HHS awards $33.4M for novel tetracycline countermeasures against respiratory diseases and resistant pathogens
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $33,430,604 ($33.4M)
Contractor: Cubrc, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2011-09-27
End Date: 2022-04-05
Contract Duration: 3,843 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 29
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL TETRACYCLINE COUNTERMEASURES FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASE CAUSED BY BIOTHREAT AND ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT PUBLIC HEALTH PATHOGENS
Place of Performance
Location: BUFFALO, ERIE County, NEW YORK, 14225
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $33.4 million to CUBRC, INC. for work described as: DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL TETRACYCLINE COUNTERMEASURES FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASE CAUSED BY BIOTHREAT AND ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT PUBLIC HEALTH PATHOGENS Key points: 1. Contract awarded to CUBRC, INC. for R&D in Biotechnology. 2. Focus on biothreats and antibiotic-resistant public health pathogens. 3. Long contract duration of 3843 days. 4. Potential for significant public health impact.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $33.4M over nearly 11 years suggests a substantial investment in research and development. Benchmarking is difficult without specific per-unit cost data for R&D phases.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and value for taxpayer money.
Taxpayer Impact: The investment aims to develop critical countermeasures, potentially saving lives and reducing healthcare burdens from severe diseases, representing a significant long-term taxpayer benefit.
Public Impact
Development of new treatments for serious respiratory illnesses. Addressing the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Enhancing national security against biothreat agents. Potential for future commercialization of developed countermeasures.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long contract duration may indicate evolving research needs or potential for cost overruns.
- Reliance on a single contractor for a critical development may pose a risk if performance falters.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical public health need.
- Utilizes a competitive procurement process.
- Focus on high-impact R&D.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Biotechnology R&D sector, a high-investment area focused on scientific innovation. Spending benchmarks in this specialized field are highly variable based on project scope and novelty.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific subcontracting or participation by small businesses in this contract. Further investigation would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract's long duration and R&D nature necessitate ongoing oversight from HHS and NIH to ensure progress, manage costs, and achieve project milestones effectively.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in Biotechnology
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration.
- High R&D investment.
- Focus on novel and potentially difficult-to-develop countermeasures.
- Potential for evolving threats requiring adaptation.
Tags
research-and-development-in-biotechnolog, department-of-health-and-human-services, ny, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $33.4 million to CUBRC, INC.. DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL TETRACYCLINE COUNTERMEASURES FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASE CAUSED BY BIOTHREAT AND ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT PUBLIC HEALTH PATHOGENS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CUBRC, INC..
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 $33.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2011-09-27. End: 2022-04-05.
What is the projected timeline for the development and potential availability of these novel countermeasures?
The contract duration of 3843 days (approximately 10.5 years) suggests a long-term research and development effort. Specific milestones and interim deliverables would be detailed within the contract's statement of work. The actual time to market for such countermeasures can vary significantly due to rigorous testing, regulatory approval processes (e.g., FDA), and unforeseen scientific challenges.
How will the effectiveness of these tetracycline countermeasures be validated against diverse strains of pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant ones?
Validation will likely involve a multi-stage process. Initial stages will focus on in-vitro testing against a panel of target pathogens, including known resistant strains. Pre-clinical studies in animal models will assess efficacy and safety. If successful, human clinical trials will be conducted to confirm effectiveness and safety in the target population. The contract likely specifies the metrics and benchmarks for success at each stage.
What is the potential economic impact if these countermeasures are successfully developed and deployed?
Successful development could lead to significant economic benefits by preventing widespread illness, reducing healthcare system strain, and mitigating economic disruption from disease outbreaks. It could also spur innovation in the pharmaceutical sector and create high-value jobs. The return on investment for the government could be substantial if the countermeasures avert large-scale public health crises or biothreat events.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in 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
Solicitation ID: NIHAI2010097
Offers Received: 29
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4455 GENESEE ST, BUFFALO, NY, 14225
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $38,801,216
Exercised Options: $33,430,604
Current Obligation: $33,430,604
Actual Outlays: $142,563
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 13
Total Subaward Amount: $31,957,079
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2011-09-27
Current End Date: 2022-04-05
Potential End Date: 2022-04-05 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-04-06
More Contracts from Cubrc, Inc.
- Cubrc: Development of a Novel Antibiotic for the Treatment of Select Bacterial Infections — $61.3M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Operation of Zone Center 1 for the National Automotive Sampling System (nass) — $36.6M (Department of Transportation)
- 200408!002867!2100!w31p4q!usa Aviation and Missile Command!w31p4q04cr095 !A!N! !N! ! !20040427!20081231!938980042!938980042!938980042!n!calspan-Ub Research Center !4455 Genesee ST !buffalo !ny!14225!11000!029!36!buffalo !erie !NEW York !+000000010000!n!n!000000000000!ad92!rdte/Other Defense-Applied Research !A2 !missile and Space Systems !000 !* !541330!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !c!n!u!2!001!n!1b!z!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !c!c!a!a!000!a!d!n! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! ! — $36.6M (Department of Defense)
- Advanced Tasking, Estimation and Alerting System (ateas) — $6.9M (Department of Defense)
- Battlespace Operations Watcher (BOW) — $6.1M (Department of Defense)
Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts
- Contact Center Operations (CCO) — $5.5B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- TAS::75 0849::TAS Oper of Govt R&D Goco Facilities — $4.8B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Provide the Full Complement of Services Necessary to Care for UC in ORR Custody Including Facilities Set-Up, Maintenance, and Support Internal and Perimeter (IF Applicable) Security, Direct Care and Supervision Inc — $3.5B (Rapid Deployment Inc)
- Contact Center Operations — $2.6B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- Federal Contract — $2.4B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →