University of Minnesota awarded $18.3M contract for research data assistance, spanning five years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,344,014 ($18.3M)

Contractor: Regents of the University of Minnesota

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2020-07-24

End Date: 2025-09-28

Contract Duration: 1,892 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TO AWARD A RESEARCH DATA ASSISTANCE CENTER (RESDAC) CONTRACT WITH A BASE YEAR AND FOUR ADDITIONAL OPTION YEARS.

Place of Performance

Location: MINNEAPOLIS, HENNEPIN County, MINNESOTA, 55455

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $18.3 million to REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA for work described as: TO AWARD A RESEARCH DATA ASSISTANCE CENTER (RESDAC) CONTRACT WITH A BASE YEAR AND FOUR ADDITIONAL OPTION YEARS. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential research data support services. 2. Long-term award suggests stable need for these services. 3. Full and open competition indicates a potentially competitive bidding process. 4. Time and Materials pricing structure requires careful monitoring of labor hours. 5. Services are critical for ongoing health research initiatives. 6. Geographic focus on Minnesota for the primary contractor.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of $18.3 million over five years for research data assistance appears reasonable given the scope of services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for specialized data support is challenging without more granular detail on the specific tasks. However, the duration and the nature of the work suggest a significant investment in maintaining critical research infrastructure. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing model, while common for research services, necessitates diligent oversight to ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent scope creep.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This approach is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition framework implies a robust process was intended to identify the best value provider.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down costs through market forces and increases the likelihood of selecting a vendor that offers the best combination of price and quality.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries include researchers and policymakers relying on data analysis. Services delivered encompass research data assistance and management. Geographic impact is primarily national, supporting federal research initiatives, with the contractor based in Minnesota. Workforce implications include employment for data analysts, researchers, and administrative staff at the University of Minnesota.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
Reliance on a single awardee for critical data services could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Long-term contract indicates a stable and valued partnership.
Full and open competition suggests a fair and transparent procurement process.
Award to a university research center may indicate a focus on specialized expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services sector (NAICS 541611). This sector encompasses a wide range of professional services, including research support and data analysis. The market for such services is competitive, with many firms offering specialized expertise. The value of this contract is moderate within the broader federal IT and professional services landscape, but significant for the specific niche of research data assistance.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to the Regents of the University of Minnesota, which is not typically considered a small business. There is no indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements in the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears minimal for this specific award, though the university may engage small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would likely be managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) program officials. Accountability measures would be tied to the delivery order terms and conditions, performance metrics, and the Time and Materials reporting requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through federal procurement databases, though specific performance details may be internal.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development Contracts
Data Analytics Services
Administrative Support Services
Health Information Management

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical research data infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $18.3 million to REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. TO AWARD A RESEARCH DATA ASSISTANCE CENTER (RESDAC) CONTRACT WITH A BASE YEAR AND FOUR ADDITIONAL OPTION YEARS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $18.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-07-24. End: 2025-09-28.

What is the historical spending pattern for research data assistance contracts awarded by HHS/CMS?

Analyzing historical spending for research data assistance contracts by HHS/CMS requires access to detailed federal procurement data. Generally, agencies like HHS, and specifically CMS, invest significantly in data analytics and research to inform policy and program improvements. Spending in this area can fluctuate based on research priorities, legislative mandates, and the availability of funding. Contracts for data assistance can range from short-term analytical projects to long-term support for large data repositories. The $18.3 million awarded to the University of Minnesota over five years represents a substantial, but not unprecedented, investment for specialized research data support, suggesting a consistent need for such services within the agency.

How does the University of Minnesota's track record with federal research data contracts compare to other potential bidders?

The University of Minnesota, through its Research Data Assistance Center (RESDAC), has a long-standing history of supporting federal research initiatives, particularly with agencies like NASA and, as indicated here, HHS. Their established infrastructure, expertise in handling sensitive data, and prior successful contract performance likely position them favorably in competitive procurements. While specific comparative data on other bidders' track records is not publicly available for this award, universities often leverage their academic mission and research focus to secure these types of contracts. Their experience in managing large datasets and providing analytical support is a key differentiator.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials contract for research data assistance?

The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for research data assistance is the potential for cost overruns if not rigorously managed. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the actual cost of materials. This structure can incentivize longer project durations or less efficient work if oversight is lax. For research data assistance, risks include scope creep where tasks expand beyond initial definitions, inefficient use of personnel time, and difficulty in accurately forecasting the total project cost. Effective risk mitigation involves detailed monitoring of labor hours, regular progress reviews, and clear communication channels to manage any deviations from the expected scope or timeline.

What specific performance metrics are likely being used to evaluate the success of this contract?

While specific performance metrics are not detailed in the provided data, typical evaluations for research data assistance contracts focus on several key areas. These often include the timeliness and accuracy of data analysis and reporting, the availability and accessibility of data resources, adherence to data security and privacy protocols, and the overall satisfaction of the end-users (researchers, policymakers). For a T&M contract, metrics might also track the efficient utilization of labor hours against project milestones. Successful completion of research projects supported by the data, and the impact of that research, could also serve as indirect performance indicators.

How does this contract's value compare to the overall federal spending on administrative and management consulting services?

The $18.3 million awarded for research data assistance represents a small fraction of the total federal spending on administrative and management consulting services, which can amount to billions of dollars annually across various agencies. This specific contract is highly specialized, focusing on research data support rather than broad management consulting. While significant for the specific function it serves, it is not indicative of overall trends in the larger consulting market. Federal spending in this broader category often includes IT consulting, strategic planning, financial management, and human capital services, making direct comparison difficult without segmenting the data further.

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

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2221 UNIVERSITY AVE SE STE 100, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 55414

Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,383,679

Exercised Options: $18,344,014

Current Obligation: $18,344,014

Actual Outlays: $16,325,358

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $231,330

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F067CA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline