HHS awards $47.2M for Women's Health Initiative research to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $47,214,888 ($47.2M)

Contractor: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2021-02-01

End Date: 2026-01-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE (WHI) - CLINICAL COORDINATING CENTER (CCC) - TASK AREA A

Place of Performance

Location: SEATTLE, KING County, WASHINGTON, 98109

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $47.2 million to FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER for work described as: WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE (WHI) - CLINICAL COORDINATING CENTER (CCC) - TASK AREA A Key points: 1. This contract supports critical research in women's health, a vital area for public well-being. 2. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a well-established research institution, suggesting strong technical capability. 3. The contract is for R&D in life sciences, aligning with NIH's mission. 4. The duration of the contract (5 years) indicates a long-term research commitment.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $47.2M over 5 years is substantial for a research center. Without specific benchmarks for similar WHI-CCC Task Area A contracts, direct pricing comparison is difficult, but it appears reasonable for a large-scale, multi-year research endeavor.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing and allows the government to select the best value. The price discovery process likely involved multiple proposals evaluated on technical merit and cost.

Taxpayer Impact: The investment supports crucial women's health research, aiming for long-term health benefits and potentially cost savings through improved understanding and treatment of diseases.

Public Impact

Advances understanding of women's health issues, potentially leading to better disease prevention and treatment. Supports a leading cancer research center, contributing to scientific innovation and medical breakthroughs. The research findings could have broad public health implications, improving quality of life for many. Long-term federal investment in scientific research fosters economic growth and technological advancement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Supports critical research area
Awarded via full and open competition
Long contract duration for sustained effort
Contractor is a reputable research institution

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector. Federal spending in this area is substantial, driven by agencies like NIH, focusing on scientific advancement and public health outcomes. Benchmarks vary widely based on research scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, a large research institution. There is no indication of specific provisions or subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this data, suggesting the primary focus is on the prime awardee's capabilities.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health. Oversight would involve monitoring research progress, adherence to protocols, and financial accountability to ensure the effective use of federal funds.

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

Contract duration is long, requiring sustained oversight.
Research outcomes are inherently uncertain.
Potential for scope creep if research objectives expand.
Reliance on a single large institution for coordination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $47.2 million to FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER. WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE (WHI) - CLINICAL COORDINATING CENTER (CCC) - TASK AREA A

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER.

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 $47.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-02-01. End: 2026-01-31.

What are the specific research objectives for Task Area A of the WHI-CCC, and how will success be measured?

Task Area A likely focuses on the operational and logistical coordination of the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Coordinating Center. Success would be measured by the efficient management of clinical trials, data collection, participant recruitment and retention, adherence to study protocols, and timely reporting of findings to NIH. Specific metrics would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work.

What is the potential long-term impact of this research on women's health outcomes and healthcare costs?

The WHI has historically provided crucial insights into the prevention and treatment of major chronic diseases in women. Continued funding for its coordination center suggests ongoing research that could lead to improved public health guidelines, personalized medicine approaches, and potentially reduced long-term healthcare expenditures by mitigating disease incidence and severity.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar large-scale, multi-year clinical research coordination efforts?

Benchmarking this $47.2M, 5-year contract requires detailed comparison with other NIH-funded coordinating centers for large cohort studies. Factors like the number of participants, geographic distribution, complexity of data collection, and specific research aims significantly influence costs. Without direct comparable data, assessing cost-effectiveness is challenging, but the full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing process.

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: 75N92019R0030

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1100 FAIRVIEW AVE N, SEATTLE, WA, 98109

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $47,468,877

Exercised Options: $47,214,888

Current Obligation: $47,214,888

Actual Outlays: $38,677,629

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 23

Total Subaward Amount: $6,148,988

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N92021D00001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline