NIH Awards $22.5M IT Support Contract to RELI GROUP INC for Hosting and Storage Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,478,053 ($22.5M)

Contractor: Reli Group Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2023-08-05

End Date: 2026-08-04

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE HOSTING AND STORAGE SERVICES (HSS), CENTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CIT)

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20817

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $22.5 million to RELI GROUP INC for work described as: PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE HOSTING AND STORAGE SERVICES (HSS), CENTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CIT) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to RELI GROUP INC for IT support services. 2. The contract is for Hosting and Storage Services (HSS) at the Center for Information Technology (CIT). 3. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 4. The contract has a duration of 1095 days, ending in August 2026. 5. The total value of the award is $22,478,053.04.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $22.5 million over three years appears reasonable for comprehensive IT hosting and storage support services. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT infrastructure contracts would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' suggesting a competitive process that allowed multiple bidders but may have had specific pre-qualification criteria. This method generally promotes price discovery and value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is expected to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential IT infrastructure services.

Public Impact

Ensures continuity of critical IT hosting and storage services for NIH. Supports the Center for Information Technology's mission. Provides essential infrastructure for health research and data management. Potential for innovation in IT service delivery through competitive pressure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Potential for vendor lock-in if follow-on contracts are not competitively bid.
  • Reliance on a single vendor for critical IT infrastructure.
  • Scope creep could increase costs beyond the initial award.

Positive Signals

  • Awarded through full and open competition.
  • Firm Fixed Price contract type helps control costs.
  • Long-term contract provides stability for essential services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on data center operations, hosting, and storage. Spending in this area is crucial for government agencies to maintain secure and reliable digital infrastructure, with benchmarks varying widely based on scale and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). While this specific award did not benefit small businesses, agencies often have separate set-aside contracts for smaller IT service providers.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded via a delivery order, suggesting it may be part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Oversight would involve monitoring performance against the SOW and ensuring adherence to the firm-fixed-price terms.

Related Government Programs

  • Computer Systems Design Services
  • Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
  • National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

  • Lack of small business participation.
  • Potential for vendor lock-in.
  • Reliance on a single provider for critical infrastructure.
  • Complexity of managing large-scale IT services.
  • Cybersecurity risks associated with hosting sensitive data.

Tags

computer-systems-design-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 $22.5 million to RELI GROUP INC. PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE HOSTING AND STORAGE SERVICES (HSS), CENTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CIT)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RELI GROUP 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 $22.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-05. End: 2026-08-04.

What is the specific scope of 'Hosting and Storage Services' covered under this contract?

The scope likely includes the management, maintenance, and operation of physical and virtual servers, data storage solutions, network infrastructure related to data access, and potentially cloud-based services. It would encompass ensuring uptime, security, data integrity, and performance for the NIH's Center for Information Technology.

How does the pricing structure compare to industry standards for similar IT infrastructure services?

As a Firm Fixed Price contract, the pricing is set upfront. To assess value, it needs comparison against market rates for comparable hosting and storage solutions, considering factors like data volume, required uptime SLAs, security certifications, and geographic location of data centers.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of RELI GROUP INC's service delivery?

Effectiveness is typically ensured through Service Level Agreements (SLAs) tied to performance metrics like uptime, response times, and data recovery. The government's contracting officer's representative (COR) would monitor performance, conduct regular reviews, and manage contract compliance to ensure efficient service delivery.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesComputer Systems Design and Related ServicesComputer Systems Design Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONSIT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 75N97023R00004

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5520 RESEARCH PARK DRIVE, SUITE 105, CATONSVILLE, MD, 21228

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, HUBZone Firm, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,478,053

Exercised Options: $22,478,053

Current Obligation: $22,478,053

Actual Outlays: $17,902,040

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75N98120D00065

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline

Start Date: 2023-08-05

Current End Date: 2026-08-04

Potential End Date: 2026-08-04 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-08-21

More Contracts from Reli Group Inc

View all Reli Group Inc federal contracts →

Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts

View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →

Explore Related Government Spending