NIH Awards $11.18M for TOPMED Data Center to University of Washington Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,182,824 ($11.2M)

Contractor: University of Washington

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2018-04-26

End Date: 2021-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,253 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: TRANS-OMICS FOR PRECISION MEDICINE (TOPMED) DATA COORDINATING CENTER (DCC)

Place of Performance

Location: SEATTLE, KING County, WASHINGTON, 98195

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $11.2 million to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON for work described as: TRANS-OMICS FOR PRECISION MEDICINE (TOPMED) DATA COORDINATING CENTER (DCC) Key points: 1. The award supports critical research infrastructure for precision medicine. 2. University of Washington is a leading institution in biomedical research. 3. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing process. 4. The sector is R&D in Biotechnology, a high-growth and strategically important area.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract type is 'COST NO FEE', which is common for research grants where direct costs are reimbursed. The award amount of $11.18M over approximately 3.5 years suggests a reasonable allocation for a data coordinating center supporting a large-scale research program.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to advance precision medicine research, which has the potential for long-term public health benefits and economic growth in the biotech sector.

Public Impact

Advancement of precision medicine research through robust data coordination. Support for a large-scale, multi-site research initiative (TOPMED). Potential for breakthroughs in understanding and treating complex diseases. Strengthening the nation's biomedical research infrastructure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Full and open competition
Supports a high-priority research area
Awarded to a reputable research institution

Sector Analysis

The biotechnology research and development sector is characterized by significant investment in innovation and data-intensive research. This award aligns with federal priorities to foster advancements in health and medicine, with spending benchmarks varying widely based on project scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

This award was not set aside for small businesses, and the prime contractor is a large university. There is no indication of small business subcontracting in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a major federal agency with established oversight mechanisms for research grants and contracts. The 'COST NO FEE' structure implies detailed financial reporting and auditing requirements.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Reliance on 'COST NO FEE' contract type may require robust financial oversight to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Potential for data security breaches given the sensitive nature of genomic and clinical data.
Dependency on the continued success and funding of the broader TOPMED initiative.
Complexity of integrating diverse datasets from multiple sources could lead to delays or quality issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $11.2 million to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. TRANS-OMICS FOR PRECISION MEDICINE (TOPMED) DATA COORDINATING CENTER (DCC)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-04-26. End: 2021-09-30.

What is the specific scope of work for the TOPMED Data Coordinating Center and how does it contribute to the overall research goals?

The TOPMED Data Coordinating Center (DCC) is responsible for managing and harmonizing large-scale genomic and clinical data from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine initiative. Its scope includes data acquisition, quality control, storage, analysis support, and dissemination to researchers. This is crucial for enabling the discovery of genetic and environmental factors influencing complex diseases, ultimately advancing precision medicine.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of the Data Coordinating Center?

Key performance indicators likely include data completeness and accuracy rates, turnaround times for data requests and analysis support, successful integration of diverse data types (genomic, clinical, environmental), uptime and accessibility of data repositories, and the number of research publications or discoveries enabled by the DCC's services. Adherence to data security and privacy protocols is also paramount.

How does the University of Washington's existing infrastructure and expertise compare to potential competitors in managing such a large-scale data initiative?

The University of Washington has a strong track record in bioinformatics, genomics, and managing large research data consortia, including significant contributions to NIH-funded projects. Their established infrastructure, experienced personnel, and collaborative environment likely provided a competitive advantage in demonstrating their capability to effectively manage the complex data coordination requirements for the TOPMED program.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › N – Health R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH

Solicitation ID: HHSN26817HV00001R

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE, SEATTLE, WA, 98195

Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, U.S. Local Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public)

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,182,824

Exercised Options: $11,182,824

Current Obligation: $11,182,824

Actual Outlays: $249,556

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N92018D00001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline