NASA awards $3.3M contract for microgravity stem cell production to treat blood cancers and immune diseases
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,318,354 ($3.3M)
Contractor: THE Regents of the University of Colorado
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2022-06-06
End Date: 2027-02-20
Contract Duration: 1,720 days
Daily Burn Rate: $1.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: PRODUCTION OF LARGE POPULATIONS OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS (HSCS) IN MICROGRAVITY TO TREAT SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING BLOOD CANCERS (LEUKEMIAS, LYMPHOMAS, MULTIPLE MYELOMA), FATAL BLOOD DISORDERS, AND SEVERE IMMUNE DISEASES.
Place of Performance
Location: BOULDER, BOULDER County, COLORADO, 80309
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $3.3 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO for work described as: PRODUCTION OF LARGE POPULATIONS OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS (HSCS) IN MICROGRAVITY TO TREAT SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING BLOOD CANCERS (LEUKEMIAS, LYMPHOMAS, MULTIPLE MYELOMA), FATAL BLOOD DISORDERS, AND SEVERE IMMUNE DISEASES. Key points: 1. Contract aims to advance critical medical treatments by leveraging microgravity for stem cell cultivation. 2. Focus on treating serious conditions like leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and severe immune disorders. 3. Potential for significant breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and personalized therapies. 4. Research and development in a novel environment could yield high-value scientific insights. 5. Long-term potential for commercialization and broader medical applications. 6. Contract duration extends over several years, indicating a sustained research effort.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $3.3 million appears reasonable for a multi-year research and development effort in a highly specialized field like microgravity stem cell production. Benchmarking against similar advanced biomedical research contracts is challenging due to the unique nature of this work. However, the funding level suggests a focused investment in a specific scientific objective rather than a large-scale production run. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is expected to have driven a fair price and encouraged innovative approaches from potential contractors. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competition.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring that the government receives the best value through a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to lower costs and higher quality outcomes.
Public Impact
Patients suffering from blood cancers (leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma) stand to benefit from potential new treatments. Individuals with fatal blood disorders and severe immune diseases may gain access to advanced therapies. The research conducted in Colorado could lead to broader applications in regenerative medicine. Advancements in stem cell production could impact the future of medical research and treatment development. The project supports scientific innovation and potentially the development of a skilled workforce in biotechnology.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Complexity of microgravity research may introduce unforeseen technical challenges.
- Long development timelines inherent in biomedical research can pose risks to timely delivery of results.
- Reliance on a single delivery order for a complex R&D project warrants close monitoring.
Positive Signals
- Focus on a critical area of medical need with high potential impact.
- Award to a research institution suggests a strong scientific foundation.
- Fixed-price contract provides cost control for the government.
- Multi-year duration allows for sustained research and development.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader scientific research and development sector, specifically focusing on biotechnology and advanced medical treatments. The market for stem cell research and regenerative medicine is rapidly growing, driven by advancements in genetic engineering and cell biology. NASA's involvement highlights the potential for space-based research to yield unique biological insights. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish due to the niche nature of microgravity applications, but significant government investment is seen across various R&D areas.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. The primary contractor is a university, which may engage in subcontracting, but the direct award does not prioritize small business participation. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses are involved in the supply chain or subcontracting opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will be managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a fixed-price contract with a delivery order structure, NASA will monitor progress against defined milestones and deliverables. Transparency is expected through standard government reporting mechanisms. While specific Inspector General jurisdiction is not detailed, NASA's Office of Inspector General typically oversees agency contracts for fraud, waste, and abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Biotechnology Research Grants
- Medical Research and Development
- Space Biology Research
- Regenerative Medicine Initiatives
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Funding
Risk Flags
- Long-term research and development timelines
- Uncertainty in scientific outcomes
- Potential for technical challenges in microgravity environment
Tags
nasa, research-and-development, biotechnology, stem-cells, microgravity, healthcare, university-contractor, full-and-open-competition, fixed-price, delivery-order, colorado, scientific-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $3.3 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. PRODUCTION OF LARGE POPULATIONS OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS (HSCS) IN MICROGRAVITY TO TREAT SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING BLOOD CANCERS (LEUKEMIAS, LYMPHOMAS, MULTIPLE MYELOMA), FATAL BLOOD DISORDERS, AND SEVERE IMMUNE DISEASES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-06-06. End: 2027-02-20.
What is the track record of The Regents of the University of Colorado in securing and executing federal research grants, particularly in biotechnology and space-related fields?
The Regents of the University of Colorado, as a major research institution, has a substantial history of securing and executing federal research grants across various scientific disciplines, including biotechnology and space science. While specific details on their success rate or past performance on similar microgravity projects are not provided in this data, universities of this caliber typically have dedicated offices to manage grant applications and compliance. Their experience in managing complex research projects, adhering to federal regulations, and producing scientific outcomes is generally well-established. A deeper dive into their federal contract and grant database history would reveal specific successes and challenges related to large-scale R&D endeavors.
How does the $3.3 million contract value compare to other federal investments in stem cell research or microgravity biological experiments?
The $3.3 million contract value for this specific project is moderate when compared to the broader landscape of federal investments in stem cell research and microgravity experiments. Large-scale stem cell research initiatives, often funded by agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), can involve hundreds of millions of dollars over several years for broad programs. Similarly, significant space-based research, including biological experiments, can also command substantial funding, especially for hardware development and long-duration missions. This NASA contract appears to be a focused investment in a particular aspect of stem cell production in microgravity, suggesting it's a component of a larger research effort or a targeted investigation rather than a comprehensive program. Its value is reasonable for a specialized, multi-year R&D effort.
What are the primary risks associated with producing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in microgravity, and how are these being mitigated by this contract?
The primary risks associated with producing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in microgravity include technical challenges in maintaining cell viability and function, potential for contamination, and the complexity of scaling up production. Microgravity can alter cellular processes in ways that are not yet fully understood, potentially impacting the efficacy of the resulting stem cells. This contract aims to mitigate these risks through focused research and development by a qualified institution. The multi-year duration allows for iterative experimentation and optimization of protocols. The fixed-price nature incentivizes the contractor to find efficient and effective methods. However, the inherent scientific uncertainty means that success is not guaranteed, and ongoing monitoring of research progress and cell quality will be crucial.
What is the expected timeline for seeing tangible results or potential medical applications from this microgravity stem cell production research?
The expected timeline for seeing tangible results or potential medical applications from this microgravity stem cell production research is likely several years, given the nature of scientific discovery and regulatory pathways. The contract itself runs until February 2027, indicating that the initial research and development phase will extend at least that long. Following successful laboratory production and characterization of HSCs in microgravity, further preclinical studies (animal models) and extensive clinical trials (human testing) would be required before any therapeutic applications could be realized. This process typically takes many additional years and significant further investment. Therefore, while this contract is a crucial step, it represents the foundational research phase.
How does NASA's investment in microgravity stem cell research align with its broader goals for space exploration and utilization?
NASA's investment in microgravity stem cell research aligns with its broader goals of advancing human health in space and developing capabilities for long-duration space missions and potential space colonization. Understanding how biological systems, like stem cells, behave and can be cultivated in microgravity is essential for astronaut health and performance during extended missions. Furthermore, developing technologies for in-space manufacturing of medical countermeasures or regenerative therapies could reduce the need for Earth-based resupply, making space exploration more sustainable. This research also contributes to NASA's objective of utilizing the unique space environment for scientific discovery and technological innovation that can benefit life on Earth, as demonstrated by the potential applications for treating serious medical conditions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB, BOULDER, CO, 80309
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,318,354
Exercised Options: $3,318,354
Current Obligation: $3,318,354
Actual Outlays: $2,565,000
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 9
Total Subaward Amount: $1,514,119
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80JSC019D0026
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-06-06
Current End Date: 2027-02-20
Potential End Date: 2027-02-20 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-26
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