NIH Awards $4.3M Contract to Sylger Corp for CIO-SP4 Source Selections Support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,315,770 ($4.3M)

Contractor: Sylger Corp

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2025-01-06

End Date: 2026-04-06

Contract Duration: 455 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (NITAAC), CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER-SOLUTIONS AND PARTNERS 4 (CIO-SP4), SOURCE SELECTIONS SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $4.3 million to SYLGER CORP for work described as: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (NITAAC), CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER-SOLUTIONS AND PARTNERS 4 (CIO-SP4), SOURCE SELECTIONS SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Sylger Corp for critical IT acquisition support. 2. The contract is part of the large CIO-SP4 vehicle, indicating a need for specialized IT services. 3. Limited competition raises questions about potential price discovery and value for taxpayer money. 4. The 'All Other Business Support Services' NAICS code suggests a broad scope, requiring careful monitoring.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Contract value is $4.3M, but without a competitive bid, it's difficult to assess if this is a fair market price. Benchmarking against similar support services within the CIO-SP4 vehicle or other government contracts is needed.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not available for competition, suggesting a sole-source or limited competition award. This limits price discovery and may not yield the best value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could lead to higher costs for taxpayers if the selected vendor's pricing is not optimized.

Public Impact

Ensures continued support for NIH's IT acquisition processes. Supports the operationalization of the CIO-SP4 contract vehicle. Potential for increased efficiency in IT procurement through specialized support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition
Lack of price benchmark
Broad NAICS code

Positive Signals

Supports critical NIH IT acquisition
Utilizes established CIO-SP4 vehicle

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under IT services, specifically supporting IT acquisition and assessment. The NIH's reliance on specialized vehicles like CIO-SP4 highlights the complexity and importance of IT procurement within federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business, as indicated by 'ss': false. Further analysis is needed to determine if small business participation was considered or if opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to ensure Sylger Corp delivers on its contractual obligations and that the limited competition award remains justified throughout the contract period.

Related Government Programs

All Other Business Support Services
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition may result in suboptimal pricing.
Lack of transparency in the award justification.
Potential for vendor lock-in if capabilities are highly specialized.
Broad NAICS code requires careful scope management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $4.3 million to SYLGER CORP. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (NITAAC), CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER-SOLUTIONS AND PARTNERS 4 (CIO-SP4), SOURCE SELECTIONS SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SYLGER CORP.

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 $4.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-01-06. End: 2026-04-06.

What specific factors led to this contract being classified as 'not available for competition'?

The provided data states 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' without further detail. Typically, this designation implies a sole-source award due to unique capabilities, urgent needs, or specific program requirements where only one vendor can fulfill the requirement. Further investigation into the justification for this limited competition is warranted.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar IT acquisition support services awarded under the CIO-SP4 vehicle?

Without access to pricing data for comparable contracts under the CIO-SP4 vehicle, a direct comparison is not possible. However, given the limited competition, it is essential for NIH to conduct an internal price analysis or benchmark against publicly available data for similar services to ensure fair and reasonable pricing.

What is the potential impact on NIH's IT modernization goals if this vendor fails to perform effectively?

Failure of Sylger Corp to perform effectively could significantly delay NIH's IT acquisition processes and potentially hinder modernization efforts. This could lead to missed opportunities, increased costs due to contract modifications or re-competition, and a negative impact on the agency's ability to procure necessary technology solutions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Business Support Services › All Other Business Support Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: RFQ 006

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 700 N SAINT MARYS ST, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78205

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,365,770

Exercised Options: $4,315,770

Current Obligation: $4,315,770

Actual Outlays: $3,236,828

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline