HHS awards $3.6M for infectious disease modeling to Carnegie Mellon University

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,631,933 ($3.6M)

Contractor: Carnegie Mellon University

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-02-21

End Date: 2024-08-20

Contract Duration: 546 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: INFECTIOUS DISEASE MODELING

Place of Performance

Location: PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 15213

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $3.6 million to CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY for work described as: INFECTIOUS DISEASE MODELING Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price competition. 2. The contract duration of 546 days suggests a significant project scope. 3. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but sole-source nature raises concerns. 4. Performance is in Pennsylvania, indicating a localized geographic impact. 5. The award falls under the 'Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools' NAICS code. 6. This contract supports public health research and development efforts.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to its sole-source nature and specific research focus. Without comparable sole-source awards for infectious disease modeling services, it's difficult to definitively assess if the $3.6 million represents excellent value. The fixed-price contract type is a positive indicator for cost control, but the lack of competition means there's no market-driven price discovery to ensure optimal taxpayer value. Further analysis would require understanding the specific deliverables and the unique capabilities of Carnegie Mellon University in this specialized field.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when a specific entity possesses unique qualifications or capabilities essential for the contract's requirements. The lack of competition means that the government did not benefit from a bidding process that could have potentially driven down prices or offered alternative solutions. While justified in certain circumstances, sole-source awards generally lead to less favorable pricing and reduced innovation compared to fully competed contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price due to the absence of competitive bidding. This can lead to higher overall spending for similar services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in their mission to understand and combat infectious diseases. The contract will deliver critical research and modeling services related to infectious disease outbreaks. The geographic impact is primarily within Pennsylvania, where Carnegie Mellon University is located, though the research findings will have national and potentially global public health implications. The contract supports academic research and specialized scientific expertise, contributing to the nation's public health infrastructure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pressure on pricing.
Lack of transparency in the justification for sole-source procurement.
Potential for cost overruns if scope is not tightly managed due to fixed-price nature without competition.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Award to a reputable university suggests access to specialized expertise.
Contract duration allows for in-depth research and development.

Sector Analysis

The healthcare and public health sector relies heavily on research and development to understand and mitigate health threats. Infectious disease modeling is a critical component of this, enabling policymakers to anticipate outbreaks, allocate resources effectively, and develop intervention strategies. Spending in this area is often directed towards academic institutions and specialized research firms due to the high level of expertise required. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish for highly specialized research contracts, but investments in public health research are generally seen as crucial for national security and well-being.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to involve any small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. As a sole-source award to a large university, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal. However, it is important to ensure that if any specialized services are subcontracted, opportunities are considered for small businesses where appropriate.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within HHS. The fixed-price contract type provides a degree of cost control. Transparency regarding the specific deliverables and progress reports will be key to assessing accountability. The Inspector General's office within HHS would have jurisdiction over any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this award.

Related Government Programs

Public Health Surveillance
Epidemiological Research
Biodefense Research
Medical Research and Development
National Institutes of Health Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may indicate a lack of market research or justification.
Limited competition could lead to suboptimal pricing for taxpayers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $3.6 million to CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY. INFECTIOUS DISEASE MODELING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-02-21. End: 2024-08-20.

What specific infectious diseases or scenarios is Carnegie Mellon University contracted to model?

The provided data does not specify the exact infectious diseases or scenarios that Carnegie Mellon University is contracted to model. The contract's description is broad ('INFECTIOUS DISEASE MODELING'). To understand the specific focus, one would need to review the contract's statement of work (SOW) or task order details. This information is crucial for assessing the relevance and potential impact of the research. For instance, modeling for a novel pandemic threat would have different implications than modeling for endemic diseases. Accessing the SOW would clarify whether the work pertains to influenza, COVID-19 variants, zoonotic diseases, or other public health concerns, and whether it involves predictive analytics, risk assessment, or intervention strategy evaluation.

How does the $3.6 million cost compare to similar infectious disease modeling contracts awarded by the government?

Directly comparing this $3.6 million contract to similar infectious disease modeling contracts is challenging due to its sole-source nature and the specific, potentially unique, research focus. Sole-source awards inherently lack the price discovery that comes from competitive bidding, making direct value-for-money comparisons difficult. To establish a benchmark, one would ideally look for other sole-source contracts awarded to academic institutions for highly specialized modeling work, or analyze the scope and deliverables of competed contracts in the broader infectious disease research space. Without access to detailed statements of work and performance metrics for comparable contracts, it's hard to definitively state if $3.6 million is high or low. However, the duration of 546 days suggests a substantial research effort, which could justify the cost if the outcomes are significant.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and deliverables expected under this contract?

The provided data does not detail the key performance indicators (KPIs) or specific deliverables expected under this $3.6 million contract for infectious disease modeling. Typically, such contracts would outline measurable objectives, such as the development of specific predictive models, the generation of simulation results under various scenarios, the publication of research findings, or the delivery of analytical reports. The fixed-price nature of the contract suggests that the scope and expected outcomes should be clearly defined to manage costs effectively. Without access to the contract's statement of work (SOW), it is impossible to assess the contractor's performance expectations or the tangible outputs that taxpayers are funding. Understanding these KPIs and deliverables is essential for evaluating the contract's success and the value derived from the investment.

What is Carnegie Mellon University's track record in infectious disease modeling and government contracting?

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has a strong reputation in various scientific and technological fields, including computational modeling and data science, which are foundational to infectious disease modeling. While the provided data doesn't detail CMU's specific track record in infectious disease modeling contracts, CMU's various departments, such as the School of Computer Science and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, have researchers actively involved in epidemiological modeling, public health informatics, and computational biology. CMU has a history of receiving federal grants and contracts for research. A deeper dive into CMU's research portfolio and past performance on similar government contracts, potentially through databases like SAM.gov or agency-specific reports, would be necessary to fully assess their specific expertise and reliability in this domain.

What is the historical spending trend for infectious disease modeling by the Department of Health and Human Services?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends for infectious disease modeling by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). To analyze historical spending, one would need to examine contract data over multiple fiscal years, looking specifically at awards related to infectious disease modeling, epidemiology, and related research categories across various HHS agencies like the CDC and NIH. Such an analysis would reveal whether spending in this area has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and identify the primary contractors and research areas receiving the most funding. This context is crucial for understanding the significance of the current $3.6 million award within the broader landscape of HHS's investment in public health research.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 75D301-22-R-72470

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5000 FORBES AVE, PITTSBURGH, PA, 15213

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,641,933

Exercised Options: $3,641,933

Current Obligation: $3,631,933

Actual Outlays: $3,631,933

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $553,794

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline