HHS Awards $10.7M STARLIMS Contract for Software Publishing Services to STARLIMS CORPORATION

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,682 ($10.7K)

Contractor: Starlims Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2026-04-02

End Date: 2027-02-18

Contract Duration: 322 days

Daily Burn Rate: $33/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: STARLIMS 2026

Place of Performance

Location: HOLLYWOOD, BROWARD County, FLORIDA, 33021

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $10,681.85 to STARLIMS CORPORATION for work described as: STARLIMS 2026 Key points: 1. The contract is for STARLIMS software, a specialized laboratory information management system. 2. STARLIMS CORPORATION is the sole provider of this specific software, indicating a potential lack of direct competition for this exact product. 3. The contract's value of $10.7 million over 322 days suggests a significant investment in critical public health infrastructure. 4. The award method is 'Full and Open Competition', which is positive, but the specific product may limit the scope of competition.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $10.7 million for a 322-day period, with a per-unit cost not explicitly detailed, requires further analysis against similar LIMS implementations. Without specific unit breakdowns, a direct pricing comparison is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

While the contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition', the reliance on a specific vendor's proprietary software (STARLIMS) likely means competition was focused on the ability to implement and support this particular system, rather than on alternative software solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to procure essential software for public health data management. The effectiveness of the competition method in securing the best value for this specialized software will determine the ultimate taxpayer impact.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation of critical laboratory information systems for the CDC. Supports public health surveillance and response capabilities by providing necessary software tools. Potential for improved data management and analysis in health emergencies. The specific software may be crucial for ongoing research and disease tracking.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 33 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential vendor lock-in due to specialized software.
Limited competition for the specific software product.
Reliance on a single source for critical functionality.

Positive Signals

Awarded under Full and Open Competition.
Contract supports critical public health functions.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

The IT sector, specifically software publishing and licensing, is characterized by rapid innovation and specialized solutions. The CDC's reliance on STARLIMS for laboratory information management aligns with the need for robust, industry-specific software to handle complex public health data.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further investigation would be needed to assess small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition', suggesting a structured procurement process. However, the specific nature of the software may warrant ongoing oversight to ensure continued value and prevent over-reliance on a single vendor.

Related Government Programs

Software Publishers
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Programs

Risk Flags

Sole source nature of the specific software product.
Potential for vendor lock-in.
Limited direct competition on software alternatives.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $10,681.85 to STARLIMS CORPORATION. STARLIMS 2026

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STARLIMS CORPORATION.

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 $10,681.85.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-02. End: 2027-02-18.

What is the total cost of ownership for STARLIMS software over its lifecycle, including maintenance, upgrades, and potential future integrations, compared to alternative LIMS solutions?

Assessing the total cost of ownership requires a comprehensive analysis beyond the current contract's value. This would involve factoring in ongoing licensing fees, support contracts, potential customization costs, and the expense of future upgrades or migrations. Without this lifecycle data, it's difficult to definitively state if STARLIMS offers the best long-term value compared to potentially more flexible or open-source LIMS alternatives that might have lower initial acquisition costs but different support structures.

How does the CDC mitigate the risks associated with relying on a single vendor for a critical software system like STARLIMS, particularly concerning data security and system availability?

Mitigation strategies likely include robust Service Level Agreements (SLAs) within the contract, mandating specific uptime percentages and response times for support. The CDC may also implement internal data backup and disaster recovery protocols independent of the vendor, conduct regular security audits of the software and its implementation, and maintain contingency plans for potential vendor failure or acquisition. Strong contract management and regular performance reviews are crucial.

To what extent does the STARLIMS software enhance the CDC's ability to perform its core mission functions, such as disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and public health research?

STARLIMS, as a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), is designed to streamline and manage laboratory data, which is fundamental to the CDC's mission. It likely improves data accuracy, reduces manual processing errors, facilitates faster data retrieval for analysis, and supports standardized reporting. Its effectiveness is directly tied to how well it integrates with other CDC systems and supports the specific workflows of its public health laboratories.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Abbott Laboratories Inc.

Address: 4000 HOLLYWOOD BLVD SUITE 333, HOLLYWOOD, FL, 33021

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,682

Exercised Options: $10,682

Current Obligation: $10,682

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA22D002P

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline