HHS Awards $15.75M Contract for Scientific Services to Social & Scientific Systems, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $15,754,740 ($15.8M)
Contractor: Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2007-09-20
End Date: 2015-12-22
Contract Duration: 3,015 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: NEW MEDSUN CONTRACT
Place of Performance
Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $15.8 million to SOCIAL & SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: NEW MEDSUN CONTRACT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. for professional, scientific, and technical services. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The duration of the contract is 3015 days, spanning from September 2007 to December 2015. 4. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure requires careful monitoring to ensure costs remain reasonable. Benchmarking against similar contracts for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' would be necessary for a definitive value assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. This method typically aims to secure the best value for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is positive for taxpayers, as it likely resulted in a more favorable price than a sole-source procurement.
Public Impact
Public health research and scientific support services are crucial for agencies like the FDA. The long duration of the contract suggests a sustained need for these specialized services. The specific nature of 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' can encompass a wide range of activities impacting public health and safety.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize contractor to increase costs.
- Lack of specific service details makes it hard to assess true value.
- Contract duration is very long (3015 days).
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Contractor has a significant contract duration, indicating a sustained relationship.
- Agency is the Department of Health and Human Services, a critical public service provider.
Sector Analysis
The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' category (NAICS 541990) is broad and can include a wide array of specialized support. Benchmarking requires identifying contracts with similar scope and complexity within this diverse sector.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that the contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the primary awardee is a larger entity, and opportunities for small business subcontracting were not explicitly detailed in this summary.
Oversight & Accountability
The long contract duration and Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitate robust oversight from the Food and Drug Administration to ensure performance standards are met and costs are controlled effectively. Regular audits and performance reviews are critical.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Food and Drug Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
- Broad service category lacks specificity.
- No small business participation indicated.
- Long contract duration may indicate potential for scope creep or evolving needs.
- Contract awarded in 2007, data may not reflect current market conditions or pricing.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-health-and-human-services, md, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $15.8 million to SOCIAL & SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS, INC.. NEW MEDSUN CONTRACT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SOCIAL & SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $15.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-09-20. End: 2015-12-22.
What specific scientific and technical services were rendered under this contract, and how did they align with the FDA's mission objectives?
The provided data categorizes the contract under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990). Without further details, it's impossible to specify the exact services. However, for the FDA, such services could range from laboratory analysis and data management to regulatory science support and technical consulting, all crucial for ensuring the safety and efficacy of regulated products.
Given the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, what mechanisms were in place to mitigate potential cost overruns and ensure fair pricing?
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require stringent oversight. The FDA would need to implement detailed cost accounting standards, regular audits, and performance reviews to monitor expenditures. The 'fixed fee' component provides some incentive for the contractor to control costs, as their profit is fixed regardless of the final cost, but vigilance is still paramount.
How effectively did the full and open competition process identify the most capable and cost-efficient provider for these specialized scientific services?
Full and open competition is generally the most effective method for ensuring a competitive price and identifying a capable provider. The success of this process hinges on the clarity of the solicitation, the responsiveness of bidders, and the thoroughness of the evaluation criteria used by the FDA. The long contract duration suggests the chosen provider met expectations.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 8757 GEORGIA AVE FL 12, SILVER SPRING, MD, 20910
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $15,754,740
Exercised Options: $15,754,740
Current Obligation: $15,754,740
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-09-20
Current End Date: 2015-12-22
Potential End Date: 2015-12-22 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2015-12-29
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