NIAID Awards $17.3M for Genomics Services to Standardize Vaccine Research

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,317,765 ($17.3M)

Contractor: University of Washington

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2018-07-01

End Date: 2025-06-30

Contract Duration: 2,556 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT IS TO ENSURE STANDARDIZATION AND COMPARABILITY OF FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS SERVICES AND ASSAYS CONDUCTED FOR THE NIAID SIMIAN VACCINE EVALUATION UNITS AND DAIDS-SUPPORTED PRECLINICAL NONHUMAN PRIMATE(NHP) STUDIES. THE ULTIMATE

Place of Performance

Location: SEATTLE, KING County, WASHINGTON, 98195

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $17.3 million to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT IS TO ENSURE STANDARDIZATION AND COMPARABILITY OF FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS SERVICES AND ASSAYS CONDUCTED FOR THE NIAID SIMIAN VACCINE EVALUATION UNITS AND DAIDS-SUPPORTED PRECLINICAL NONHUMAN PRIMATE(NHP) STUDIES. THE ULTIMATE Key points: 1. Contract aims to standardize functional genomics services for vaccine development. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting potential for competitive pricing. 3. Risk is moderate, given the long-term nature and R&D focus. 4. Spending falls within the R&D sector, specifically life sciences.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $17.3M over approximately 7 years suggests a reasonable annual spend for specialized genomics services. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts for assay standardization would provide further context.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing and allows for a broad range of qualified vendors to participate. This method is expected to yield fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to advance critical vaccine research, with the expectation of improved standardization and comparability of results, potentially leading to more efficient and effective vaccine development.

Public Impact

Enhances the reliability and reproducibility of crucial vaccine research data. Supports the development of new vaccines by ensuring consistent testing methods. Facilitates collaboration among research units by providing a common service standard. Contributes to public health by accelerating the path to effective vaccines.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 67 / 10

Warning Flags

Long-term contract duration (7 years) may present budget uncertainty.
Reliance on a single entity for standardization could pose a risk if capabilities falter.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition promotes cost-effectiveness.
Clear purpose of standardization is vital for research integrity.
Supports a critical area of public health research (vaccines).

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Research and Development in the Life Sciences. Spending benchmarks for similar functional genomics services can vary widely based on complexity and scale, but this award appears to be a significant investment in standardizing critical research infrastructure.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to the University of Washington, a large research institution. There is no explicit indication of small business participation in this award, suggesting opportunities for subcontracting may exist but are not a primary focus of the prime award.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a reputable agency with established oversight mechanisms for research grants and contracts. Regular reporting and performance reviews are expected to ensure accountability.

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 contract duration (7 years).
Potential for vendor dependency.
Lack of explicit small business subcontracting noted.
Complexity of R&D services can lead to scope creep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $17.3 million to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT IS TO ENSURE STANDARDIZATION AND COMPARABILITY OF FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS SERVICES AND ASSAYS CONDUCTED FOR THE NIAID SIMIAN VACCINE EVALUATION UNITS AND DAIDS-SUPPORTED PRECLINICAL NONHUMAN PRIMATE(NHP) STUDIES. THE ULTIMATE

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 $17.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-07-01. End: 2025-06-30.

How will the standardization of functional genomics services impact the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of NIAID's vaccine research pipeline?

Standardization is expected to reduce variability in experimental results, leading to clearer data interpretation and fewer failed experiments. This can accelerate research timelines and reduce redundant testing, ultimately making the vaccine development process more cost-effective. By ensuring comparability across different studies and units, it minimizes the need for re-validation and streamlines the overall research workflow.

What are the primary risks associated with relying on a single entity for the standardization of critical functional genomics assays?

The primary risks include potential vendor lock-in, where switching providers becomes difficult or costly. There's also a risk if the vendor experiences financial instability, operational issues, or a decline in expertise, which could disrupt the standardization efforts. Furthermore, a lack of ongoing competitive pressure might reduce incentives for continuous innovation and cost optimization by the awarded entity.

To what extent does this contract contribute to the broader scientific community's ability to conduct reliable and comparable research beyond NIAID's immediate needs?

By establishing and maintaining standardized functional genomics services and assays, this contract has the potential to create best practices and reference standards that can be adopted by other research institutions and funding agencies. This promotes broader scientific reproducibility and comparability, enhancing the overall integrity and progress of genomic research in vaccine development and other life science fields globally.

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: NIAIDDAIDSNIHAI2016072

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

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: $17,317,765

Exercised Options: $17,317,765

Current Obligation: $17,317,765

Actual Outlays: $10,100,256

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline