HHS awards $22.5M for scientific review and portfolio analysis support, with a focus on ARPA-H

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,548,062 ($22.5M)

Contractor: Four Points Technology, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-09-19

End Date: 2027-03-18

Contract Duration: 1,276 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NHLBI SCIENTIFIC REVIEW AND SCIENTIFIC PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS (SR/SPA) SOLUTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES WITH ARPA-H SUPPORT (SR/SPA) SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20817

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $22.5 million to FOUR POINTS TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C. for work described as: NHLBI SCIENTIFIC REVIEW AND SCIENTIFIC PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS (SR/SPA) SOLUTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES WITH ARPA-H SUPPORT (SR/SPA) SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value of $22.5 million over its period of performance. 2. Services include scientific review and portfolio analysis, supporting ARPA-H initiatives. 3. Awarded to Four Points Technology, L.L.C. under a firm-fixed-price contract. 4. The contract has a duration of approximately 4.25 years. 5. This award falls under 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code. 6. The contract was awarded via full and open competition.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $22.5 million for over four years of support for scientific review and portfolio analysis appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for scientific support services at NIH or other research agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which is generally favorable for the government.

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 process is designed to foster a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service quality. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the method of award suggests a robust competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring that the government receives the best possible value through a wide range of offers and competitive pricing.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), who will receive critical support for their scientific review and portfolio analysis functions. The services delivered will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of research funding decisions and program oversight. The geographic impact is primarily within Maryland, where the contractor is located, but the impact of ARPA-H's supported research will be national. Workforce implications include the potential for skilled analysts and researchers to be employed by the contractor to fulfill these specialized services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the definition of 'portfolio analysis' is not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical scientific review functions could pose a risk if performance falters.
Ensuring the contractor's personnel maintain the highest levels of scientific integrity and objectivity is paramount.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that likely yielded fair pricing.
Firm-fixed-price contract structure shifts cost risk to the contractor.
The contract supports ARPA-H, a high-priority initiative for advancing health research.
The duration of the contract allows for continuity of essential support services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on computer-related services and scientific consulting. The market for such services is competitive, with many firms offering expertise in research analysis, program management, and IT support for government agencies. Spending in this area is crucial for agencies like NIH and ARPA-H to effectively manage their research portfolios and identify promising scientific endeavors.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside requirement. However, the prime contractor may choose to subcontract portions of the work to small businesses as part of their business strategy, which could provide opportunities within the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the awarding agency, through contract officers and technical monitors. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance metrics and detailed reporting may be internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

NIH Scientific Review Activities
ARPA-H Program Management Support
Federal Scientific Research Support Services
IT and Data Analysis Services for Government

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues if contractor lacks specialized scientific expertise.
Risk of data security breaches given the sensitive nature of research portfolios.
Need for clear definition and management of 'portfolio analysis' scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $22.5 million to FOUR POINTS TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.. NHLBI SCIENTIFIC REVIEW AND SCIENTIFIC PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS (SR/SPA) SOLUTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES WITH ARPA-H SUPPORT (SR/SPA) SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FOUR POINTS TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C..

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 $22.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-19. End: 2027-03-18.

What is the track record of Four Points Technology, L.L.C. with the federal government, particularly with NIH or ARPA-H?

A review of federal procurement data indicates that Four Points Technology, L.L.C. has a history of receiving federal contracts. To assess their specific track record with NIH or ARPA-H, a deeper dive into contract databases like FPDS-NG or SAM.gov would be necessary. This would reveal the types of services they have previously provided, their performance ratings on past contracts (if available), and the total value of contracts awarded to them. A strong performance history with similar agencies or for comparable services would suggest a lower risk for this new award. Conversely, any past performance issues or significant deviations from contract requirements could be a cause for concern.

How does the $22.5 million contract value compare to similar scientific review and portfolio analysis support contracts?

Benchmarking this $22.5 million contract requires identifying comparable contracts awarded by NIH, ARPA-H, or other federal research agencies for similar scientific review, portfolio analysis, and scientific support services. Factors such as contract duration, scope of work complexity, and the specific expertise required (e.g., advanced R&D analysis vs. standard grant review) will influence pricing. If similar contracts of comparable scope and duration are valued significantly higher or lower, it could indicate potential overpricing or underbidding, respectively. Without specific comparable data, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money, but the firm-fixed-price nature suggests the government has a defined cost expectation.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will they be measured?

The specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this 'NHLBI SCIENTIFIC REVIEW AND SCIENTIFIC PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS (SR/SPA) SOLUTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES WITH ARPA-H SUPPORT (SR/SPA) SERVICES' contract are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, for such services, KPIs might include metrics related to the timeliness of review processes, the quality and objectivity of analysis reports, adherence to deadlines, accuracy of portfolio assessments, and responsiveness to agency requests. These KPIs would be defined in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS). The government's contract officer and technical representatives would be responsible for monitoring the contractor's performance against these KPIs and determining if the services meet the required standards.

What is the potential impact of this contract on ARPA-H's ability to accelerate health innovation?

This contract is designed to directly support ARPA-H's mission by providing essential scientific review and portfolio analysis capabilities. Effective and efficient review processes are crucial for identifying and funding high-risk, high-reward research projects that have the potential to lead to transformative breakthroughs in health. By ensuring robust analysis of research portfolios and scientific proposals, this contract can help ARPA-H make more informed funding decisions, identify emerging trends, and manage its investments strategically. This, in turn, can accelerate the pace at which innovative health technologies and therapies are developed and brought to fruition.

Are there any specific risks associated with the 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code for this type of support?

The NAICS code '541519 - Other Computer Related Services' is broad and encompasses a wide range of IT and technical services. For a contract focused on scientific review and portfolio analysis, the primary risks associated with this code would relate to the contractor's ability to provide specialized analytical expertise beyond standard IT support. Risks could include the contractor lacking deep scientific domain knowledge required for effective review, challenges in data security and integrity for sensitive research information, or difficulties in integrating analytical tools with existing government systems. Ensuring the contractor possesses the requisite scientific acumen and robust data handling capabilities is key to mitigating these risks.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: CS-114450-SB

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 14900 CONFERENCE CENTER DR STE 100, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $32,434,420

Exercised Options: $22,548,062

Current Obligation: $22,548,062

Actual Outlays: $15,485,149

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSN316201500034W

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline