Columbia University contract for NIH research support valued at $1.96M, spanning 5 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $1,960,053 ($2.0M)
Contractor: THE Trustees of Columbia University in the City of NEW York
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: $1.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: TASK AREA A SHALL ENCOMPASS ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP OF COHORT MEMBERS, CLINICAL EVENTS INVESTIGATIONS, STUDY OPERATIONS, AND DATA ANALYSIS AND MANUSCRIPT WRITING. IF IMPLEMENTED, TASK A.1 WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR.
Place of Performance
Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10032
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $2.0 million to THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK for work described as: TASK AREA A SHALL ENCOMPASS ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP OF COHORT MEMBERS, CLINICAL EVENTS INVESTIGATIONS, STUDY OPERATIONS, AND DATA ANALYSIS AND MANUSCRIPT WRITING. IF IMPLEMENTED, TASK A.1 WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR. Key points: 1. Contract supports critical research activities including cohort follow-up, clinical event investigations, and data analysis. 2. Funding allocated for steering committee chair indicates a focus on research governance and direction. 3. The contract's duration of five years suggests a long-term commitment to the research project. 4. Performance period aligns with typical research project lifecycles, allowing for comprehensive data collection and analysis. 5. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a leading funder of biomedical research, indicating this contract is part of a significant scientific endeavor. 6. The specific NAICS code (541715) points to research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences, excluding nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $1.96 million over five years appears reasonable for supporting complex research operations, including data analysis and manuscript writing. Benchmarking against similar NIH contracts for research support services would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The 'COST NO FEE' contract type suggests that the government reimburses allowable costs incurred by the contractor, which can be efficient if costs are well-managed.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is expected to yield fair pricing and a selection of the most capable contractor. The number of bidders is not specified, but the method of competition suggests a robust selection process.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs through market forces and ensuring the government receives the best value for its investment.
Public Impact
The Trustees of Columbia University, as the contractor, will benefit from funding to conduct vital research. The contract supports critical research activities such as annual follow-up of cohort members and clinical event investigations. Data analysis and manuscript writing will contribute to scientific knowledge dissemination. The research is likely to have implications for public health and scientific advancement, benefiting society broadly. The contract is based in New York, potentially impacting the local research workforce and economy.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if research objectives are not clearly defined and managed.
- Reliance on a single contractor for a multi-year research project could pose continuity risks if not managed proactively.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive and potentially cost-effective process.
- Long-term duration (5 years) indicates a stable funding environment for critical research activities.
- The task area includes essential components of research operations, from data collection to dissemination.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The R&D sector is characterized by innovation and the pursuit of new knowledge. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a major player in this sector, funding a significant portion of biomedical research in the United States. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other NIH grants and contracts awarded for similar research support services.
Small Business Impact
The contract details do not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions or subcontracting requirements. As it was awarded under full and open competition, the primary focus was likely on the overall best value rather than specific small business participation goals. Further analysis would be needed to determine if any small businesses were involved as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the awarding agency. The contract type ('COST NO FEE') implies that the government will monitor the contractor's costs to ensure they are allowable and reasonable. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- NIH Research Grants
- Biomedical Research Support Contracts
- Clinical Trial Management Services
- Data Analysis and Management Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to 'COST NO FEE' structure.
- Research outcomes are inherently uncertain and may not meet all initial expectations.
- Long-term reliance on a single entity for critical research functions.
Tags
research-and-development, health-and-human-services, national-institutes-of-health, cost-reimbursement, full-and-open-competition, new-york, university, long-term-contract, life-sciences, clinical-research
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2.0 million to THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. TASK AREA A SHALL ENCOMPASS ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP OF COHORT MEMBERS, CLINICAL EVENTS INVESTIGATIONS, STUDY OPERATIONS, AND DATA ANALYSIS AND MANUSCRIPT WRITING. IF IMPLEMENTED, TASK A.1 WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
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 $2.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-12-19. End: 2024-12-18.
What is the specific nature of the 'clinical events investigations' supported by this contract?
The contract description mentions 'clinical events investigations' as part of Task Area A. This typically refers to the process of identifying, documenting, assessing, and reporting adverse events or significant clinical occurrences that happen during the course of a research study involving human participants. These investigations are crucial for ensuring participant safety, maintaining the integrity of the research data, and complying with regulatory requirements. The scope would likely involve protocols for event reporting, investigation procedures, and analysis of the findings to determine causality and impact on the study.
How does the $1.96 million value compare to similar NIH contracts for research support?
Without specific data on comparable contracts, a direct comparison is challenging. However, $1.96 million over five years averages to approximately $392,000 per year. This figure seems reasonable for a contract supporting comprehensive research operations, including cohort management, event investigation, data analysis, and manuscript preparation, especially when considering the overhead and specialized personnel required. NIH contracts vary widely in value based on scope, duration, and complexity. A detailed benchmark analysis would require access to a database of similar NIH contracts, considering factors like the specific scientific area, number of participants, and required deliverables.
What are the potential risks associated with a five-year 'COST NO FEE' contract for research?
A 'COST NO FEE' contract means the government reimburses the contractor for allowable costs but does not pay a fixed profit. Risks include potential cost overruns if the contractor's cost management is weak, as there is less incentive for efficiency compared to fixed-price contracts. For research, there's also the inherent risk that research outcomes may not meet expectations, despite diligent effort. Ensuring robust oversight of expenditures and regular performance reviews is critical to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives value for the funds expended.
What is the track record of The Trustees of Columbia University in managing similar federal research contracts?
The Trustees of Columbia University, as a major research institution, has a long and extensive history of managing numerous federal research grants and contracts, particularly from agencies like the NIH. They are well-established in conducting complex scientific research across various disciplines. While specific performance details for this particular contract are not provided, Columbia University's general track record suggests a high capacity for managing large-scale research projects, adhering to compliance standards, and producing scientific output. A deeper dive into their past performance ratings on similar federal awards would offer more specific insights.
What are the implications of the NAICS code 541715 for the type of research being funded?
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715, 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology),' indicates that the research funded under this contract is broad-based within these scientific domains. It covers fundamental and applied research across disciplines like chemistry, physics, biology, environmental science, and various engineering fields. The exclusion of nanotechnology and biotechnology suggests the focus is on more traditional scientific research areas rather than cutting-edge, small-scale technologies or advanced biological engineering.
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: 75N92018R0078
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 630 W 168TH ST FL 4, NEW YORK, NY, 10032
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private)
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $1,960,053
Exercised Options: $1,960,053
Current Obligation: $1,960,053
Actual Outlays: $1,411,709
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 75N92020D00002
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-12-19
Current End Date: 2024-12-18
Potential End Date: 2024-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-06
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