HHS awards $54.9M for NIH Information Management Support Services to Social & Scientific Systems, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $54,933,449 ($54.9M)
Contractor: Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2010-06-15
End Date: 2015-06-14
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $30.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: TAS::75 0844::TAS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $54.9 million to SOCIAL & SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: TAS::75 0844::TAS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition. 2. The contract spans five years, indicating a long-term need. 3. The primary contractor is Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541519, 'Other Computer Related Services'.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's total value is $54.9 million over five years. Without specific performance metrics or comparable contract data, assessing value for money is challenging. The Time and Materials pricing structure can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust process for soliciting bids. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows for a wide range of potential contractors to participate.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment for service providers.
Public Impact
Supports critical information management functions at the National Institutes of Health. Ensures continuity of essential IT services for a major federal health agency. Potential impact on research and public health initiatives reliant on NIH's data infrastructure.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials pricing can inflate costs without strict oversight.
- Lack of specific performance benchmarks makes value assessment difficult.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Long-term contract provides stability for essential services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically 'Other Computer Related Services'. Spending in this area is substantial across federal agencies, supporting everything from data management to cybersecurity. Benchmarks for similar IT support contracts vary widely based on scope and complexity.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to a single large business, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically involve regular performance reviews by the NIH contracting officer and technical monitors to ensure services meet requirements and costs remain within budget. The Time and Materials structure necessitates vigilant monitoring to prevent scope creep and cost escalation.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
- Lack of transparency on specific services and performance metrics.
- No clear indication of small business participation.
- Limited insight into the competitive landscape beyond the initial award.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-health-and-human-services, md, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $54.9 million to SOCIAL & SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS, INC.. TAS::75 0844::TAS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
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 (National Institutes of Health).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $54.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-06-15. End: 2015-06-14.
What specific information management services are included under this contract, and how do they align with NIH's strategic goals?
The contract covers 'Other Computer Related Services' for information management at NIH. While the exact services aren't detailed, they likely encompass data storage, retrieval, security, and potentially software development or maintenance supporting these functions. Alignment with strategic goals would depend on NIH's specific IT modernization and data management priorities.
What mechanisms are in place to control costs and ensure efficiency given the Time and Materials pricing structure?
Effective cost control relies on robust oversight, including detailed tracking of labor hours and material costs, clear definition of work requirements, and regular performance reviews. The contracting officer and technical team must actively manage the scope of work and challenge any inefficiencies to mitigate the inherent risks of T&M contracts.
How does the performance of Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. on this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar IT support services?
Assessing performance against industry benchmarks requires access to specific performance metrics (e.g., uptime, response times, issue resolution rates) and comparable contract data. Without this information, a direct comparison is not possible. However, the five-year duration suggests satisfactory performance to date, assuming renewals or extensions were based on merit.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related 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: 4
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 8757 GEORGIA AVE FL 12, SILVER SPRING, MD, 20910
Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $106,597,880
Exercised Options: $54,933,449
Current Obligation: $54,933,449
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS35F0533J
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-06-15
Current End Date: 2015-06-14
Potential End Date: 2015-06-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-11-23
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