HHS awards $13.6M for facilities support services to American Type Culture Collection

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,558,463 ($13.6M)

Contractor: American Type Culture Collection

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2008-04-01

End Date: 2014-01-31

Contract Duration: 2,131 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.4K/day

Competition Type: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 200-2008-24923- AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION

Place of Performance

Location: LAWRENCEVILLE, GWINNETT County, GEORGIA, 30045

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $13.6 million to AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION for work described as: 200-2008-24923- AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION Key points: 1. The contract represents a significant investment in essential facilities support. 2. Competition dynamics for this follow-on action warrant further examination. 3. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires careful monitoring of expenditures. 4. Performance context is crucial for understanding the value delivered over the contract duration. 5. This contract positions the agency to maintain critical infrastructure. 6. The duration of the contract suggests a long-term need for these services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $13.6 million over its period of performance (2008-2014) for facilities support services needs to be benchmarked against similar contracts for biological resource centers. Without specific comparable data, assessing the pricing and value for money is challenging. The cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) pricing structure, while allowing for flexibility, can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed tightly, as the contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs plus a fixed fee. Further analysis would require comparing the fixed fee percentage and the total cost against industry standards for similar services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a follow-on to a competed action, indicating that the initial award was subject to full and open competition. However, the specifics of the competition for this particular follow-on award are not detailed, including the number of bidders or the evaluation process. A follow-on action, even if originating from a competed base, might have reduced competition if specific capabilities or prior performance are heavily weighted. Understanding the competitive landscape for this specific award is key to assessing price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The fact that this is a follow-on to a competed action suggests that the initial competition likely drove a competitive price. However, the level of competition for this specific award needs to be confirmed to ensure taxpayers are receiving the best value.

Public Impact

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) benefits from this contract by ensuring the continuity of essential facilities support services. This contract supports the maintenance and operation of facilities crucial for biological research and public health initiatives. The services delivered are vital for the safe and effective functioning of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). The geographic impact is centered in Georgia, where the ATCC facilities are located. Workforce implications include the potential for continued employment for personnel involved in facilities management and support at the ATCC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires diligent oversight to prevent cost overruns.
Lack of detailed competition data for this specific follow-on award raises questions about optimal price discovery.
The long contract duration necessitates ongoing performance monitoring to ensure sustained value.

Positive Signals

Awarding as a follow-on to a competed action suggests a foundation of competitive pricing from the initial award.
The contract supports a critical national resource (ATCC) for biological research.
The fixed fee component provides some level of cost predictability for the government.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Facilities Support Services sector, which is a broad category encompassing a wide range of services necessary for the operation and maintenance of physical infrastructure. This specific award is for a biological resource center, a niche within the broader facilities management market. Comparable spending benchmarks would ideally focus on contracts for similar specialized facilities, such as research laboratories or bio-containment sites, rather than general office building maintenance. The market for such specialized services can be competitive, but often requires contractors with specific expertise and security clearances.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary impact on small businesses would be indirect, potentially through subcontracting opportunities if the prime contractor, American Type Culture Collection, engages them. Without specific subcontracting plans or goals detailed in the award, it's difficult to assess the extent of small business involvement or the impact on the small business ecosystem. Further investigation into subcontracting reports would be necessary.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officer and the relevant program officials within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure necessitates robust financial oversight to ensure that all costs are allowable and reasonable, and that the fixed fee is earned. Transparency would be enhanced by public reporting of contract performance and expenditures. The Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

Facilities Maintenance and Support Services
Biological Resource Centers Operations
Public Health Infrastructure Support
Research Facility Management

Risk Flags

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type requires careful monitoring.
Limited detail on competition for this specific follow-on award.
Need for benchmarking against similar specialized facilities contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $13.6 million to AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION. 200-2008-24923- AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION.

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 $13.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-04-01. End: 2014-01-31.

What was the specific nature of the competition for this follow-on contract, and how many bids were received?

The provided data states this contract is a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION,' indicating that the original contract was competed. However, it does not specify the level of competition for this particular follow-on award. To fully assess price discovery and value for taxpayers, it would be crucial to determine if this follow-on was also competed, and if so, how many bids were received and the basis for award. If it was not competed, understanding the justification for a sole-source or limited competition award is essential. Without this information, it's difficult to definitively state the competitive dynamics for this specific $13.6 million award.

How does the total contract value and duration compare to similar facilities support contracts for biological resource centers?

The contract value of $13.6 million over approximately 5.6 years (April 1, 2008, to January 31, 2014) averages to roughly $2.4 million per year. Benchmarking this against similar facilities support contracts for biological resource centers requires access to a database of comparable contracts. Factors such as the size and complexity of the facilities, the specific services required (e.g., specialized HVAC, bio-safety containment, waste management), and geographic location all influence pricing. Without specific comparable data points, it is challenging to definitively state whether this contract represents excellent, good, fair, questionable, or concerning value. However, the duration suggests a stable, long-term need for these services.

What is the typical fixed fee percentage for Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts in this service category, and how does ATCC's fee compare?

For Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts, the fixed fee is typically negotiated as a percentage of the estimated cost of the contract. Industry standards and government regulations often guide the negotiation of this fee. While specific percentages can vary widely based on contract complexity, risk, and contractor performance, typical fixed fees can range from 5% to 15% of the estimated cost. Without knowing the total estimated cost and the negotiated fixed fee amount for this specific contract, it is impossible to determine ATCC's fee percentage. A higher-than-average fixed fee, especially if not justified by increased risk or complexity, could indicate a less favorable value for the government.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this facilities support contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this facilities support contract. Typically, for facilities support services, KPIs might include metrics related to response times for maintenance requests, uptime of critical systems (e.g., HVAC, power), adherence to safety protocols, energy efficiency, cleanliness standards, and overall customer satisfaction from the facility users. Effective oversight would involve tracking these KPIs throughout the contract's duration to ensure the contractor is meeting performance expectations and delivering the required level of service for the $13.6 million investment.

What is the historical spending trend for facilities support services at the CDC or similar biological resource centers?

The provided data only includes details for this specific contract (2008-2014). To understand historical spending trends for facilities support services at the CDC or similar biological resource centers, one would need to analyze spending data over a longer period and across multiple contracts and agencies. This would involve looking at total obligated amounts, contract types, and the number of contracts awarded annually for these types of services. Such an analysis could reveal whether spending has been increasing or decreasing, whether there's a trend towards certain contract types (e.g., fixed-price vs. cost-reimbursable), and how this $13.6 million award fits into the broader spending landscape.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 2008N09695

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 10801 UNIVERSITY BLVD, MANASSAS, VA, 20110

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $45,018,261

Exercised Options: $19,649,256

Current Obligation: $13,558,463

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline