HHS awards $8.2M for healthcare software development and maintenance to Software Consultants Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,206,679 ($8.2M)

Contractor: Software Consultants Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2025-03-20

End Date: 2026-06-19

Contract Duration: 456 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: CONTINUATION OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, AUTOMATION, AND MAINTENANCE TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE, BIOMEDICAL VOCABULARIES, AND STANDARDS.

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20817

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $8.2 million to SOFTWARE CONSULTANTS INC for work described as: CONTINUATION OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, AUTOMATION, AND MAINTENANCE TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE, BIOMEDICAL VOCABULARIES, AND STANDARDS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical healthcare IT infrastructure and biomedical vocabularies. 2. Competition method was full and open, suggesting potential for competitive pricing. 3. Risk is moderate, tied to software development lifecycle and vendor performance. 4. Sector is IT services, specifically custom computer programming.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The award amount of $8.2M over 16 months appears reasonable for custom software development and maintenance. Benchmarking against similar contracts for complex IT services is needed for a definitive assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing and allows a wide range of vendors to bid. This method is expected to yield fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment for contract awards.

Public Impact

Ensures continuity of essential healthcare IT systems. Supports development and maintenance of biomedical vocabularies and standards. Impacts users and developers within the healthcare and biomedical research community. Potential for improved data interoperability and research capabilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in software development.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical IT functions.
Ensuring timely delivery of complex software updates.

Positive Signals

Supports critical government healthcare functions.
Awarded through full and open competition.
Clear contract duration and defined deliverables.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming. Spending in this area is substantial across federal agencies for maintaining and modernizing critical systems.

Small Business Impact

While the contract was awarded under full and open competition, there is no specific indication of small business participation in this particular award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities exist.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is responsible for oversight. Standard contract management practices should ensure performance and accountability.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Vendor lock-in potential.
Cybersecurity risks associated with healthcare data.
Dependency on specific technical expertise.
Potential for schedule delays in complex development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $8.2 million to SOFTWARE CONSULTANTS INC. CONTINUATION OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, AUTOMATION, AND MAINTENANCE TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE, BIOMEDICAL VOCABULARIES, AND STANDARDS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SOFTWARE CONSULTANTS 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 $8.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-20. End: 2026-06-19.

What is the projected return on investment for the automation and software development efforts?

The return on investment is expected through increased efficiency in healthcare data management, reduced manual processing, and improved accuracy of biomedical vocabularies. Quantifying this ROI requires tracking specific performance metrics post-implementation, such as time saved on data entry, error reduction rates, and faster access to research data.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will vendor performance be measured?

Key performance indicators likely include software uptime, bug resolution times, successful implementation of new features, and adherence to project timelines. Performance will be measured through regular reporting, user feedback, and potentially independent testing and validation by NIH technical staff.

How does this contract align with broader federal IT modernization goals and data standardization initiatives?

This contract directly supports federal IT modernization by ensuring the continued operation and enhancement of critical healthcare systems. It also aligns with data standardization initiatives by focusing on biomedical vocabularies and standards, which are crucial for interoperability and data sharing across research and healthcare entities.

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

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1920 ASSOCIATION DR STE 302, RESTON, VA, 20191

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $8,206,679

Exercised Options: $8,206,679

Current Obligation: $8,206,679

Actual Outlays: $4,899,519

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA23D00BQ

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline