HHS Awards $7.5M to Lumen for NIH Colocation Site Support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,553,201 ($7.6M)

Contractor: Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2025-04-01

End Date: 2027-01-31

Contract Duration: 670 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND PROVISION OF THE NIH CONSOLIDATED COLOCATION SITE (NCCS)

Place of Performance

Location: DENVER, DENVER County, COLORADO, 80202

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $7.6 million to LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC for work described as: PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND PROVISION OF THE NIH CONSOLIDATED COLOCATION SITE (NCCS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc. for professional support and colocation site services. 2. The contract value is $7,553,200.87, spanning from April 1, 2025, to January 31, 2027. 3. Services fall under the Wired Telecommunications Carriers sector. 4. The award was made under full and open competition.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $7.55 million for a duration of approximately 21 months appears reasonable for specialized colocation and telecommunications support services. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for IT infrastructure and managed services would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. This method typically leads to competitive pricing as multiple vendors have the opportunity to bid.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers, as it encourages market competition and can lead to cost savings.

Public Impact

Ensures continuity of critical IT infrastructure for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Supports the operational stability of the NIH Consolidated Colocation Site (NCCS). Maintains essential telecommunications services for a leading biomedical research agency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if renewal options are not carefully managed.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical colocation services.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Clear definition of services for the NIH NCCS.
Fixed price contract type can provide cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT and Telecommunications sector, specifically Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Spending in this area is crucial for government operations, supporting data centers, network infrastructure, and communication services. Benchmarks for similar colocation and managed network services vary widely based on scale and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). There is no specific mention of small business subcontracting goals in the provided data, suggesting that opportunities for small businesses may be limited on this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Oversight would typically involve contract management by NIH officials to ensure service delivery, adherence to terms, and proper financial management.

Related Government Programs

Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurs.
Dependence on a single provider for critical infrastructure.
Risk of service disruption if vendor performance falters.
Limited visibility into specific professional support tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $7.6 million to LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC. PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND PROVISION OF THE NIH CONSOLIDATED COLOCATION SITE (NCCS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT 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 $7.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-01. End: 2027-01-31.

What is the specific scope of 'professional support' included in this contract beyond basic colocation services?

The provided data does not detail the specific 'professional support' services. This could encompass a range of activities such as network monitoring, system administration, security management, hardware maintenance, or technical consulting related to the colocation environment. A thorough review of the contract's statement of work (SOW) would be necessary to ascertain the full extent of these support functions and their value.

Are there any performance metrics or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract to ensure service quality?

The provided data does not explicitly mention performance metrics or SLAs. However, for a contract of this nature and value, it is highly probable that the full contract includes detailed SLAs to govern service availability, response times, and other critical performance indicators. The effectiveness of the vendor's performance would be measured against these agreed-upon standards.

What is the historical performance of Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc. on similar government contracts?

Historical performance data for Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc. on similar contracts is not included in this summary. Assessing past performance, including on-time delivery, quality of service, and adherence to budget, would be crucial for evaluating the risk associated with this award. Government contract databases and past performance reviews would typically provide this information.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers › Wired Telecommunications Carriers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - STORAGE

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 931 14TH ST, DENVER, CO, 80202

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,436,030

Exercised Options: $7,553,201

Current Obligation: $7,553,201

Actual Outlays: $2,887,236

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA20D0077

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline