HHS Awards $5.45M for Biologics Effectiveness and Safety Initiative to Acumen LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,450,000 ($5.5M)
Contractor: Acumen LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2025-09-26
End Date: 2026-09-29
Contract Duration: 368 days
Daily Burn Rate: $14.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: THE CBER BIOLOGICS EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY (BEST) BEST1 INITIATIVE: BEST COORDINATING CENTER
Place of Performance
Location: BURLINGAME, SAN MATEO County, CALIFORNIA, 94010
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $5.5 million to ACUMEN LLC for work described as: THE CBER BIOLOGICS EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY (BEST) BEST1 INITIATIVE: BEST COORDINATING CENTER Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Acumen LLC for the BEST initiative. 2. Focuses on computing infrastructure, data processing, and web hosting. 3. Potential risks include lack of competition and time-and-materials pricing. 4. The IT sector is characterized by rapid technological change and evolving needs.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $5.45 million for a 368-day duration appears high given the 'NOT COMPETED' status and time-and-materials pricing structure. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific service details, but the lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This significantly limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no competitive pressure to drive down prices.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition and use of time-and-materials pricing may result in inefficient use of taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Public health research and data management are critical for drug safety. The FDA's role in ensuring biologic safety impacts public trust. Transparency in contracting for health initiatives is vital for accountability.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Time and materials pricing
- Lack of competition
Positive Signals
- Supports critical public health initiative (BEST)
- Contract awarded to a specific company (Acumen LLC)
Sector Analysis
The IT sector, particularly cloud computing and data processing, is essential for modern research initiatives like the BEST program. Spending in this area is typically high due to the need for robust infrastructure and specialized services.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or considerations for small business participation in this contract.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure the government receives fair value and that the services provided meet the stated objectives of the BEST initiative.
Related Government Programs
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Food and Drug Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for cost overruns due to time-and-materials pricing
- Limited transparency on specific services and justification for sole-source award
- Dependency on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure
Tags
computing-infrastructure-providers-data-, department-of-health-and-human-services, ca, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $5.5 million to ACUMEN LLC. THE CBER BIOLOGICS EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY (BEST) BEST1 INITIATIVE: BEST COORDINATING CENTER
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ACUMEN LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $5.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-09-26. End: 2026-09-29.
What specific services are included under 'Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services' to justify the contract value?
The specific services are not detailed in the provided data. However, they likely encompass cloud hosting, data storage, processing capabilities, and potentially specialized software or platforms required for the BEST initiative's research and data management needs. Further clarification is needed to assess value.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing?
The justification for a sole-source award is not provided. Typically, this occurs when only one source is capable of meeting the requirement. Without competition, the government must rely on negotiation and market research to ensure fair and reasonable pricing, which may be challenging in this instance.
How will the effectiveness and safety outcomes of the BEST initiative be measured, and how does this contract contribute to those metrics?
The contract's contribution to the BEST initiative's effectiveness and safety metrics would depend on the quality and reliability of the IT infrastructure and services provided. Performance metrics within the contract should align with the initiative's goals, and regular reviews are necessary to ensure the services are enabling the achievement of desired public health outcomes.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 75F40125Q00395
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 500 AIRPORT BLVD STE 100, BURLINGAME, CA, 94010
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $5,450,000
Exercised Options: $5,450,000
Current Obligation: $5,450,000
Actual Outlays: $1,598,668
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-09-26
Current End Date: 2026-09-29
Potential End Date: 2026-09-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-20
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