NIH awards $1.8M for scientific staffing, highlighting custom programming needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $179,933 ($179.9K)

Contractor: Weems Design Studio, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2026-04-06

End Date: 2027-04-04

Contract Duration: 363 days

Daily Burn Rate: $496/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: SCIENTIFIC STAFFING SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $179,932.8 to WEEMS DESIGN STUDIO, INC. for work described as: SCIENTIFIC STAFFING SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE Key points: 1. Contract supports critical scientific research functions at the National Cancer Institute. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is a BPA Call, indicating a pre-competed agreement. 4. Duration of the contract is approximately one year, with a potential for renewal. 5. The primary service category is custom computer programming. 6. The awardee, WEEMS DESIGN STUDIO, INC., is based in Maryland.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $1.8 million for approximately one year of scientific staffing services appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the work. Benchmarking against similar custom computer programming services for federal research institutions suggests this pricing is within expected ranges. The labor hour contract type allows for flexibility in resource allocation, which can be cost-effective for dynamic research environments. Further analysis would require detailed task breakdowns and comparison to specific skill sets required.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all eligible responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The specific details on the number of bidders are not provided, but the full and open nature suggests a robust competitive environment. This approach is generally favored for ensuring fair pricing and access to a wide range of qualified contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition maximizes the potential for obtaining the best value for taxpayer dollars by encouraging a broad pool of bidders to offer competitive pricing.

Public Impact

Benefits researchers and scientists at the National Cancer Institute by providing essential staffing support. Ensures continuity and expertise in critical scientific research projects. Services are delivered within Maryland, supporting the local economy. Impacts the scientific workforce by potentially engaging specialized programming talent.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.
Limited insight into the specific technical skills required for the scientific staffing.
No data on the number of bids received, making it difficult to fully assess competitive intensity.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a fair process.
Contract supports a critical federal agency (NIH) and its mission.
Contract duration is defined, providing a clear period of performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically under Custom Computer Programming Services. The federal IT services market is vast, with significant spending on specialized programming and technical support for research and development initiatives. Comparable contracts often involve providing skilled personnel to augment government teams for complex projects, particularly in scientific and medical research where specialized knowledge is paramount. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a major consumer of such services.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The awardee, WEEMS DESIGN STUDIO, INC., is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data, but the contract itself was competed broadly.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) contracting officers and program managers. The contract's performance will be monitored against the agreed-upon scope of work and labor hour requirements. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Scientific Staffing Services
Custom Computer Programming Services
Information Technology Professional Services
Research and Development Support Services
National Institutes of Health Contracts
National Cancer Institute Support

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to labor-hour contract type if not closely managed.
Risk of contractor not meeting specialized scientific staffing requirements.
Limited transparency on the number of bidders in the full and open competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $179,932.8 to WEEMS DESIGN STUDIO, INC.. SCIENTIFIC STAFFING SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WEEMS DESIGN STUDIO, 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 $179,932.8.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-06. End: 2027-04-04.

What is the specific expertise WEEMS DESIGN STUDIO, INC. brings to scientific staffing and custom programming for the NIH?

The provided data does not detail the specific expertise of WEEMS DESIGN STUDIO, INC. beyond its classification under NAICS code 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services). To understand their specific qualifications for scientific staffing, a review of their past performance, company profile, and any submitted proposals would be necessary. This would likely include their experience with scientific domains, specific programming languages or technologies relevant to cancer research, and their ability to recruit and manage specialized scientific personnel. Without this detailed information, the assessment of their expertise remains general.

How does the $1.8 million contract value compare to similar scientific staffing contracts at NIH or other research institutions?

The $1.8 million contract value for approximately one year of scientific staffing services appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized federal IT support, particularly for research institutions like the NIH. Benchmarking requires comparing the contract's scope, duration, and required skill sets against similar awards. Contracts for custom programming and scientific support can vary widely based on the complexity of the research, the level of expertise required (e.g., PhD-level scientists vs. research assistants), and the specific technologies involved. Given the 'full and open competition' designation, it suggests that the pricing was likely competitive. A more precise comparison would involve analyzing the average hourly rates for similar roles and the total number of labor hours anticipated under this BPA Call.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Potential risks for this contract include the possibility of the contractor failing to provide adequately skilled personnel, delays in project timelines due to staffing issues, or cost overruns if labor hours are not managed efficiently. Given that it's a labor-hour contract, there's also a risk of scope creep or inefficient use of resources. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust oversight by the NIH program office, clear performance work statements, regular progress reviews, and potentially performance metrics tied to deliverables. The 'full and open competition' process itself helps mitigate risks by selecting a contractor with a proven track record and competitive pricing. However, specific risk mitigation plans are not detailed in the provided summary data.

What is the historical spending pattern for scientific staffing services at the National Cancer Institute?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending patterns for scientific staffing services at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). To analyze historical spending, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS) for all contracts awarded to NCI for 'scientific staffing,' 'research support,' or related NAICS codes over several fiscal years. This would reveal trends in contract values, types of services procured, dominant contractors, and the overall budget allocated to such services. Without this broader dataset, it's impossible to establish a historical context or identify significant shifts in spending.

How does the 'BPA Call' contract type influence the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of acquiring these scientific staffing services?

A Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call operates under a pre-established BPA, which is a simplified way to fill anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services. A 'Call' is an order placed against that BPA. This structure offers significant flexibility because the underlying BPA has likely already undergone a competitive process, allowing for faster procurement of specific services. For scientific staffing, this means the NIH can quickly issue calls for specific skill sets or project needs without initiating a full, new contract competition each time. This can lead to cost-effectiveness through streamlined acquisition processes and potentially pre-negotiated rates. However, the overall cost-effectiveness also depends on the initial competition for the BPA itself and diligent management of each individual call to ensure fair pricing and appropriate resource utilization.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming 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: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2201 LORING CT, DECATUR, GA, 30032

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $366,954

Exercised Options: $179,933

Current Obligation: $179,933

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N91022A00005

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline