NIH awards $11.7M for cancer preventive agent development to Weill Medical College

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,701,543 ($11.7M)

Contractor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2004-04-30

End Date: 2012-10-31

Contract Duration: 3,106 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: PRECLINICAL IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SCREENING ASSAYS FOR CANCER PREVENTIVE AGENT DEVELOPMENT

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10065

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $11.7 million to WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY for work described as: PRECLINICAL IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SCREENING ASSAYS FOR CANCER PREVENTIVE AGENT DEVELOPMENT Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a robust market for these services. 2. The contract duration of over 8 years indicates a long-term need for these research services. 3. The award to an academic institution highlights the role of universities in federal R&D. 4. The 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' NAICS code points to a specialized scientific focus. 5. The contract type 'COST NO FEE' suggests the government reimburses allowable costs without additional profit, common in research settings.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to its specific research nature and long duration. The total award of $11.7 million over approximately 8 years averages to about $1.46 million per year. Without comparable contracts for preclinical in vitro and in vivo screening assays for cancer preventive agent development, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. However, the cost-no-fee structure implies that the government is primarily covering direct research expenses.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple potential offerors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of 6 bids (no: 6) suggests a competitive environment for this specialized research service. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition likely ensured that taxpayer funds were used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment that drove down costs or improved the quality of services offered.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are researchers at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, who receive funding to conduct critical cancer research. The services delivered involve preclinical screening assays, essential for identifying and developing potential cancer preventive agents. The geographic impact is centered in New York, where Weill Medical College is located. This contract supports a specialized scientific workforce involved in biomedical research and development.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration could lead to cost overruns if research objectives shift or become more expensive than initially projected.
The 'COST NO FEE' contract type, while common in research, may offer less incentive for cost efficiency compared to fixed-price contracts.
Reliance on a single academic institution for a significant period might limit exposure to emerging research methodologies from other entities.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a healthy market and potential for quality service.
The contract supports critical research in cancer prevention, aligning with public health goals.
The long duration allows for sustained progress in a complex research area.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on life sciences and biomedical research. The NAICS code 541710, 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences,' encompasses a broad range of scientific endeavors. Federal spending in this area is crucial for advancing scientific knowledge and developing new technologies and treatments. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more specific details on the assays and research scope, but the overall federal investment in biomedical R&D is substantial, supporting numerous academic institutions and private firms.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides. The award was made to Weill Medical College of Cornell University, a large academic institution. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are not explicitly detailed in the provided data, but it is possible that the prime contractor may engage small businesses for specific services or supplies as needed for the research.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contract's 'COST NO FEE' structure implies that expenditures will be closely monitored to ensure they are allowable and reasonable for the research conducted. Transparency is generally maintained through regular reporting requirements from the contractor. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to the federal funds awarded.

Related Government Programs

National Institutes of Health Research Grants
Cancer Research Programs
Biomedical Research and Development Contracts
Preclinical Drug Development Services

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of scope creep or cost escalation.
Cost-reimbursement type contracts can sometimes lack strong cost-control incentives.
Research outcomes are inherently uncertain, posing a risk to achieving specific development goals within the timeframe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $11.7 million to WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY. PRECLINICAL IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SCREENING ASSAYS FOR CANCER PREVENTIVE AGENT DEVELOPMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

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 $11.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-04-30. End: 2012-10-31.

What is the specific scientific focus of the 'PRECLINICAL IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SCREENING ASSAYS FOR CANCER PREVENTIVE AGENT DEVELOPMENT'?

The contract focuses on the early-stage research required to identify and evaluate substances that could prevent cancer. This involves laboratory (in vitro) tests using cells or tissues, and tests in living organisms (in vivo), typically animal models, to assess the potential efficacy and safety of compounds as cancer preventives. The goal is to find promising candidates that warrant further, more advanced development towards potential human application. This stage is critical for building the scientific foundation for new cancer prevention strategies.

How does the 'COST NO FEE' contract type impact the government's financial risk and the contractor's performance incentives?

A 'COST NO FEE' contract means the government agrees to pay the contractor's allowable costs incurred in performing the contract, but the contractor does not receive any fee or profit. This structure is common for research and development contracts where the outcome is uncertain. For the government, the financial risk is primarily the total cost of the effort, as there is no profit component to manage. For the contractor, the incentive is to perform the research diligently and within budget to recover costs, but there is no direct financial reward for exceeding expectations or completing the work under budget, which can sometimes lead to less aggressive cost management compared to fixed-price contracts with incentives.

What is the significance of the contract duration (3106 days) for this type of research?

A duration of 3106 days, approximately 8.5 years, is significant for preclinical research because scientific discovery and development in areas like cancer prevention are often lengthy, iterative processes. Such a long period allows for sustained investigation, the exploration of multiple hypotheses, the refinement of experimental methodologies, and the accumulation of robust data necessary for identifying viable preventive agents. It reflects the complex and time-consuming nature of biomedical R&D, enabling the contractor to conduct comprehensive studies without the pressure of frequent re-competition or funding uncertainty.

What does the number of bids (6) suggest about the market for cancer preventive agent development research?

Receiving 6 bids for this contract, awarded under full and open competition, suggests a moderately competitive market for preclinical in vitro and in vivo screening assays related to cancer preventive agent development. This number indicates that there are multiple entities, likely including academic institutions and potentially specialized research organizations, capable of performing this type of specialized scientific work. A healthy number of bids generally implies that the government has a reasonable selection of qualified offerors, which can lead to better pricing and service quality through competition.

How does this contract align with the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)?

This contract directly aligns with the core mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and prevent, treat, and cure disease. Specifically, by funding research into cancer preventive agents, the NIH is investing in the discovery phase of developing new strategies to combat cancer, a major public health concern. This supports the NIH's role in advancing biomedical research and translating scientific findings into potential public health benefits.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › N – Health R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation ID: N01CN2502676

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Cornell University

Address: 1300 YORK AVE, NEW YORK, NY, 10065

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $36,289,060

Exercised Options: $33,547,932

Current Obligation: $11,701,543

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline