NIH Awards $13.6M for Core Study Operations to University of Washington

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,624,886 ($13.6M)

Contractor: University of Washington

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2019-12-19

End Date: 2024-12-18

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: TASK AREA A CORE STUDY OPERATIONS.TASK AREA A SHALL ENCOMPASS ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP OF COHORT MEMBERS, CLINICAL ENDPOINTS ASCERTAINMENT, STUDY COORDINATION ACTIVITIES, MAINTENANCE OF THE DATABASE AND BIOSPECIMEN REPOSITORY, AND DATA ANALYSIS AND MANUSCRIP

Place of Performance

Location: SEATTLE, KING County, WASHINGTON, 98195

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $13.6 million to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON for work described as: TASK AREA A CORE STUDY OPERATIONS.TASK AREA A SHALL ENCOMPASS ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP OF COHORT MEMBERS, CLINICAL ENDPOINTS ASCERTAINMENT, STUDY COORDINATION ACTIVITIES, MAINTENANCE OF THE DATABASE AND BIOSPECIMEN REPOSITORY, AND DATA ANALYSIS AND MANUSCRIP Key points: 1. The contract supports crucial research activities including cohort follow-up, data analysis, and biospecimen management. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The primary risk appears to be the successful execution of complex research tasks over a five-year period. 4. Spending falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract type is 'COST NO FEE', which is common for research grants where direct costs are reimbursed but no profit is allowed. The award amount of $13.6M over five years appears reasonable for a large-scale research study.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 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 for critical health research, with the expectation of valuable scientific outcomes.

Public Impact

Supports long-term health research and data collection. Facilitates advancements in understanding disease and developing treatments. Ensures the maintenance of valuable research data and biological samples. Contributes to the scientific knowledge base through data analysis and reporting.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in research objectives.
Reliance on specific research personnel expertise.
Data integrity and security challenges.

Positive Signals

Supports critical public health research.
Awarded through a competitive process.
Long-term commitment to research objectives.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending benchmarks for similar NIH research grants vary widely based on scope and duration, but this award appears aligned with substantial, multi-year research initiatives.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. The awardee is a university, and the nature of the work may not lend itself to subcontracting with small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a leading federal agency for biomedical research. Oversight would involve monitoring research progress, data quality, and adherence to ethical and scientific standards.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Long-term project duration increases risk of scope changes.
Reliance on specialized research personnel.
Potential for data breaches or loss.
Complexity of managing large datasets and biospecimens.
Ensuring continued scientific relevance over five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $13.6 million to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. TASK AREA A CORE STUDY OPERATIONS.TASK AREA A SHALL ENCOMPASS ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP OF COHORT MEMBERS, CLINICAL ENDPOINTS ASCERTAINMENT, STUDY COORDINATION ACTIVITIES, MAINTENANCE OF THE DATABASE AND BIOSPECIMEN REPOSITORY, AND DATA ANALYSIS AND MANUSCRIP

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 $13.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-12-19. End: 2024-12-18.

What is the expected scientific return on investment for this $13.6M award?

The expected return is the generation of significant scientific knowledge through the annual follow-up of cohort members, clinical endpoint ascertainment, and data analysis. This could lead to breakthroughs in understanding diseases, identifying risk factors, and informing public health strategies, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and potentially reducing future healthcare costs.

What are the primary risks associated with the long-term data analysis and biospecimen maintenance?

Key risks include data degradation or loss over time, challenges in maintaining the integrity and viability of biospecimens, potential breaches of data privacy and security, and the need for continuous technological updates to manage and analyze large datasets effectively. Ensuring consistent funding and expert personnel over the contract's duration is also critical.

How will the effectiveness of the 'TASK AREA A CORE STUDY OPERATIONS' be measured?

Effectiveness will likely be measured by the timely and accurate completion of key research milestones, such as the successful follow-up of the target cohort, the quality and completeness of collected data, the proper maintenance and accessibility of the biospecimen repository, and the timely delivery of data analysis reports. Adherence to study protocols and scientific rigor will also be key indicators.

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 › N – Health R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 75N92018R0077

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: University of Washington Inc

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: $13,624,886

Exercised Options: $13,624,886

Current Obligation: $13,624,886

Actual Outlays: $9,497,048

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N92020D00001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline