NIH awards $3.6M contract for cultured cells and DNA research to Coriell Institute

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,617,814 ($3.6M)

Contractor: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2025-02-01

End Date: 2026-01-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: SELECTION, PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CULTURED CELLS AND DNA FOR RESEARCH ON AGING

Place of Performance

Location: CAMDEN, CAMDEN County, NEW JERSEY, 08103

State: New Jersey Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $3.6 million to CORIELL INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, INC. for work described as: SELECTION, PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CULTURED CELLS AND DNA FOR RESEARCH ON AGING Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical research materials for aging studies. 2. Value for money assessed against similar research material contracts. 3. Competition dynamics indicate a standard procurement process. 4. Performance context relies on timely delivery of high-quality biological samples. 5. Sector positioning within life sciences R&D is well-defined. 6. Risk indicators include potential for supply chain disruptions or research delays.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.6 million over one year appears reasonable for specialized biological materials and research support. Benchmarking against similar NIH contracts for cell lines and DNA distribution suggests this pricing is within expected ranges. The 'Cost No Fee' contract type implies that the government will reimburse allowable costs up to the agreed-upon amount, which is standard for research and development efforts where exact costs can be variable. The value proposition lies in ensuring access to critical, well-characterized research resources.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple interested parties had the opportunity to bid. The presence of two bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specialized service. While not a large number of bidders, it demonstrates that the requirement was accessible to qualified organizations in the market, allowing for price and technical proposal evaluation.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited solicitations.

Public Impact

Researchers studying aging processes will benefit from access to high-quality cultured cells and DNA. The contract supports the National Institutes of Health's mission to advance understanding of human health and disease. Services delivered include the selection, production, characterization, and distribution of biological materials. Geographic impact is national, enabling researchers across the US to access these vital resources. Workforce implications include support for scientific personnel at the contractor's facility and indirectly for researchers utilizing the materials.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for delays in sample delivery impacting research timelines.
Ensuring consistent quality and characterization of biological samples over the contract period.
Reliance on a single contractor for specialized cell lines and DNA could pose a risk if unforeseen issues arise.

Positive Signals

Award to an established institution with a history in managing biological repositories.
Clear statement of work outlining specific requirements for sample handling and distribution.
Contract structure allows for flexibility in research needs through 'Cost No Fee' terms.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader life sciences research and development sector, specifically focusing on the provision of biological materials essential for aging research. The market for such specialized services is characterized by a limited number of highly qualified institutions capable of maintaining and distributing well-characterized cell lines and DNA. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve other NIH or NSF grants supporting similar biological resource centers or sample distribution initiatives.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a primary focus, as the contractor is likely a larger research institution. There is no explicit small business set-aside mentioned, nor are there indications of significant subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this specific award. The impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal for this particular contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be primarily managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) program officials and contracting officers. They will monitor performance against the contract requirements, review cost reports, and ensure adherence to the statement of work. Transparency is facilitated through the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) where contract awards are publicly reported. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

NIH Research Grants
National Institute on Aging Programs
Biomedical Research Support
Biological Sample Repositories
Human Genome Research

Risk Flags

Potential for research delays due to sample availability.
Ensuring consistent quality and characterization of biological samples.
Reliance on a single entity for critical research materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $3.6 million to CORIELL INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, INC.. SELECTION, PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CULTURED CELLS AND DNA FOR RESEARCH ON AGING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CORIELL INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, 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 $3.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-01. End: 2026-01-31.

What is Coriell Institute for Medical Research's track record with NIH contracts?

Coriell Institute for Medical Research has a long-standing history of collaborating with federal agencies, including the NIH, on various research initiatives. Their expertise lies in managing and distributing biological samples, such as cell lines and DNA, for research purposes. Reviewing past performance on similar contracts would involve examining their delivery timelines, the quality of samples provided, and their adherence to reporting requirements. While specific past NIH contract values and performance metrics are not detailed here, their established role as a resource provider suggests a generally positive track record in fulfilling such requirements. Further due diligence would involve checking contract databases for specific award histories and any reported performance issues.

How does the $3.6 million contract value compare to similar NIH procurements for biological materials?

The $3.6 million contract value for one year of services related to cultured cells and DNA distribution appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized biological resource management. NIH frequently procures such services to support its extensive research portfolio. Similar contracts can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars annually, depending on the scope, scale, and complexity of the biological materials involved. Factors influencing cost include the number of cell lines or DNA samples, the extent of characterization required, storage and maintenance protocols, and the distribution logistics. Without direct comparison data for identical services, this value suggests a standard procurement for a significant research support function.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract for the NIH?

The primary risks associated with this contract revolve around the timely and quality delivery of critical research materials. Potential risks include delays in the production or distribution of cultured cells and DNA, which could significantly impede ongoing aging research projects funded by the NIH. Another risk is the degradation or contamination of biological samples, compromising their research utility and potentially leading to wasted research efforts and funds. Furthermore, reliance on a single contractor for specialized resources, even under full and open competition, carries inherent risks if the contractor experiences operational disruptions, financial instability, or personnel issues. Ensuring robust quality control measures and contingency planning by the contractor is crucial to mitigate these risks.

How effective is the 'Cost No Fee' contract type for R&D services like this?

The 'Cost No Fee' (CNF) contract type is often utilized for research and development efforts where the final scope and associated costs can be difficult to precisely define upfront. For services like the selection, production, characterization, and distribution of cultured cells and DNA, CNF allows the contractor to incur costs necessary to perform the work, which are then reimbursed by the government up to an agreed-upon ceiling. This provides flexibility for the research needs that may evolve. While it offers flexibility, it also requires diligent oversight from the government to ensure that costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable. The effectiveness hinges on strong government monitoring of expenditures and contractor performance to prevent cost overruns and ensure value.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar biological material procurements by NIH?

NIH has a consistent history of procuring services for biological materials, including cell lines, DNA, and other research specimens, to support its vast array of research programs. Annual spending in this category can fluctuate based on specific research initiatives and priorities, but it generally represents a significant portion of the agency's operational budget for research support. Historical data would likely show a steady demand for these services, with spending often in the millions of dollars annually across various institutes and centers. The trend is towards ensuring the availability of well-characterized, high-quality materials to maintain research reproducibility and advance scientific discovery. Spending patterns are influenced by the growth in fields like genomics, personalized medicine, and aging research.

What are the implications of awarding this contract to Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Inc.?

Awarding this contract to Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Inc. implies that the NIH has assessed them as having the necessary expertise, infrastructure, and capacity to fulfill the requirements for specialized biological materials. Coriell is known for its extensive cell culture collections and data repositories, making them a logical choice for such a contract. The implications include ensuring continuity of supply for researchers, potentially leveraging Coriell's established quality control processes, and benefiting from their experience in handling and distributing sensitive biological materials. It also means that taxpayer funds are being directed to an organization with a specific mission aligned with biomedical research support.

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: 75N95024R00037

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 403 HADDON AVE, CAMDEN, NJ, 08103

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,101,401

Exercised Options: $3,617,814

Current Obligation: $3,617,814

Actual Outlays: $1,112,057

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline