NIH awards $2.46M for Scientific, Operations, and Administrative Resources to Gap Solutions, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,465,276 ($2.5M)

Contractor: GAP Solutions, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2021-07-08

End Date: 2026-07-14

Contract Duration: 1,832 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SCIENTIFIC, OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES (SOAR) TO THE NIH

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $2.5 million to GAP SOLUTIONS, INC. for work described as: SCIENTIFIC, OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES (SOAR) TO THE NIH Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 3. Delivery Order under a larger contract vehicle indicates potential for follow-on work. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541690 points to specialized consulting services. 5. The contract duration of 1832 days (approximately 5 years) suggests a long-term need for these services. 6. The awardee, Gap Solutions, Inc., is a small business, which may have implications for subcontracting. 7. The contract is managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a major research agency.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the services provided. The total award amount of $2.46 million over approximately five years averages to about $493,000 annually. This figure needs to be compared against similar contracts for scientific, operations, and administrative support services within federal research agencies. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract is generally favorable for cost control, but the ultimate value depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of Gap Solutions, Inc. in delivering the required resources.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific delivery order. While two bidders are better than one, a higher number of bidders typically leads to more robust price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government. The specific details of the bidding process and the evaluation criteria would provide further insight into the competitive dynamics.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers as it encourages multiple companies to vie for the contract, potentially driving down prices and improving service quality through competitive pressure.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its various research programs, which will receive essential operational and administrative support. The services delivered are categorized under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services,' implying support for research operations, data management, or administrative functions. The geographic impact is likely concentrated around NIH facilities, primarily in Maryland, where the contract is managed. Workforce implications may include the creation of jobs by Gap Solutions, Inc. to fulfill the contract requirements, potentially impacting the local economy near NIH operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the definition of 'SOAR' is not tightly managed.
Dependence on a single small business contractor for critical operational support could pose a risk if the contractor faces financial or operational difficulties.
Ensuring the quality and relevance of 'consulting services' aligns with NIH's specific scientific and administrative needs.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract structure helps control costs and shifts risk to the contractor.
Award through full and open competition suggests a fair and transparent procurement process.
The contract duration indicates a stable, long-term need that the contractor is expected to meet.

Sector Analysis

The federal sector for scientific, technical, and administrative consulting services is diverse, encompassing a wide range of specialized support functions for government agencies. This contract falls under the broader category of professional services, which is a significant area of federal spending. The NAICS code 541690 specifically targets consulting services not elsewhere classified, often including scientific and technical advice. Comparable spending benchmarks would require analyzing other contracts for similar support services at agencies like NIH or other research-intensive federal bodies, considering factors like contract duration, scope, and the number of bidders.

Small Business Impact

Gap Solutions, Inc. is identified as a small business. This award may contribute to the government's small business contracting goals. The contract does not explicitly state it is a small business set-aside, but the awardee's size is noted. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities are mandated or likely to be offered to other small businesses, thereby extending the positive impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officers and program managers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, the specific oversight mechanisms would be detailed within that parent contract. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS.gov, which provide public access to award information. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract is suspected.

Related Government Programs

NIH Operations Support Contracts
Federal Scientific Consulting Services
Administrative Support Contracts
Professional Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential capacity limitations of a small business contractor for a multi-year contract.
Need for clear definition and management of 'SOAR' services to prevent scope creep.
Ensuring consistent quality of consulting services aligns with NIH's specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2.5 million to GAP SOLUTIONS, INC.. SCIENTIFIC, OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES (SOAR) TO THE NIH

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GAP SOLUTIONS, 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 $2.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-07-08. End: 2026-07-14.

What specific types of scientific, operations, and administrative resources are covered under this contract?

The contract data indicates the award is for 'SCIENTIFIC, OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES (SOAR)'. While the NAICS code 541690 points to 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services', the exact nature of these resources is not detailed in the provided summary. Typically, such contracts could encompass a range of services including research support, data analysis, laboratory management, administrative process improvement, IT support for research systems, grant management assistance, or logistical support for scientific operations. A deeper dive into the Statement of Work (SOW) for this specific delivery order would be necessary to ascertain the precise scope of services and resources being procured by the NIH.

How does the $2.46 million award compare to historical spending on similar services by NIH?

To compare this $2.46 million award to historical NIH spending, one would need to analyze past contracts for 'Scientific, Operations and Administrative Resources' or similar service categories. This would involve querying federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) for contracts awarded by NIH over several fiscal years, filtering by relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 541690) and service descriptions. The comparison should consider the contract duration, number of bidders, and the specific services rendered to ensure a like-for-like analysis. Without this historical data, it's difficult to definitively state whether this award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending for these types of services.

What is the track record of Gap Solutions, Inc. in performing federal contracts, particularly for NIH?

Assessing Gap Solutions, Inc.'s track record requires examining their past performance on federal contracts. This involves reviewing contract databases for previous awards to the company, noting the agencies they've served, the types of services provided, contract values, and performance ratings if available. Specific attention should be paid to any prior contracts with NIH or similar research institutions. A history of successful contract completion, positive performance reviews, and adherence to timelines and budgets would indicate a lower risk. Conversely, past issues with performance, contract disputes, or terminations would raise concerns about their capability to fulfill the current $2.46 million award effectively.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding this contract to a small business?

Awarding a $2.46 million contract, even as a delivery order, to a small business like Gap Solutions, Inc. carries certain potential risks. One primary concern is the contractor's capacity and financial stability to manage a contract of this size and duration (approximately 5 years). Small businesses may have fewer resources than larger corporations, potentially impacting their ability to scale operations, absorb unexpected costs, or maintain consistent staffing levels. There's also a risk related to business continuity; if the small business faces significant financial distress or operational challenges, it could disrupt the critical SOAR services provided to NIH. However, government agencies often have support mechanisms and oversight in place to mitigate these risks.

How does the 'Firm Fixed Price' contract type influence the value and risk for the government?

The 'Firm Fixed Price' (FFP) contract type is generally advantageous for the government in terms of cost certainty and risk management. Under an FFP contract, the contractor, Gap Solutions, Inc., agrees to a set price for the defined scope of work, regardless of their actual costs incurred. This shifts the financial risk of cost overruns from the government to the contractor. For the government, this means the total cost of the contract is known upfront, simplifying budgeting and preventing unexpected increases in expenditure. The primary risk for the government with FFP is that the contractor may cut corners on quality or service to protect their profit margin if costs rise unexpectedly, necessitating robust performance monitoring.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 205 VAN BUREN ST STE 205, HERNDON, VA, 20170

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,465,276

Exercised Options: $2,465,276

Current Obligation: $2,465,276

Actual Outlays: $1,397,475

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N95021D00011

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline