NIH awards $17.2M contract to Icahn School of Medicine for biodefense modeling research

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,219,467 ($17.2M)

Contractor: Icahn School of Medicine AT Mount Sinai

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2010-09-30

End Date: 2015-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: TAS::75 0885::TAS MODELING IMMUNITY FOR BIODEFENSE

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10029

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $17.2 million to ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI for work described as: TAS::75 0885::TAS MODELING IMMUNITY FOR BIODEFENSE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single academic institution for specialized research. 2. Focus on biodefense modeling suggests a critical national security or public health need. 3. Long-term contract duration (5 years) indicates ongoing research requirements. 4. Research and Development sector, specifically physical, engineering, and life sciences.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type is 'COST NO FEE', which is common for research where costs are reimbursed but no profit is expected. The total award amount of $17.2M over 5 years needs to be benchmarked against similar R&D contracts in biodefense to assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting multiple entities could have bid. However, the specific nature of the research may have limited the number of qualified bidders, potentially impacting price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are supporting critical research in biodefense, aiming to enhance national security and public health preparedness.

Public Impact

Supports advancements in understanding and mitigating biodefense threats. Investments in research infrastructure and expertise at academic institutions. Potential for developing new strategies or technologies to protect the public. Long-term commitment to a specific research area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or deliverables in provided data.
Potential for cost overruns in long-term research projects.
Limited visibility into the specific outcomes and impact of the research.

Positive Signals

Addresses a critical area of national security and public health.
Awarded through full and open competition.
Supports scientific advancement and expertise development.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for innovation but can be difficult to benchmark due to the unique nature of research projects.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific involvement or set-aside for small businesses in this contract. The awardee is a large academic institution.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through regular reporting and reviews of research progress and expenditures. The 'COST NO FEE' structure implies close monitoring of expenses.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Long-term contract duration may increase risk of cost escalation.
Research outcomes can be uncertain and may not yield immediate practical applications.
Dependence on a single institution for critical research.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $17.2 million to ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI. TAS::75 0885::TAS MODELING IMMUNITY FOR BIODEFENSE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI.

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 $17.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-09-30. End: 2015-09-29.

What specific biodefense threats or scenarios is this modeling research intended to address, and what are the expected advancements?

The modeling research likely aims to simulate the spread and impact of various biological threats, such as pandemics or bioterrorism agents. Expected advancements could include improved early detection systems, more effective response strategies, and better resource allocation during public health emergencies. The specific threats addressed would depend on current national security priorities and emerging risks identified by agencies like HHS and NIH.

How will the effectiveness and impact of this research be measured, given its long-term and potentially theoretical nature?

Effectiveness will likely be measured through a combination of milestones, peer-reviewed publications, and the development of predictive models. NIH program officers will assess the scientific rigor and progress of the research. Ultimately, impact may be gauged by the adoption of developed models or insights into policy decisions, emergency preparedness plans, or the development of countermeasures, though direct attribution can be challenging.

What is the potential return on investment for taxpayers, considering the $17.2M awarded for biodefense modeling research?

The return on investment is primarily in enhanced national security and public health preparedness. By improving our understanding of biodefense threats, this research can lead to more effective prevention, mitigation, and response strategies, potentially saving lives and reducing economic disruption from biological incidents. Quantifying this ROI is difficult but is considered high given the catastrophic potential of biothreats.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › N – Health R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mount Sinai Health System, Inc.

Address: 1 GUSTAVE L LEVY PRICE, NEW YORK, NY, 10029

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private)

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,219,467

Exercised Options: $17,219,467

Current Obligation: $17,219,467

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 9

Total Subaward Amount: $2,978,541

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline