HHS awards $14.4M IT contract to Guidehouse for NLM terminology applications
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,378,905 ($14.4M)
Contractor: Guidehouse Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2025-09-24
End Date: 2026-09-23
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $39.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: NON-R&D: COMMERCIAL SERVICES. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR CONSUMER/PUBLIC HEALTH AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE (NLM) OFFICE OF COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (OCCS) CONTRACT TO COVER THE PERIOD OF
Place of Performance
Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $14.4 million to GUIDEHOUSE INC. for work described as: NON-R&D: COMMERCIAL SERVICES. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR CONSUMER/PUBLIC HEALTH AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE (NLM) OFFICE OF COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (OCCS) CONTRACT TO COVER THE PERIOD OF Key points: 1. Contract focuses on IT services for public health terminology applications. 2. Guidehouse Inc. secured the contract through full and open competition. 3. Potential risks include vendor lock-in and scope creep for ongoing services. 4. Spending falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $14.4M for 364 days appears reasonable for specialized IT services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for health informatics and terminology management would provide a clearer picture of value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and potentially better pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential public health IT infrastructure.
Public Impact
Enhances public health data accessibility through improved terminology applications. Supports the National Library of Medicine's mission in health information dissemination. Ensures continuity of critical IT services for health terminology management.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if scope is not tightly managed.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical IT infrastructure.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Supports a vital public health resource (NLM).
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Information Technology sector, specifically computer systems design services. Spending benchmarks for similar health-related IT services contracts are typically in the millions, depending on scope and duration.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and was awarded to Guidehouse Inc., a large business. There is no specific information provided regarding small business subcontracting opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Department of Health and Human Services. Standard oversight mechanisms for federal IT contracts should apply, including performance monitoring and compliance checks.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep
- Vendor lock-in
- Reliance on specific technical expertise
- Data security and privacy concerns
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, department-of-health-and-human-services, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $14.4 million to GUIDEHOUSE INC.. NON-R&D: COMMERCIAL SERVICES. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR CONSUMER/PUBLIC HEALTH AND TERMINOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE (NLM) OFFICE OF COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (OCCS) CONTRACT TO COVER THE PERIOD OF
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GUIDEHOUSE 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 $14.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-09-24. End: 2026-09-23.
What is the specific scope of 'terminology applications' and how critical are they to NLM's operations?
The 'terminology applications' likely refer to systems that manage, standardize, and disseminate health-related vocabularies and coding systems (e.g., SNOMED CT, LOINC). These are critical for interoperability, research, and public health reporting, ensuring data consistency and enabling advanced analytics.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract to ensure effective service delivery?
Key performance indicators would likely include system uptime, response times for terminology lookups, accuracy of data updates, successful integration with other NLM systems, and user satisfaction. Regular performance reviews against these KPIs are crucial for accountability.
How does this contract align with broader federal initiatives for health data modernization and interoperability?
This contract supports federal goals by ensuring the availability and usability of standardized health terminologies, which are foundational for health data modernization and interoperability. It enables consistent data exchange and analysis across different healthcare systems and research platforms.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: C-121680-O
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Peraton Technology Services Inc.
Address: 1676 INTERNATIONAL DR STE 800, MCLEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,092,421
Exercised Options: $14,378,905
Current Obligation: $14,378,905
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $650,863
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HHSN316201200040W
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-09-24
Current End Date: 2026-09-23
Potential End Date: 2027-03-23 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-23
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