NIH awards $21.9M for cancer prevention trial support, with Westat Inc. as the sole awardee
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,906,885 ($21.9M)
Contractor: Westat, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2007-01-01
End Date: 2018-09-14
Contract Duration: 4,274 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: CANCER PREVENTION CLINICAL TRIALS MONITORING AND INFORMATICS SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $21.9 million to WESTAT, INC. for work described as: CANCER PREVENTION CLINICAL TRIALS MONITORING AND INFORMATICS SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in cancer research infrastructure. 2. The duration of the contract suggests a long-term need for these specialized services. 3. Competition dynamics are crucial for understanding price discovery and value for money. 4. Performance context is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of informatics support. 5. Sector positioning highlights the importance of reliable data management in clinical trials. 6. Risk indicators may include contractor performance history and the complexity of the services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's total value of $21.9 million over its period of performance (2007-2018) averages approximately $2.4 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for clinical trial monitoring and informatics support is challenging without more specific service details. However, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) pricing structure can sometimes lead to higher costs if not carefully managed, as it allows for reimbursement of costs plus a fixed fee. Further analysis would require comparing the scope of work and deliverables to industry standards and other NIH contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely considered. The number of bidders is not specified, but the fact that it was competed openly suggests an effort to achieve competitive pricing and identify the best value. The open competition process is generally favorable for price discovery, as it encourages vendors to offer competitive proposals to win the contract.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition through potentially lower prices and access to a wider range of innovative solutions. This process aims to ensure that federal funds are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment among contractors.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are patients participating in NIH-funded cancer prevention clinical trials, who receive support through robust monitoring and data management. Services delivered include crucial informatics support for data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring the integrity and efficiency of research. The geographic impact is national, supporting cancer prevention research across various institutions and study sites within the United States. Workforce implications include the employment of scientific, technical, and administrative staff by Westat, Inc. to fulfill the contract requirements.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns with CPFF contract type if not rigorously managed.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical informatics support over a long period.
- Ensuring continued innovation and adaptation to evolving informatics needs throughout the contract's duration.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
- Long contract duration indicates a sustained need and potential for stable support.
- Contractor's established presence suggests experience in providing similar services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Scientific and Technical Consulting Services sector, specifically supporting health and biomedical research. The market for such services is driven by government funding for research and development, particularly in areas like clinical trials and public health initiatives. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other NIH or federal contracts for similar informatics and monitoring services for large-scale research projects, considering the specialized nature of cancer prevention trials.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Westat, Inc. and there is no indication of a small business set-aside. The contract type (definitive contract) and its value suggest it is likely a large prime contract. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses would depend on Westat's specific subcontracting plan, which is not detailed here. The impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless Westat actively engages small businesses as subcontractors for specialized support.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the awarding agency. Mechanisms likely include regular progress reports, performance reviews, and financial audits. The CPFF structure necessitates close monitoring of costs and adherence to the fixed fee. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases, but detailed operational oversight specifics are typically internal to the agency.
Related Government Programs
- NIH Clinical Center
- National Cancer Institute Programs
- Biomedical Research Informatics
- Clinical Trial Management Systems
- Federal Health IT Spending
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration may indicate potential for scope creep or evolving requirements.
- CPFF contract type requires diligent oversight to manage costs effectively.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical support functions.
Tags
healthcare, national-institutes-of-health, department-of-health-and-human-services, definitive-contract, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, scientific-and-technical-consulting-services, maryland, large-contract, research-and-development, clinical-trials
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $21.9 million to WESTAT, INC.. CANCER PREVENTION CLINICAL TRIALS MONITORING AND INFORMATICS SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTAT, 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 $21.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-01-01. End: 2018-09-14.
What is Westat, Inc.'s track record with NIH and similar federal contracts?
Westat, Inc. has a significant history of working with federal agencies, including the NIH, on various research and data collection projects. Their portfolio often includes large-scale surveys, clinical trial support, and health services research. For NIH contracts, they have been involved in projects related to health outcomes, disease surveillance, and research informatics. Their experience typically spans multiple federal agencies, demonstrating a capacity to manage complex, long-term government contracts. Specific performance metrics and past issues on this particular contract would require deeper access to contract performance reports and agency evaluations, but their sustained engagement suggests a generally satisfactory performance history.
How does the $21.9 million award compare to other NIH contracts for similar services?
Comparing the $21.9 million award for 'CANCER PREVENTION CLINICAL TRIALS MONITORING AND INFORMATICS SUPPORT' to other NIH contracts requires a detailed analysis of the scope of work, duration, and specific services provided. NIH funds a wide array of research support contracts, ranging from basic lab supplies to complex data management and clinical trial oversight. Contracts for large, multi-year clinical trials, especially those involving extensive informatics and monitoring, can easily reach multi-million dollar figures. Without specific comparable contract data, it's difficult to definitively state if this award is high or low. However, given the duration (2007-2018) and the critical nature of cancer prevention research, this funding level appears substantial and indicative of a significant, long-term undertaking.
What are the primary risks associated with this type of contract and contractor?
The primary risks associated with this contract include potential cost overruns inherent in the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure, especially if project scope expands or unforeseen challenges arise. There's also a risk of contractor performance issues, such as delays in data processing, inadequate quality control, or failure to meet reporting deadlines, which could impact the integrity and timeliness of cancer prevention research. Dependence on a single contractor for critical informatics support over an extended period (over 11 years) poses a risk if the contractor's capabilities stagnate or if they face financial instability. Furthermore, ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive clinical trial data is a constant risk that requires robust safeguards.
How effective has the informatics support been in advancing cancer prevention research?
Assessing the effectiveness of the informatics support provided by Westat, Inc. requires access to specific performance evaluations and research outcomes linked to this contract. The contract's objective is to support cancer prevention clinical trials, implying that effective informatics would lead to efficient data management, accurate analysis, and timely dissemination of research findings. This, in turn, should contribute to a better understanding of cancer prevention strategies and potentially accelerate the development of new interventions. Without direct performance metrics or reports from the NIH on the quality and impact of the informatics support, it's challenging to provide a definitive assessment of its effectiveness. However, the renewal and continuation of such a long-term contract often suggest a level of satisfaction with the services provided.
What are the historical spending patterns for cancer prevention trial support at NIH?
Historical spending patterns for cancer prevention trial support at NIH are substantial and have likely grown over time, reflecting increased investment in cancer research and the complexity of modern clinical trials. The NIH, particularly through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), allocates significant resources to various phases of cancer research, including prevention studies. Spending in this area encompasses not only direct research costs but also essential support services like informatics, data management, and trial monitoring. Analyzing historical data would reveal trends in funding levels, the types of services procured, and the contractors involved. This specific contract ($21.9M over 11+ years) represents a consistent annual investment in this critical support function, indicative of a sustained strategic priority for the agency.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › N – Health R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: N02CN65002
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1650 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $96,457,808
Exercised Options: $96,032,491
Current Obligation: $21,906,885
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-01-01
Current End Date: 2018-09-14
Potential End Date: 2018-09-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2019-09-09
More Contracts from Westat, Inc.
- THE Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (path) Study Period of Performance: 04/01/2016-11/30/2016 Base Award — $505.3M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- "critical Functions" Igf::ct::igf the Sampling and Data Collection Contractor Designs and Conducts the Sampling and Data Collection Activities and Prepares the Sampling and Variance Estimation Weights for the Operational Assessments, Pilot Tests, and Special Studies Required by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (naep) for the 2013-2017 Assessment Cycles. Additionally, the SDC Contractor Conducts the Naep High School Transcript Study (hsts). the SDC Contractor Shall Pursue Creative and Innovative Lines of Methodological and Operational Inquiry for Improving Sampling, Data Collection and Weighting Methodologies That Will Strategically Position Naep and the Hsts to Meet the Upcoming Challenges in the Next Decade Such AS Technology-Based and Multi-Stage Adaptive Testing; Making Naep More Educationally Relevant by Linking With Other State, National, and International Assessments; and Improving Access to the Broadest Range of Students Including Students With Disabilities and English Language Learners — $344.4M (Department of Education)
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey — $302.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- R&d-Other R & D-B RES — $292.6M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Nhanes Contract — $279.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
Other Department of Health and Human Services Contracts
- Contact Center Operations (CCO) — $5.5B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- TAS::75 0849::TAS Oper of Govt R&D Goco Facilities — $4.8B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Provide the Full Complement of Services Necessary to Care for UC in ORR Custody Including Facilities Set-Up, Maintenance, and Support Internal and Perimeter (IF Applicable) Security, Direct Care and Supervision Inc — $3.5B (Rapid Deployment Inc)
- Contact Center Operations — $2.6B (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)
- Federal Contract — $2.4B (Leidos Biomedical Research Inc)
View all Department of Health and Human Services contracts →