NHLBI awards $234K for Sickle Cell Research Staff Scientist to Guidehouse Digital LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $234,484 ($234.5K)
Contractor: Guidehouse Digital LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2026-05-18
End Date: 2027-05-17
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $644/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: R&D
Official Description: NHLBI REQUIRES A STAFF SCIENTIST TO CONDUCT INTRAMURAL RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE SICKLE CELL BRANCH, INCLUDING EXECUTION OF EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOLS, MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF THERAPEUTIC CANDIDATES, AND EVALUATION OF ANTI-SICKLING TREATMENTS.
Place of Performance
Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $234,483.6 to GUIDEHOUSE DIGITAL LLC for work described as: NHLBI REQUIRES A STAFF SCIENTIST TO CONDUCT INTRAMURAL RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE SICKLE CELL BRANCH, INCLUDING EXECUTION OF EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOLS, MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF THERAPEUTIC CANDIDATES, AND EVALUATION OF ANTI-SICKLING TREATMENTS. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Guidehouse Digital LLC for specialized research support. 2. Focus on sickle cell research, including experimental protocols and therapeutic evaluation. 3. Spending is for staff scientist services, not direct research equipment. 4. Potential for long-term impact on sickle cell disease treatment development.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $234,483.60 for a 364-day period appears reasonable for a specialized staff scientist role. Benchmarking against similar scientific support contracts would provide a clearer picture of cost-effectiveness.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. The BPA Call award mechanism implies a pre-competed framework agreement was utilized.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to support critical research into sickle cell disease, potentially leading to improved treatments and patient outcomes.
Public Impact
Supports vital research into sickle cell disease, a significant public health concern. Aims to advance understanding and treatment of a debilitating genetic disorder. Funds specialized scientific expertise to accelerate research progress.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical research support.
- Potential for scope creep in research tasks.
- Need for clear performance metrics to ensure value.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical research need in a high-impact disease area.
- Utilizes a competitive procurement process.
- Supports scientific advancement and potential therapeutic breakthroughs.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the scientific research and development sector, specifically supporting biomedical research. Spending benchmarks for similar staff scientist roles in government research institutions can vary widely based on specialization and experience.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Guidehouse Digital LLC, which is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will be crucial to ensure the staff scientist's work aligns with NHLBI's research objectives and that the contractor delivers high-quality scientific support within the allocated budget.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract duration is relatively short (364 days), potentially requiring follow-on actions.
- Reliance on a single contractor for specialized scientific expertise.
- Need for clear deliverables and performance metrics.
- Potential for cost overruns if research scope expands beyond initial expectations.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-health-and-human-services, va, bpa-call, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $234,483.6 to GUIDEHOUSE DIGITAL LLC. NHLBI REQUIRES A STAFF SCIENTIST TO CONDUCT INTRAMURAL RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE SICKLE CELL BRANCH, INCLUDING EXECUTION OF EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOLS, MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF THERAPEUTIC CANDIDATES, AND EVALUATION OF ANTI-SICKLING TREATMENTS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GUIDEHOUSE DIGITAL 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 $234,483.6.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-05-18. End: 2027-05-17.
What is the specific expertise Guidehouse Digital LLC brings to sickle cell research that justified this award?
The provided data does not detail the specific expertise of Guidehouse Digital LLC. However, the contract requires a staff scientist to conduct intramural research, execute experimental protocols, perform molecular analysis of therapeutic candidates, and evaluate anti-sickling treatments. This suggests the need for specialized skills in molecular biology, experimental design, and data analysis relevant to sickle cell disease research.
How will the effectiveness of the staff scientist's contributions be measured to ensure research progress?
Effectiveness will likely be measured through the successful execution of experimental protocols, the quality and accuracy of molecular analyses, and the timely evaluation of therapeutic candidates. Key performance indicators (KPIs) should be established, focusing on research milestones, data integrity, and contributions to scientific publications or presentations, ensuring accountability for research outcomes.
What is the long-term strategy for sickle cell research at NHLBI, and how does this contract fit into it?
This contract supports NHLBI's commitment to advancing sickle cell disease research by providing essential scientific personnel. The long-term strategy likely involves a multi-faceted approach including basic science, translational research, and clinical trials. This staff scientist role is crucial for the 'bench-to-bedside' progression, ensuring experimental findings are rigorously evaluated and contribute to the development of new therapies.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting 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: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1676 INTERNATIONAL DR STE 800, MC LEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $234,484
Exercised Options: $234,484
Current Obligation: $234,484
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 75N92025A00008
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-05-18
Current End Date: 2027-05-17
Potential End Date: 2027-05-17 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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