NIH awards $445K contract to Cox Subscriptions for information services, highlighting a specific niche in data provision

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $445,430 ($445.4K)

Contractor: COX Subscriptions, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: COX SUBSCRIPTIONS, INC.:1330204 [26-000845]

Place of Performance

Location: SHALLOTTE, BRUNSWICK County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28470

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $445,429.76 to COX SUBSCRIPTIONS, INC. for work described as: COX SUBSCRIPTIONS, INC.:1330204 [26-000845] Key points: 1. The contract value appears modest, suggesting a focused scope of work rather than a large-scale program. 2. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the government. 3. The duration of 364 days indicates a short-term need or a pilot phase. 4. The award to Cox Subscriptions, Inc. suggests a specialized service provider was identified. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags warrants further investigation into subcontracting opportunities.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking this contract's value is challenging without specific details on the 'All Other Information Services' provided. However, the $445,429.76 award for a nearly year-long service period suggests a potentially fair price for specialized information access or data management. Further analysis would require understanding the scope of services and comparing them to similar data subscription or information service contracts within the federal government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust bidding environment.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically leads to better value for taxpayers by driving down prices through market forces.

Public Impact

Researchers and staff at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are likely the primary beneficiaries, gaining access to critical information services. The services delivered are categorized under 'All Other Information Services,' implying a broad range of potential data, research, or subscription-based content. The geographic impact is centered around NIH facilities, primarily in North Carolina where the contract is managed. Workforce implications are minimal, as this contract appears to be for information resources rather than direct personnel services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the 'All Other Information Services' makes it difficult to assess the true value and necessity of the contract.
The absence of small business participation noted in the data requires scrutiny to ensure fair opportunities for smaller enterprises.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a fair and transparent procurement process.
The firm fixed-price contract type provides budget predictability for the agency.

Sector Analysis

The 'All Other Information Services' category (NAICS 519190) encompasses a wide array of data providers, subscription services, and information aggregators. Federal spending in this sector often supports research, intelligence gathering, and operational needs across various agencies. The $445K award to Cox Subscriptions, Inc. represents a small fraction of the overall federal IT and information services spending, likely fulfilling a very specific requirement for the National Institutes of Health.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). While awarded under full and open competition, there is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans or goals for small businesses. Further review would be needed to determine if small businesses were excluded or if subcontracting opportunities were not a primary focus for this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. Standard contract management procedures, including performance monitoring and payment verification, would be in place. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award being publicly available, but detailed performance metrics and specific service deliverables are not immediately apparent from the summary data.

Related Government Programs

Information Services
Data Subscriptions
Research Support Services
Federal Procurement Data

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed service description
Potential for performance variability in 'information services'

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $445,429.76 to COX SUBSCRIPTIONS, INC.. COX SUBSCRIPTIONS, INC.:1330204 [26-000845]

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COX SUBSCRIPTIONS, 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 $445,429.76.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What specific 'All Other Information Services' are being provided by Cox Subscriptions, Inc. under this contract?

The provided data categorizes this contract under NAICS code 519190, 'All Other Information Services.' This broad category can include a wide range of services such as data aggregation, subscription-based content access, market research data, news services, and specialized information databases. Without further details from the contract statement of work, it is impossible to specify the exact services. However, given the agency (NIH), it is plausible that these services relate to biomedical research data, scientific publications, or health-related information resources crucial for the agency's mission.

How does the $445,429.76 contract value compare to similar information service contracts awarded by NIH or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking this specific contract value requires comparing it against similar 'All Other Information Services' contracts with comparable durations and scopes. The $445,429.76 award for a 364-day period is relatively modest in the context of large federal IT and information service procurements. Many federal agencies procure extensive data sets, research platforms, or enterprise-wide information subscriptions that can run into millions of dollars annually. This particular award suggests a targeted need for a specific set of information resources rather than a broad, agency-wide solution. A detailed comparison would necessitate identifying contracts with similar NAICS codes and service descriptions.

What is the track record of Cox Subscriptions, Inc. as a federal contractor, particularly with the Department of Health and Human Services?

The provided data identifies Cox Subscriptions, Inc. as the contractor for this specific award. To assess their track record, a review of federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would be necessary to identify any prior or concurrent contracts awarded to this entity across various federal agencies. Information regarding past performance, contract modifications, and any past performance issues would be crucial. Without this additional data, it's difficult to provide a comprehensive assessment of Cox Subscriptions, Inc.'s history as a federal contractor, especially concerning their performance with HHS or NIH.

What are the potential risks associated with a 'full and open competition' award for information services?

While 'full and open competition' is generally preferred for maximizing value, potential risks can still exist. One risk is that the lowest bidder might not necessarily offer the best value if performance quality is not adequately assessed. For information services, the 'quality' can be subjective and difficult to measure upfront. Another risk is that the solicitation might be too broad, leading to proposals that don't precisely meet the agency's needs, or conversely, too narrow, inadvertently excluding capable vendors. Ensuring the evaluation criteria are robust and clearly define the required service quality and performance metrics is key to mitigating these risks.

How does the firm fixed-price contract type impact the government's risk and the contractor's incentive?

A firm fixed-price (FFP) contract type shifts most of the cost risk to the contractor. This means Cox Subscriptions, Inc. is obligated to provide the specified information services for the agreed-upon price, regardless of their actual costs incurred. This provides the government with budget certainty and protects against cost overruns. For the contractor, it creates a strong incentive to manage their costs efficiently to maximize profit. However, if the scope of work is not clearly defined or if unforeseen issues arise, the contractor may face financial losses, potentially impacting their ability or willingness to perform future contracts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Other Information Services › All Other Information Services

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 201 VILLAGE RD, SHALLOTTE, NC, 28470

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $445,430

Exercised Options: $445,430

Current Obligation: $445,430

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N98020D00083

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline