NIH Spends $10.2M on Rhesus Macaque Facility Maintenance Over 7 Years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $10,201,977 ($10.2M)
Contractor: University of Louisiana AT Lafayette
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2007-07-31
End Date: 2014-08-14
Contract Duration: 2,571 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF A SPECIFIC PATHOGEN FREE INDIAN-ORIGIN RHESUS MACAQUE BREEDING FACILITY
Place of Performance
Location: LAFAYETTE, LAFAYETTE County, LOUISIANA, 70504
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $10.2 million to UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE for work described as: MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF A SPECIFIC PATHOGEN FREE INDIAN-ORIGIN RHESUS MACAQUE BREEDING FACILITY Key points: 1. Spending focused on specialized animal facility maintenance. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting market engagement. 3. Contract duration is significant, raising questions about long-term needs. 4. Sector is primarily research support, not direct service delivery.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $10.2M over 7 years averages approximately $1.46M annually. Benchmarking this against similar specialized animal facility maintenance contracts is difficult without more specific data on the facility's scale and services.
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 method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives fair value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are supporting critical research infrastructure, which indirectly benefits public health through scientific advancement.
Public Impact
Supports vital biomedical research by ensuring the availability of specialized research animals. Contributes to the scientific community's ability to study diseases and develop treatments. Ensures ethical and effective care for research animals, adhering to federal guidelines.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long contract duration (7 years) may indicate a lack of flexibility or potential for cost overruns if needs change.
- Cost-plus contract type can incentivize spending, requiring close monitoring to ensure cost efficiency.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition suggests a robust procurement process.
- Supports critical research infrastructure for public health advancements.
Sector Analysis
This spending falls within the broader research and development sector, specifically supporting the infrastructure for biomedical research. Benchmarks for animal facility maintenance are highly variable based on facility size, animal type, and specific services required.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services (NIH), a major federal agency with established oversight mechanisms. The long duration suggests ongoing monitoring is crucial for accountability.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Animal Production
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration (7 years)
- Cost-plus contract type
- Potential for cost overruns
- Limited transparency on specific services provided
Tags
all-other-animal-production, department-of-health-and-human-services, la, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $10.2 million to UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE. MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF A SPECIFIC PATHOGEN FREE INDIAN-ORIGIN RHESUS MACAQUE BREEDING FACILITY
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE.
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 $10.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-07-31. End: 2014-08-14.
What was the specific scope of 'maintenance and support' for the breeding facility, and how did it evolve over the contract period?
The scope likely encompassed housing, feeding, veterinary care, breeding management, and potentially specialized environmental controls for the rhesus macaques. Understanding the evolution of these services is key to assessing if the $10.2M expenditure remained aligned with actual needs and if any scope creep occurred, impacting the overall value.
How did the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure influence the final cost and contractor performance?
A cost-plus-fixed-fee contract allows the contractor to recover all allowable costs plus a predetermined fee. While it can facilitate complex projects where costs are uncertain, it carries a risk of cost overruns if not tightly managed. The fixed fee provides some incentive for efficiency, but the government bears the primary cost risk.
What was the rationale for a 7-year contract duration for this type of service, and were there opportunities for re-competition or adjustments?
A long duration might be justified by the need for stable, continuous operation of a specialized breeding facility critical for research supply chains. However, it also reduces flexibility. The government should have mechanisms for performance reviews and potential adjustments or re-competition to ensure continued value and adapt to changing research needs or technological advancements.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting › Other Animal Production › All Other Animal Production
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
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
Parent Company: Louisiana Board of Regents (UEI: 787047901)
Address: 104 E UNIVERSITY AVE, LAFAYETTE, LA, 70503
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $10,201,977
Exercised Options: $10,201,977
Current Obligation: $10,201,977
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-07-31
Current End Date: 2014-08-14
Potential End Date: 2017-09-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-09-14
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