HHS Awards $20M to Prenosis for Immunix Platform Expansion in Severe Respiratory Infections

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,000,000 ($20.0M)

Contractor: Prenosis, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2025-09-30

End Date: 2029-08-01

Contract Duration: 1,401 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: AOI #23+: HOST-BASED DIAGNOSTICS - EXPANSION OF IMMUNIX PLATFORM FOR PRECISION MEDICINE IN SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND ARDS

Place of Performance

Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60616

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $20.0 million to PRENOSIS, INC for work described as: AOI #23+: HOST-BASED DIAGNOSTICS - EXPANSION OF IMMUNIX PLATFORM FOR PRECISION MEDICINE IN SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND ARDS Key points: 1. The contract focuses on expanding Prenosis's Immunix platform for precision medicine in severe respiratory illnesses. 2. This award falls under the Research and Development in Biotechnology NAICS code. 3. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price definitive contract with a significant duration. 4. The primary risk lies in the successful development and implementation of the advanced diagnostic platform.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $20 million for R&D in biotechnology is substantial. Benchmarking against similar contracts for platform expansion and precision medicine development is difficult without more specific cost breakdowns, but the scale suggests a significant investment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method is generally expected to yield competitive pricing, though the specialized nature of the R&D may limit the pool of qualified bidders.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being invested in advanced medical research with the potential for significant public health benefits, but the return on investment is contingent on the successful development and deployment of the technology.

Public Impact

Potential for improved diagnosis and treatment of severe respiratory infections like ARDS. Advancement of precision medicine capabilities within the Department of Health and Human Services. Supports innovation in biotechnology and the development of novel diagnostic tools. Could lead to better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare burdens associated with severe respiratory illnesses.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

R&D project risk
Platform scalability and integration challenges
Market adoption of new diagnostic technology

Positive Signals

Addresses critical public health need
Leverages advanced biotechnology
Potential for significant medical breakthroughs

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the biotechnology R&D sector, specifically focusing on advanced diagnostics for severe respiratory diseases. Spending in this area is driven by public health needs and technological advancements, with significant government investment aimed at improving healthcare outcomes and preparedness.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Prenosis, Inc., a single entity. There is no explicit indication of small business participation or subcontracting in the provided data. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved or could have been.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, is overseeing this contract. Standard government oversight mechanisms for R&D contracts would apply, focusing on milestones, deliverables, and financial accountability.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Programs

Risk Flags

High R&D risk
Dependency on a single vendor's proprietary technology
Uncertainty of clinical efficacy and market adoption
Long contract duration increases exposure to technological obsolescence

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $20.0 million to PRENOSIS, INC. AOI #23+: HOST-BASED DIAGNOSTICS - EXPANSION OF IMMUNIX PLATFORM FOR PRECISION MEDICINE IN SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND ARDS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PRENOSIS, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-30. End: 2029-08-01.

What specific metrics will be used to evaluate the success of the Immunix platform expansion in improving patient outcomes for severe acute respiratory infections?

Success metrics will likely include quantifiable improvements in diagnostic accuracy, speed of diagnosis, and correlation with patient prognosis. Clinical trial data demonstrating reduced mortality rates, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications in patients treated based on Immunix platform insights would be key indicators. The contract should clearly define these benchmarks and the methodology for their measurement and reporting.

What are the primary technical risks associated with expanding the Immunix platform, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Key technical risks include the accuracy and reliability of the AI algorithms, data integration challenges from diverse sources, scalability of the platform to handle large patient populations, and cybersecurity of sensitive health data. Mitigation strategies should involve rigorous validation of algorithms, phased implementation, robust data security protocols, and contingency plans for system failures or performance degradation.

How will the effectiveness of the precision medicine approach enabled by the Immunix platform be measured against existing treatment protocols for ARDS?

Effectiveness will be measured through comparative clinical studies. This involves comparing patient outcomes (e.g., survival rates, recovery time, severity of illness) between a control group receiving standard care and an intervention group receiving treatment guided by the Immunix platform's precision medicine insights. Real-world data collection and analysis post-implementation will also be crucial for assessing long-term effectiveness.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)

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: BAA-20-SOL-100-00003

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3440 S DEARBORN ST STE 216-S, CHICAGO, IL, 60616

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,000,000

Exercised Options: $20,000,000

Current Obligation: $20,000,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline