HHS awards $30M contract to ICF for ClinicalTrials.gov support, extending through 2025
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $29,980,606 ($30.0M)
Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2023-09-27
End Date: 2025-09-26
Contract Duration: 730 days
Daily Burn Rate: $41.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND MODERNIZATION SUPPORT FOR CLINICALTRIALS.GOV
Place of Performance
Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20814
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $30.0 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND MODERNIZATION SUPPORT FOR CLINICALTRIALS.GOV Key points: 1. Contract value of $29.98M for operations, maintenance, and modernization of ClinicalTrials.gov. 2. ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. is the sole awardee. 3. The contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. 4. This award represents a significant investment in a critical public health information resource.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $29.98M for a 2-year period suggests a reasonable allocation of resources for maintaining and modernizing a complex platform like ClinicalTrials.gov. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts for large government databases 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, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method is expected to yield fair pricing and ensure the government receives the best value for its investment in managing ClinicalTrials.gov.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a well-maintained and accessible platform for clinical trial information, promoting transparency and research advancement.
Public Impact
Ensures continued access to vital clinical trial data for researchers, patients, and the public. Supports the modernization of ClinicalTrials.gov, potentially leading to improved user experience and data accessibility. Maintains the operational integrity of a key federal resource for health research and public information. Facilitates the discovery and tracking of clinical trials, aiding in medical advancements.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in modernization efforts.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical platform operations.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Supports a vital public health information resource.
- Long-term commitment to platform maintenance and improvement.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on administrative and management consulting for a government platform. Spending benchmarks for similar IT operations and maintenance contracts for large-scale data management systems would be relevant for comparison.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to ICF Incorporated, L.L.C., and there is no indication of small business participation in this specific award. Future contract actions or subcontracts may offer opportunities for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a structured procurement process. Ongoing oversight by the Department of Health and Human Services will be crucial to ensure performance, adherence to scope, and effective use of funds.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if modernization efforts create deep integration.
- Risk of cost overruns if modernization scope is not tightly managed.
- Dependence on a single contractor for a critical public resource.
- Need for robust oversight to ensure performance and value.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-health-and-human-services, md, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $30.0 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND MODERNIZATION SUPPORT FOR CLINICALTRIALS.GOV
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C..
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 $30.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-27. End: 2025-09-26.
What specific modernization efforts are planned for ClinicalTrials.gov under this contract, and how will they enhance data accessibility and utility for stakeholders?
The contract aims to support modernization efforts for ClinicalTrials.gov, which could include updating the user interface, improving search functionalities, enhancing data submission processes, and potentially integrating new data types or analytical tools. These enhancements are intended to make the platform more user-friendly and valuable for researchers, patients, and public health officials seeking information on clinical trials.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. to ensure the effective operations, maintenance, and modernization of ClinicalTrials.gov?
Key performance indicators likely include system uptime and availability, response times for technical support, successful implementation of modernization features, data accuracy and integrity, and user satisfaction metrics. The Department of Health and Human Services will monitor these KPIs to ensure ICF meets its contractual obligations and effectively manages the critical ClinicalTrials.gov platform.
How does the $29.98M contract value compare to historical spending on ClinicalTrials.gov operations and maintenance, and what factors justify any significant differences?
Comparing the $29.98M contract value to historical spending requires access to prior budget data for ClinicalTrials.gov. Factors that could justify differences include inflation, increased scope of services (e.g., new features, expanded data management), or the need for significant system upgrades. A detailed analysis would assess if the current investment aligns with the platform's evolving needs and technological landscape.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management 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: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.
Address: 1902 RESTON METRO PLAZA, RESTON, VA, 20190
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $30,043,734
Exercised Options: $29,980,606
Current Obligation: $29,980,606
Actual Outlays: $29,807,325
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $279,014
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00F010CA
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-27
Current End Date: 2025-09-26
Potential End Date: 2025-09-26 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-07-11
More Contracts from ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.
- THE Strategic Objective of the Idds Activity IS to Strengthen the Detection of Diseases of Public Health Importance and Identification of AMR in Priority Infectious Diseases, and Improve the Quality of Real-Time Surveillance Systems for Existing and Emerging Pathogens. Idds Activity Will Directly Contribute to the Goals and Strategic Objectives of Usaids Infectious Disease Office in the GH Bureau. the Contractor Will Contribute to This Purpose by Addressing the Following Three of the Idds Activities IR 1 National Diagnostic Network Strengthened to BE Accessible, Accurate, Adaptable, Timely and Integrated, IR 2 National Indicator- and Event-Based Surveillance System Developed and Capable of Detecting Events of Significance for Public Health, Animal Health and Health Security, and IR 3 Evidence-Based Guidance and Innovative Solutions Developed and Applied to Strengthen In-Country Diagnostic Networks and Surveillance Systems — $135.6M (Agency for International Development)
- Defense Cyber Operations Research and Supporting Elements — $106.1M (Department of Defense)
- Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for States — $99.9M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- ACF Children's Bureau Cwig - ICF Base Award Hybrid Cpff/Ffp 09/25/2020 -09/24/2020 69 Clins — $95.3M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Saqmma09l0811 IS Awarded to ICF to Provide a Wide Array of IT Project Management Services. BPA Call Objective IS to Acquire Support Services to Improve CST S Continuous Improvement and Program Management Processes and to Assist in Relevant Operational Areas for CST. BPA Call Scope IS to Provide a Wide Array of IT Project Management Services in Support of CST S Mission — $65.3M (Department of State)
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 →