HHS awards $4M contract for clinical studies management to MPF Federal, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,003,901 ($4.0M)

Contractor: MPF Federal, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2024-11-26

End Date: 2026-11-25

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: CLINICAL STUDIES MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT (CSMS) FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES (NIAMS)

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $4.0 million to MPF FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: CLINICAL STUDIES MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT (CSMS) FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES (NIAMS) Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative and management consulting for arthritis and musculoskeletal research. 2. MPF Federal, LLC, a known entity in federal contracting, secured this award. 3. The contract duration is 729 days, indicating a medium-term engagement. 4. This award falls under the Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services NAICS code. 5. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges. 6. The award was made via a Delivery Order under a larger contract vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $4 million over two years for clinical studies management appears within a reasonable range for specialized support services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for NIH research support is necessary for a definitive value assessment. The Time and Materials pricing structure, while flexible, requires diligent oversight to ensure cost efficiency and prevent scope creep, which could inflate the per-unit cost over time.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. While the number of bidders is not specified, this method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows any qualified vendor to participate. The presence of multiple potential bidders typically leads to better price discovery and a wider range of technical solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is favorable for taxpayers as it is intended to drive down costs through market forces and ensure the government receives the best value for its investment.

Public Impact

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) will benefit from enhanced management and support for its clinical studies. This contract will facilitate the smooth execution of research protocols, potentially accelerating the development of new treatments and understanding of diseases. The primary beneficiaries are patients and the scientific community involved in arthritis, musculoskeletal, and skin disease research. The services delivered will likely involve project management, data collection oversight, regulatory compliance support, and administrative functions for clinical trials.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess efficiency.
The broad NAICS code (541611) might encompass a wide range of services, requiring clear definition of scope to ensure focused delivery.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive marketplace.
Contract supports a critical health research agency (NIAMS), aligning with public health goals.
The contractor, MPF Federal, LLC, has experience in federal contracting, suggesting familiarity with government processes.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. The market for clinical research support services is substantial, driven by government and private sector investments in healthcare and pharmaceutical development. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other contracts for clinical trial management and research support services awarded by agencies like NIH, CDC, and FDA.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates 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. However, the prime contractor, MPF Federal, LLC, may engage small businesses as subcontractors depending on their own business practices and the specific needs of the clinical studies management services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the contracting agency, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Accountability measures are typically embedded within the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS.gov. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Support Contracts
Clinical Trial Management Services
Administrative and Management Consulting Services
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
Need for strong government oversight to manage contractor performance and costs.
Scope definition clarity is critical for effective service delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $4.0 million to MPF FEDERAL, LLC. CLINICAL STUDIES MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT (CSMS) FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES (NIAMS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MPF FEDERAL, LLC.

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 $4.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-11-26. End: 2026-11-25.

What is the track record of MPF Federal, LLC in delivering similar clinical studies management services to federal agencies?

MPF Federal, LLC has a history of performing various contract services for federal agencies, including those related to administrative support, management consulting, and IT services. While specific details on their track record in *clinical studies management* require deeper investigation into past performance reports and contract histories, their presence as a recipient of federal contracts suggests a level of established capability. Analyzing their past performance on contracts with similar NAICS codes (e.g., 541611) and agencies like HHS or other health-focused departments would provide a clearer picture of their expertise and reliability in managing complex research projects. It is crucial to review past performance evaluations and any documented issues or successes to fully assess their suitability for this specific role.

How does the $4 million contract value compare to similar clinical studies management contracts awarded by NIAMS or other NIH institutes?

The $4 million contract value for two years of clinical studies management and support for NIAMS needs to be benchmarked against similar awards to assess its competitiveness and reasonableness. Contracts for clinical research support can vary significantly based on the scope, duration, complexity of the studies, and the specific services required (e.g., data management, patient recruitment, regulatory affairs). A comparative analysis would involve searching federal procurement databases for contracts with similar objectives, awarded by NIAMS, other NIH institutes (like NCI, NIAID), or even other health agencies (like CDC, FDA) over the past 3-5 years. Factors such as the number of bidders, contract type (e.g., FFP vs. T&M), and the specific tasks outlined in the Statement of Work are critical for a meaningful comparison. Without this context, the $4 million figure is difficult to definitively label as high or low.

What are the primary risks associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for this clinical studies management service?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for clinical studies management is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts, T&M contracts pay the contractor for the actual labor hours and materials used, plus a fixed fee or overhead. If the scope of work is not precisely defined, or if project management is weak, the contractor may incur more hours or use more resources than initially anticipated, leading to a higher final cost for the government. This necessitates robust government oversight to monitor labor hours, ensure efficiency, and prevent scope creep. Additionally, T&M contracts can sometimes disincentivize the contractor from completing tasks quickly, as their profit is often tied to the amount of time spent.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' process likely to be in ensuring value for money for this specific contract?

The 'full and open competition' process is generally considered the most effective method for ensuring value for money in federal contracting. By allowing all responsible sources to submit bids, it fosters a competitive environment where multiple vendors vie for the contract. This competition typically drives down prices, encourages innovation, and ensures that the government selects the offer that provides the best overall value, considering both price and technical merit. For a contract like clinical studies management, where technical expertise and reliability are crucial, full and open competition allows the agency to evaluate a wide range of capabilities and select the contractor best suited to meet the complex requirements of research support, thereby maximizing the return on taxpayer investment.

What are the historical spending patterns for clinical studies management and support services at NIAMS or similar NIH institutes?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for clinical studies management and support at NIAMS and similar NIH institutes is crucial for understanding the scale and trends in this area. This involves examining past contract awards, their values, durations, and the types of services procured over several fiscal years. Such an analysis can reveal whether spending has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and identify key contractors or service categories that have received significant funding. Understanding these patterns helps in budgeting, forecasting future needs, and assessing whether the current $4 million award is consistent with historical investment levels or represents a significant shift in procurement strategy. It also provides context for evaluating the long-term commitment to outsourcing these critical research support functions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 75N92025Q1135

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 702 RUSSELL AVE STE 400, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 20877

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,824,264

Exercised Options: $5,824,264

Current Obligation: $4,003,901

Actual Outlays: $2,064,928

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00F148GA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline