NIH Awards $45.9M to Psychogenics for Pain Research Platform
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $45,906,482 ($45.9M)
Contractor: Psychogenics Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2019-09-26
End Date: 2024-09-25
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $25.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: SCREENING OF INVESTIGATIONAL AGENTS THROUGH THE NINDS PRECLINICAL SCREENING PLATFORM FOR PAIN (PSPP)
Place of Performance
Location: PARAMUS, BERGEN County, NEW JERSEY, 07652
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $45.9 million to PSYCHOGENICS INC. for work described as: SCREENING OF INVESTIGATIONAL AGENTS THROUGH THE NINDS PRECLINICAL SCREENING PLATFORM FOR PAIN (PSPP) Key points: 1. Significant investment in a specialized preclinical screening platform for pain research. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a potentially competitive bidding process. 3. Risk is moderate, tied to the success of research and development outcomes. 4. Sector focus is R&D, specifically in life sciences related to pain therapeutics.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $45.9M over five years for a specialized research platform appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar R&D service contracts would provide further context on pricing efficiency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are supporting critical research into pain mechanisms and potential treatments, aiming for long-term health benefits.
Public Impact
Advancing understanding and treatment of pain, a major public health concern. Supporting scientific innovation through a dedicated preclinical screening platform. Potential for new drug development and therapeutic breakthroughs. Investment in the biomedical research sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- R&D project timelines can be lengthy and outcomes uncertain.
- Reliance on a single platform may limit breadth of screening approaches.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical unmet medical need (pain management).
- Utilizes a competitive procurement process.
- Long-term contract duration allows for sustained research effort.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on life sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for medical advancements, with benchmarks varying widely based on research complexity and duration.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate specific participation or subcontracting by small businesses in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement.
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. Accountability is tied to research milestones and deliverables.
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
- Potential for research delays or failure to meet objectives.
- Long-term nature of R&D may obscure immediate cost-effectiveness.
- Dependence on specific scientific expertise and technological capabilities.
- Limited visibility into specific performance metrics beyond contract milestones.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-health-and-human-services, nj, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $45.9 million to PSYCHOGENICS INC.. SCREENING OF INVESTIGATIONAL AGENTS THROUGH THE NINDS PRECLINICAL SCREENING PLATFORM FOR PAIN (PSPP)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PSYCHOGENICS INC..
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 $45.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-09-26. End: 2024-09-25.
What is the expected scientific impact of the PSPP platform on pain research?
The PSPP platform is expected to accelerate the identification and validation of novel pain targets and therapeutic candidates by providing a standardized, high-throughput screening environment. This could lead to a more efficient drug discovery pipeline and ultimately, new treatments for various pain conditions, benefiting patients and the healthcare system.
What are the primary risks associated with the success of this R&D contract?
The primary risks involve the inherent uncertainty of scientific research. This includes the possibility that the screening platform may not identify viable drug candidates, that promising candidates may fail in later development stages, or that the research itself may not yield significant breakthroughs within the contract period, impacting the return on investment.
How does this investment contribute to the overall effectiveness of NIH's mission?
This investment directly supports NIH's mission to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and prevent, treat, and cure disease. By funding advanced research platforms like PSPP, NIH enhances its capacity to foster innovation and address critical public health challenges such as chronic pain.
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: NIHNINDS75N95019R00027
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 215 COLLEGE RD, PARAMUS, NJ, 07652
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $45,906,482
Exercised Options: $45,906,482
Current Obligation: $45,906,482
Actual Outlays: $33,836,294
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 75N95019D00026
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-09-26
Current End Date: 2024-09-25
Potential End Date: 2024-09-25 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2023-07-21
More Contracts from Psychogenics Inc.
- Screening of Investigational Agents Through the Ninds Preclinical Screening Platform for Pain (pspp) — $21.3M (Department of Health and Human Services)
Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts
- Contact Center Operations (CCO) — $5.5B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- TAS::75 0849::TAS Oper of Govt R&D Goco Facilities — $4.8B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Provide the Full Complement of Services Necessary to Care for UC in ORR Custody Including Facilities Set-Up, Maintenance, and Support Internal and Perimeter (IF Applicable) Security, Direct Care and Supervision Inc — $3.5B (Rapid Deployment Inc)
- Contact Center Operations — $2.6B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- Federal Contract — $2.4B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →