HHS awards $865K BPA Call for NLM User Services, extending support through April 2027

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $864,708 ($864.7K)

Contractor: Federal Management Partners, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2026-04-10

End Date: 2027-04-09

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: FEDERAL MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, INC.:1316997 [26-000600] THIS BPA CALL ORDER IS FOR SUPPORT OF NLM USER SERVICES AND COLLECTION DIVISION.

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $864,708.44 to FEDERAL MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC for work described as: FEDERAL MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, INC.:1316997 [26-000600] THIS BPA CALL ORDER IS FOR SUPPORT OF NLM USER SERVICES AND COLLECTION DIVISION. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential IT support for the National Library of Medicine's user services and collection division. 2. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract value is relatively modest, indicating a focused scope of work. 4. The duration of the contract is one year, allowing for regular performance reviews. 5. The fixed-price nature of the contract shifts performance risk to the contractor. 6. The contractor, Federal Management Partners, Inc., has a track record with federal agencies.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $864,708.44 for a one-year period for computer systems design services appears reasonable for specialized IT support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for user services and collection management within the federal government would provide a more precise assessment. However, given the scope described, the pricing does not immediately raise concerns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this method generally fosters price discovery and allows the government to select the best value offering. The open competition suggests a healthy market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the competitive process, which is expected to drive down costs and ensure the government receives high-quality services at a fair price.

Public Impact

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) users, including researchers, healthcare professionals, and the public, will benefit from continued reliable user services and collection support. Services delivered include computer systems design and support critical for accessing and managing NLM's vast biomedical information resources. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting a key federal health information resource. Workforce implications include the potential for IT professionals employed by Federal Management Partners, Inc. to support this critical federal function.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if performance is exceptional and renewal is pursued without re-competition.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical user services could pose a risk if the contractor faces financial or operational difficulties.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Firm fixed-price contract structure incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost control.
Contract duration of one year allows for periodic reassessment of needs and performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design and related services. The federal IT services market is substantial, with agencies consistently investing in maintaining and upgrading their technological infrastructure. This contract supports a vital component of the National Institutes of Health's mission, aligning with broader government efforts to modernize health information systems and enhance user access to critical data.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) is false for this specific award. There is no indication of a small business set-aside. Therefore, the direct impact on small businesses through this contract is likely minimal, unless Federal Management Partners, Inc. intends to use small business subcontractors, which is not specified.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the National Institutes of Health contracting officers and program managers. The firm fixed-price nature provides a degree of accountability by tying payment to performance. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though detailed performance metrics are typically internal.

Related Government Programs

National Library of Medicine Information Services
NIH IT Support Contracts
Federal Health Information Systems
Computer Systems Design Services

Risk Flags

Contract duration is short (1 year), requiring potential re-competition or extension.
Specific number of bidders not disclosed, limiting full assessment of competition intensity.
Performance metrics and quality assurance details not provided in summary data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $864,708.44 to FEDERAL MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC. FEDERAL MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, INC.:1316997 [26-000600] THIS BPA CALL ORDER IS FOR SUPPORT OF NLM USER SERVICES AND COLLECTION DIVISION.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FEDERAL MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC.

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 $864,708.44.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-10. End: 2027-04-09.

What is the track record of Federal Management Partners, Inc. with the federal government, particularly within the Department of Health and Human Services?

Federal Management Partners, Inc. has a history of receiving federal contracts. While the provided data snippet does not detail their entire contract history, it confirms their engagement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Further analysis of federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) would reveal the full scope of their federal awards, including past performance on similar IT support services, their performance ratings on previous contracts, and any significant issues or successes. Understanding their past performance within HHS is crucial for assessing their capability to deliver on this BPA Call Order effectively and reliably.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar IT support services for federal libraries or information management divisions?

Benchmarking the pricing of this $864,708.44 BPA Call Order against similar contracts requires access to a broader dataset of federal procurements for IT support in library and information management contexts. Factors such as the specific services required (e.g., help desk, system maintenance, database support, user training), the complexity of the NLM's systems, and the required skill sets of the personnel will influence cost. Without direct comparisons, it's difficult to definitively state if this contract represents excellent or questionable value. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests the contractor has assessed the scope and priced it competitively to ensure profitability, which can be a positive indicator of value if performance targets are met.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Key risks include potential underperformance by the contractor, leading to disruptions in NLM user services or collection management. Another risk is the potential for cost overruns if the scope is not well-defined, although the firm fixed-price contract mitigates this by placing the financial risk on the contractor. A third risk could be the contractor's financial stability or operational capacity to handle the workload. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust contract oversight by NIH officials, clear performance work statements, defined deliverables, and established procedures for addressing issues. The one-year duration also allows for regular performance reviews and the option not to renew if performance is unsatisfactory.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' approach in ensuring the best value for this specific type of IT support service?

Full and open competition is generally considered the most effective method for ensuring best value, as it allows the widest possible pool of qualified vendors to bid, fostering price competition and innovation. For IT support services like those required by the NLM, this approach enables the government to solicit proposals that not only meet technical requirements but also offer competitive pricing. The effectiveness hinges on the clarity of the solicitation (e.g., the Performance Work Statement) and the evaluation criteria used. If the solicitation is well-defined and the evaluation process is rigorous, full and open competition is likely to yield a high-quality service at a reasonable cost for taxpayers.

What are the historical spending patterns for user services and collection division support at the NLM, and how does this award fit within that trend?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for NLM's user services and collection division support would require examining past contract awards for similar functions over several fiscal years. This BPA Call Order, with a value of $864,708.44 for one year, represents a specific investment in maintaining these critical operations. If historical spending has been consistently in this range or higher for similar support, this award aligns with established trends. Conversely, if historical spending was significantly lower, this award might indicate an expansion of services, increased costs, or a shift in how these services are procured. Understanding these patterns provides context for the current award's significance and potential future budgetary needs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design 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

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2900 S QUINCY ST STE 200, ARLINGTON, VA, 22206

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $864,708

Exercised Options: $864,708

Current Obligation: $864,708

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N97024A00001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline