NIH awards $48.6M for IT program support to Seventh Sense Consulting, highlighting administrative management needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $48,581,343 ($48.6M)

Contractor: Seventh Sense, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2017-09-20

End Date: 2023-05-05

Contract Duration: 2,053 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGFSEVENTH SENSE CONSULTING SHALL PROVIDE DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (NITAAC) AS SPECIFIED IN THE STATEMENT OF WORK. SEE ATTACHED. SEVENTH SENSE CONSULTING, LLC:1229046 [17-004829]

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $48.6 million to SEVENTH SENSE, LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGFSEVENTH SENSE CONSULTING SHALL PROVIDE DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (NITAAC) AS SPECIFIED IN THE STATEMENT OF WORK. SEE ATTACHED. SEVENTH SENSE CONSULTING, LLC:1229… Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential day-to-day program support for NIH's IT acquisition and assessment center. 2. Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services are key to the contract's scope. 3. The contract duration of over 2000 days indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. A single award suggests a specific need or a highly competitive initial selection process. 5. The firm fixed-price structure aims to control costs and provide predictable spending. 6. This award represents a significant investment in the operational efficiency of NIH's IT infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $48.6 million over approximately 5.6 years suggests a substantial but potentially reasonable investment for comprehensive IT program support. Benchmarking against similar administrative and management consulting contracts within federal agencies is necessary for a definitive value assessment. The firm fixed-price nature of the award provides cost certainty, which is a positive indicator for value, assuming the scope was well-defined and achievable within the budget.

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. The presence of three bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific requirement. While not an extremely high number of bidders, full and open competition generally promotes price discovery and encourages vendors to offer competitive terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the assurance that the government sought the best possible offer through a competitive process, aiming to secure quality services at a fair price.

Public Impact

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) benefits directly through enhanced IT program support. Services delivered are crucial for the day-to-day operations of the Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC). The primary geographic impact is within the federal IT acquisition and management sphere. Workforce implications include support for federal IT acquisition specialists and program managers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if initial requirements were not precisely defined.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical IT support functions could pose a risk if performance falters.
Ensuring continued innovation and efficiency from the contractor over the contract's long duration.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive selection process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty and budget predictability.
Long contract duration indicates a stable, ongoing need for these critical support services.
The contractor, Seventh Sense Consulting, LLC, is established and has a track record with federal contracts.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader Information Technology (IT) services sector, specifically focusing on administrative management and general management consulting. The federal IT services market is substantial, with agencies continually seeking support for complex acquisition, assessment, and program management functions. This contract with NIH's NITAAC is a key component of ensuring efficient IT procurement and oversight within a leading health research institution. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale IT support contracts awarded to management consulting firms by agencies like HHS, DOD, or GSA.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false) and was awarded to Seventh Sense, LLC, which is identified as an LLC. While the contract itself was not a small business set-aside, the prime contractor's size status would need further verification. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within the provided data, which is a common requirement for larger federal contracts to ensure small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) contracting officers and program managers. The firm fixed-price nature of the award provides a degree of accountability by linking payment to deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract's execution.

Related Government Programs

NIH IT Support Services
Federal IT Acquisition Management
Administrative Management Consulting
General Management Consulting Services
NITAAC Program Support
HHS IT Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of performance degradation or obsolescence.
Reliance on a single awardee for critical support functions.
Need for ongoing robust oversight to ensure value and performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $48.6 million to SEVENTH SENSE, LLC. IGF::OT::IGFSEVENTH SENSE CONSULTING SHALL PROVIDE DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (NITAAC) AS SPECIFIED IN THE STATEMENT OF WORK. SEE ATTACHED. SEVENTH SENSE CONSULTING, LLC:1229046 [17-004829]

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SEVENTH SENSE, 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 $48.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-09-20. End: 2023-05-05.

What is Seventh Sense Consulting, LLC's past performance record with federal contracts, particularly in IT program support?

Seventh Sense Consulting, LLC has a history of federal contract awards, including this significant delivery order from NIH. Analyzing their performance on previous contracts, especially those involving similar scope and complexity (e.g., IT acquisition support, program management), would provide insight into their reliability and capability. Federal procurement data often includes past performance evaluations, which, if available, would detail their success in meeting deadlines, quality standards, and budget constraints on prior engagements. A review of contract close-out data and any associated award fees or penalties would further illuminate their track record.

How does the per-period cost of this contract compare to similar IT program support contracts awarded by NIH or other agencies?

To benchmark the per-period cost, we would need to identify comparable contracts for IT program support services awarded by NIH or similar agencies (e.g., HHS, other health-focused research bodies) around the same timeframe. This involves looking at contracts with similar Statement of Work (SOW) requirements, labor categories, and contract types (preferably firm fixed-price). The total contract value ($48.6M) divided by the duration (approx. 2053 days or ~5.6 years) gives an annual average of roughly $8.6M. Comparing this annual figure against the average annual cost of similar contracts, adjusted for scope and inflation, would reveal if this award represents a competitive price point or if it appears high or low relative to market rates for comparable federal services.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract, and how are they monitored?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. However, for a contract of this nature (day-to-day program support), typical KPIs would likely include metrics related to response times for support requests, accuracy of administrative tasks, timeliness of reporting, adherence to IT acquisition processes, and overall client satisfaction. Monitoring would typically be conducted through regular progress meetings between Seventh Sense Consulting and NIH program officials, review of performance reports submitted by the contractor, and potentially through formal performance evaluations at key milestones or contract anniversaries. The contracting officer's representative (COR) plays a crucial role in overseeing contractor performance against the SOW and any defined SLAs.

What is the historical spending trend for IT program support services at NIH, and how does this contract fit within that trend?

Analyzing historical spending data for IT program support at NIH would reveal trends in investment in this area. This contract, valued at $48.6 million over approximately 5.6 years, represents a significant, ongoing commitment. If NIH's historical spending on similar support services has been consistently high or increasing, this contract aligns with that trend, indicating a sustained need. Conversely, if spending has been declining, this award might represent a strategic shift or a re-prioritization. Understanding the context of NIH's overall IT budget and strategic IT goals is essential to determine if this contract represents a typical or exceptional level of investment for program support.

Are there any identified risks or challenges associated with Seventh Sense Consulting, LLC's performance on this contract, based on available data?

Based solely on the provided data, there are no explicit risk flags or documented performance issues for Seventh Sense Consulting, LLC on this specific contract. However, potential risks inherent in any long-term, large-value IT support contract include the possibility of scope creep, contractor performance degradation over time, or challenges in adapting to evolving technological landscapes. A comprehensive risk assessment would require reviewing contractor performance evaluations, any contract modifications, and potentially data from contract oversight bodies or IG reports, none of which are included in the provided snippet.

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

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 14626 CROSSFIELD WAY, WOODBRIDGE, VA, 22191

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $79,239,522

Exercised Options: $48,581,343

Current Obligation: $48,581,343

Actual Outlays: $17,780,648

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00F102GA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline