HHS awards $2M contract to Lumina Corps Inc. for scientific meeting support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,028,511 ($2.0M)

Contractor: Lumina Corps Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2024-07-15

End Date: 2027-07-14

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS AND WORKING GROUP SUPPORT FOR NCI.

Place of Performance

Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $2.0 million to LUMINA CORPS INC. for work described as: SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS AND WORKING GROUP SUPPORT FOR NCI. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential support for National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientific meetings and working groups. 2. The contract utilizes a Time and Materials pricing structure, which can pose risks if not closely managed. 3. Full and open competition was used, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The contract duration is approximately three years, aligning with typical project lifecycles. 5. The award is a BPA Call, indicating it was made under an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement. 6. The specific NAICS code (541511) points to custom computer programming services, which may be a component of the support.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $2 million over three years for scientific meeting support appears reasonable for the scope of services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for meeting logistics and administrative support is difficult without more detailed service descriptions. However, the Time and Materials pricing model warrants careful monitoring to ensure costs remain within expectations and do not escalate due to inefficiencies or scope creep. The absence of a fixed price or cost-plus-fixed-fee structure suggests a need for robust oversight to control expenditures.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. This method generally promotes a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service quality. The number of bidders is not specified, but the use of this procurement method suggests that multiple entities likely vied for the contract, contributing to price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the potential for competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified vendors, which can lead to more efficient use of federal funds.

Public Impact

Researchers and scientists within the National Cancer Institute will benefit from streamlined meeting organization and administrative support. The contract facilitates the delivery of critical scientific exchange and collaboration opportunities, advancing cancer research. The primary geographic impact is likely within the National Institutes of Health's operational areas, potentially including Bethesda, Maryland. Workforce implications may include support staff for event planning, logistics, and administrative tasks related to scientific meetings.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess effectiveness.
The 'Custom Computer Programming Services' NAICS code might indicate a broader scope than just meeting support, requiring clarification.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Contract duration of three years allows for consistent support.
BPA Call award mechanism can streamline procurement for recurring needs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically supporting administrative and logistical functions for scientific endeavors. The market for such services is broad, encompassing event management, administrative support, and potentially IT integration for virtual or hybrid meetings. Spending benchmarks for similar NCI support contracts would typically vary based on the complexity and scale of the meetings, but a $2 million award over three years for comprehensive support is within a common range for federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) is false. This suggests that the contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have explicit subcontracting requirements for small businesses mandated in the award details. Consequently, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific contract may be limited, unless Lumina Corps Inc. voluntarily engages small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance work statement and contractual terms. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award being publicly available. The Inspector General for HHS would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

National Institutes of Health Administrative Support Contracts
National Cancer Institute Meeting and Event Services
Federal Scientific Conference Support
Department of Health and Human Services Professional Services

Risk Flags

Time and Materials Pricing
Lack of Specific Performance Metrics
Unclear Scope of IT Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2.0 million to LUMINA CORPS INC.. SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS AND WORKING GROUP SUPPORT FOR NCI.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LUMINA CORPS 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 $2.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-07-15. End: 2027-07-14.

What is the specific nature of the 'Custom Computer Programming Services' (NAICS 541511) in relation to scientific meeting support?

The NAICS code 541511, 'Custom Computer Programming Services,' suggests that Lumina Corps Inc. may be providing IT-related services beyond basic meeting logistics. This could include developing custom software for meeting registration, abstract submission, virtual conference platforms, data analysis tools for meeting outcomes, or integrating various IT systems to support the scientific exchange. The exact nature of these programming services would need to be detailed in the contract's statement of work to understand how they directly contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of NCI's scientific meetings and working groups. Without this detail, it's unclear if the programming aspect is a core function or a supplementary service.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure compare to other contract types for similar services, and what are the associated risks?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are often used when the scope of work is not clearly defined or is expected to change, allowing flexibility. However, compared to fixed-price or cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts, T&M carries a higher risk of cost overruns for the government. The contractor is reimbursed for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials. This structure incentivizes the contractor to bill for more hours or use more expensive materials, rather than focusing on efficiency. For scientific meeting support, where tasks might be more predictable, a fixed-price or capped T&M contract could offer better cost control. Robust oversight, detailed tracking of hours, and clear approval processes for any material purchases are crucial to mitigate the risks associated with this pricing model.

What is Lumina Corps Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly within HHS or NIH?

Information regarding Lumina Corps Inc.'s specific track record with federal contracts, especially within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is not provided in the initial data. A thorough assessment would require reviewing the company's past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), previous contract awards, and any history of disputes or performance issues. Understanding their experience with similar scientific support or IT services contracts would provide valuable insight into their capability to successfully execute this award. Without this historical data, evaluating their reliability and past value for money is challenging.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of this contract?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics that will be used to evaluate the success of this contract. Effective evaluation typically relies on clearly defined metrics within the Performance Work Statement (PWS). For scientific meeting support, these could include timeliness of logistical arrangements, attendee satisfaction rates, budget adherence, successful execution of virtual/hybrid components, and the quality of administrative support provided. Without defined KPIs, assessing whether Lumina Corps Inc. is delivering value for money and meeting the objectives of the National Cancer Institute becomes subjective and difficult to quantify. It is essential that the PWS includes measurable outcomes.

How does this $2 million contract compare to historical spending by NCI for similar scientific meeting and working group support?

To compare this $2 million contract to historical spending, one would need to analyze past NCI expenditures on similar services. This would involve searching federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending) for contracts awarded to various vendors for 'scientific meeting support,' 'conference services,' 'working group coordination,' or related terms, specifically for the National Cancer Institute. Analyzing the total dollar amounts, durations, and scopes of these historical contracts would establish a benchmark. If NCI has previously awarded larger or smaller contracts for comparable services, it would provide context for whether this award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in such support.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming 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

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 801 ROEDER RD STE 700, SILVER SPRING, MD, 20910

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,784,266

Exercised Options: $2,028,511

Current Obligation: $2,028,511

Actual Outlays: $502,942

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N91020A00001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline