NIH Spends $8.29M on Chimpanzee Care Center Maintenance, Awarded to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $8,280,891 ($8.3M)
Contractor: THE Univeristy of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2020-12-01
End Date: 2026-05-31
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHIMPANZEE CARE CENTER (CCC)
Place of Performance
Location: HOUSTON, HARRIS County, TEXAS, 77030
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $8.3 million to THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER for work described as: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHIMPANZEE CARE CENTER (CCC) Key points: 1. The contract focuses on essential veterinary services for the Chimpanzee Care Center. 2. Competition was not utilized for this award, raising questions about price discovery. 3. The primary risk lies in the lack of competitive bidding potentially leading to inflated costs. 4. This spending falls under the 'Healthcare' sector, specifically related to research support services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is 'COST NO FEE', which can make direct price comparisons difficult. The awarded amount of $8.29M over its period needs further benchmarking against similar veterinary service contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. The absence of competition limits the government's ability to ensure the best possible price and value.
Taxpayer Impact: Without competitive bidding, taxpayers may be paying more than necessary for these essential veterinary services.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation and care for chimpanzees vital to medical research. Supports ongoing research efforts by maintaining a critical research infrastructure. Potential for increased costs due to lack of competitive pricing mechanisms.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract type
Positive Signals
- Essential service for research continuity
- Established provider
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the healthcare sector, specifically supporting research infrastructure. Benchmarks for veterinary services for research animals can vary widely based on species and scope of care.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities exist.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract's sole-source nature warrants close oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and services are effectively delivered. NIH should document justifications for non-competitive awards.
Related Government Programs
- Veterinary Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to higher costs.
- Cost-plus contract type offers less incentive for cost control.
- Potential for vendor lock-in due to sole-source award.
- Limited transparency in pricing without competitive bids.
Tags
veterinary-services, department-of-health-and-human-services, tx, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $8.3 million to THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHIMPANZEE CARE CENTER (CCC)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER.
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 $8.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-12-01. End: 2026-05-31.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, critical urgency, or a lack of available alternatives. For this contract, the specific reasons for not competing it need to be thoroughly documented by NIH to ensure transparency and accountability. Understanding this justification is key to assessing if the government truly received the best value under the circumstances.
How does the cost compare to similar veterinary service contracts for research animals?
Benchmarking this $8.29M contract against similar veterinary service contracts for research animals is crucial for value assessment. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if the 'COST NO FEE' structure resulted in a fair price. A detailed cost analysis comparing per-animal care costs, facility overhead, and specialized services would be necessary to identify potential overspending.
What is the long-term effectiveness of maintaining this chimpanzee care center under a sole-source contract?
The long-term effectiveness hinges on the continued quality of care and the scientific output derived from the chimpanzees. While the current provider may be effective, the lack of competition could stifle innovation and potentially lead to complacency over time. Regular performance reviews and exploring future competitive strategies are essential for sustained effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Veterinary Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 75N97020R00004
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD UNIT 207, HOUSTON, TX, 77030
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, Hospital, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $8,436,919
Exercised Options: $8,280,891
Current Obligation: $8,280,891
Actual Outlays: $6,866,913
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-12-01
Current End Date: 2026-05-31
Potential End Date: 2026-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-28
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