in managing large-scale public health research grants and contracts. As a leading academic medical center, VUMC consistently secures significant funding from federal agencies like the NIH and CDC for a wide array of research initiatives, including infectious diseases, immunology, and epidemiology. They are known for their robust research infrastructure, experienced principal investigators, and proven ability to manage complex multi-year projects involving large teams and substantial budgets. Their participation in national research networks and consortia further demonstrates their capacity to handle collaborative and high-impact public health studies, making them a reliable recipient for this vaccine effectiveness network contract.

How does the $12.8 million contract value compare to similar vaccine effectiveness network studies?

The $12.8 million contract value for a 546-day period for establishing a network of household transmission studies for vaccine effectiveness appears to be within a reasonable range for such specialized research. Large-scale epidemiological studies and the establishment of research networks often require substantial investment in personnel, data collection infrastructure, participant recruitment, and analysis. While specific, directly comparable contract values are not publicly available without extensive database searches, similar multi-year projects funded by the CDC or NIH for disease surveillance or vaccine impact assessment can range from several million to tens of millions of dollars. The firm fixed-price nature of this contract suggests a defined scope, and the value is likely commensurate with the anticipated research activities and deliverables.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Primary risks associated with this contract include potential challenges in recruiting and retaining participants for household transmission studies, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of collected data, and the possibility of unforeseen scientific or logistical hurdles in establishing and maintaining the research network. Delays in study timelines or difficulties in achieving desired sample sizes could impact the validity of findings. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust protocol development, experienced research staff, established community outreach programs to facilitate recruitment, rigorous data quality control measures, and contingency planning for scientific or operational challenges. The firm fixed-price structure also incentivizes efficient project management to control costs.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' process likely to be in ensuring value for taxpayer money in this R&D context?

The 'full and open competition' process is generally effective in ensuring value for taxpayer money, especially in the Research and Development (R&D) sector. It allows a broad range of qualified institutions, like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to submit proposals, fostering competition based on scientific merit, methodological soundness, and cost-effectiveness. This competitive environment encourages bidders to offer their best approaches and pricing. While R&D outcomes can be inherently uncertain, the process helps identify the most capable and efficient entity to undertake the research, thereby maximizing the potential return on investment for public funds by selecting a proposal that offers the best balance of scientific rigor and resource utilization.

What are the historical spending patterns for vaccine effectiveness research by the CDC or similar agencies?

Historical spending patterns for vaccine effectiveness research by the CDC and similar agencies like the NIH show a consistent and significant investment, particularly in response to emerging infectious diseases and the need to monitor vaccine performance in real-world settings. Funding often supports large-scale surveillance networks, epidemiological studies, and laboratory-based research. Annual allocations can fluctuate based on public health priorities, disease outbreaks (e.g., influenza, COVID-19), and the development of new vaccines. These investments are crucial for informing public health policy, vaccine recommendations, and ensuring the ongoing safety and efficacy of immunization programs. The $12.8 million for this specific network study aligns with the scale of funding typically allocated to such critical public health research infrastructure.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1161 21ST AVE S STE D3300 MCN, NASHVILLE, TN, 37232

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Hospital, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,797,151

Exercised Options: $12,797,151

Current Obligation: $12,797,151

Actual Outlays: $12,797,151

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $4,109,697

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline