HHS awards $16M for cell development tech licensing and manufacturing support to Genvac, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $16,056,979 ($16.1M)
Contractor: Genvec, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2006-09-30
End Date: 2016-08-25
Contract Duration: 3,617 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: TECHNOLOGY LICENSING CELL DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: GAITHERSBURG, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20878
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $16.1 million to GENVEC, INC. for work described as: TECHNOLOGY LICENSING CELL DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING TECHNICAL SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Genvac, Inc. for specialized technology licensing and manufacturing support. 2. The contract spans a significant duration, indicating a long-term need for these services. 3. Spending falls within the R&D sector, specifically focusing on life sciences. 4. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D support contracts is difficult without more granular cost data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which typically promotes competitive pricing. However, the cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing type requires close monitoring to ensure cost efficiency.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for critical research and development support, with the expectation of valuable scientific and technological advancements.
Public Impact
Supports advanced research in cell development and manufacturing, potentially leading to medical breakthroughs. The long contract duration suggests a sustained government investment in this technological area. Funding allocated to a specific R&D niche within the life sciences sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing can incentivize higher costs.
- Long contract duration may not reflect current market conditions.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes assessing value difficult.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Supports critical R&D in life sciences.
- Long-term commitment to a specific technology area.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector (NAICS 541710). Spending in this area is crucial for innovation but can be highly variable and difficult to benchmark due to the specialized nature of the work.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded to a small business. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract's long duration and cost-plus-fixed-fee structure necessitate robust oversight from the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure cost control and effective performance.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing.
- Long contract duration.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics.
- No small business participation noted.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-health-and-human-services, md, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $16.1 million to GENVEC, INC.. TECHNOLOGY LICENSING CELL DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENVEC, 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 $16.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-09-30. End: 2016-08-25.
What specific deliverables or milestones were established to measure the value and effectiveness of the technology licensing and manufacturing support provided by Genvac, Inc. under this contract?
The provided data does not detail specific deliverables or milestones. Assessing the true value and effectiveness hinges on the agency's internal performance evaluations and reporting, which are not publicly available. Without these, it's challenging to definitively gauge the return on the $16 million investment beyond the general advancement of R&D goals.
Given the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure and the long contract duration, what mechanisms were in place to mitigate the risk of cost overruns and ensure Genvac, Inc. remained incentivized to perform eff
Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts inherently carry a risk of cost overruns. Mitigation typically involves stringent oversight, detailed cost reporting requirements, and potentially performance incentives tied to efficiency. The agency's active management and review of Genvac's expenditures and progress would be critical to controlling costs and ensuring efficient execution over the contract's extended period.
How does the $16 million awarded for technology licensing and manufacturing support compare to typical spending for similar R&D services within the life sciences sector, and what does this suggest abo
Benchmarking this $16 million award is challenging without more specific details on the scope of 'technology licensing and manufacturing support.' However, for specialized R&D services in life sciences, this amount represents a significant investment, suggesting a complex or extensive project. It indicates a strong government commitment to advancing specific cell development technologies, potentially positioning the US at the forefront of this field.
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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 65 W WATKINS MILL RD, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 20878
Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $60,586,589
Exercised Options: $16,056,979
Current Obligation: $16,056,979
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-09-30
Current End Date: 2016-08-25
Potential End Date: 2016-08-25 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2018-12-07
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