NIH awards $22.6M contract for bacterial infectious disease bioinformatics resources to University of Chicago

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,659,602 ($22.7M)

Contractor: University of Chicago, the

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2014-09-12

End Date: 2019-09-14

Contract Duration: 1,828 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF PURPOSE: TO AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,845,527, "BIOINFORMATICS RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES - BACTERIAL SPECIES ORGANISMS"

Place of Performance

Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60637

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $22.7 million to UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF PURPOSE: TO AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,845,527, "BIOINFORMATICS RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES - BACTERIAL SPECIES ORGANISMS" Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 1828 days indicates a long-term need for these bioinformatics services. 3. The primary purpose is to establish bioinformatics resource centers for infectious diseases, focusing on bacterial organisms. 4. The awardee, University of Chicago, is a research institution with a strong academic background. 5. The contract type is a definitive contract, typically used for complex projects with defined scopes. 6. The funding mechanism is Cost No Fee, common in research and development where outcomes can be uncertain.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award amount of $22.6 million over approximately five years suggests a significant investment in infectious disease research infrastructure. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for bioinformatics resource centers is challenging without more specific data on the scope and deliverables. However, the Cost No Fee structure implies that the government will reimburse actual costs incurred, with no additional profit margin for the contractor. This can be cost-effective if managed well, but requires robust oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and allocable to the contract's objectives.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 9 bidders suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for this specialized service. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions, as contractors vie to offer the most compelling proposal.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, full and open competition typically results in more competitive pricing and a wider array of technical approaches, increasing the likelihood of obtaining the best value for the government's investment.

Public Impact

Researchers and scientists studying bacterial infectious diseases will benefit from access to advanced bioinformatics resources. The contract supports the development and maintenance of critical data infrastructure for infectious disease research. This initiative is expected to advance the understanding and potential treatment of bacterial pathogens. The geographic impact is national, as the resources are intended to support the broader research community. Workforce implications include potential support for researchers, bioinformaticians, and data scientists involved in the project.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if not managed effectively under the Cost No Fee structure.
Ensuring the long-term sustainability and accessibility of the bioinformatics resources beyond the contract period.
Maintaining data integrity and security for sensitive biological information.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
The University of Chicago's established research capabilities are a positive signal for project execution.
The long contract duration suggests a commitment to building lasting research infrastructure.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development in Biotechnology sector, specifically focusing on bioinformatics. This sector is crucial for modern biological research, enabling the analysis of complex biological data such as genomic sequences. The market for specialized bioinformatics services is growing, driven by advancements in sequencing technologies and the increasing volume of biological data. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific services and scale of the bioinformatics centers, but significant government investment in this area is common for advancing public health research.

Small Business Impact

The contract does not indicate any specific small business set-aside. Given the specialized nature of bioinformatics resource centers and the award to a large research institution, it is unlikely that small businesses would be the primary awardees. However, the University of Chicago may engage small businesses as subcontractors for specific services, though this is not explicitly detailed in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. Mechanisms would include regular progress reports, financial reviews, and potentially site visits to ensure the contractor is meeting performance objectives and managing costs appropriately. The Inspector General for HHS would have jurisdiction for audits and investigations if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

NIH Research Grants
CDC Infectious Disease Programs
National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences
Biotechnology Research and Development Contracts

Risk Flags

Cost Management Risk (Cost No Fee)
Long-term Sustainability of Resources
Data Security and Integrity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $22.7 million to UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE. IGF::OT::IGF PURPOSE: TO AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,845,527, "BIOINFORMATICS RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES - BACTERIAL SPECIES ORGANISMS"

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE.

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 $22.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-09-12. End: 2019-09-14.

What is the specific scope of work for the Bioinformatics Resource Centers for Infectious Diseases?

The provided data indicates the purpose is to "award the contract in the amount of $3,845,527, 'BIOINFORMATICS RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES - BACTERIAL SPECIES ORGANISMS'". While the exact scope is not detailed, it implies the establishment and operation of centers that provide bioinformatics tools, databases, and expertise specifically for the study of bacterial infectious diseases. This likely includes data analysis, software development, data management, and user support for researchers working with genomic and other biological data related to bacterial pathogens. The total award amount of $22.6 million suggests a comprehensive and long-term effort.

How does the University of Chicago's track record in bioinformatics influence this award?

The University of Chicago has a strong reputation in academic research, including significant contributions to biological sciences and computational biology. While specific details of their past performance on similar government contracts are not provided, their status as a leading research institution suggests they possess the necessary expertise, infrastructure, and personnel to manage complex bioinformatics projects. NIH likely considered the university's research output, faculty expertise, and existing bioinformatics capabilities when making the award decision, viewing it as a reliable entity for advancing infectious disease research.

What are the potential risks associated with a Cost No Fee contract for this type of service?

A Cost No Fee (CNF) contract means the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs but receives no fee or profit. For a research-intensive project like bioinformatics resource centers, the primary risk is that actual costs could exceed initial estimates, potentially straining project timelines or requiring additional funding requests if not managed meticulously. There's also a risk of scope creep if the definition of 'allowable costs' is not clearly delineated. Effective oversight is crucial to ensure that all incurred costs are reasonable, allocable, and necessary for the contract's objectives, preventing potential waste or inefficiency.

How does this contract compare to other NIH spending on infectious disease research?

This $22.6 million contract represents a significant, but likely focused, investment within the broader NIH portfolio for infectious disease research. NIH's total annual budget for infectious diseases research is in the billions of dollars, funding a wide array of activities including basic science, clinical trials, vaccine development, and public health initiatives. This specific contract supports the critical infrastructure for data analysis and interpretation, which underpins many other research endeavors. Its value lies in providing specialized, centralized resources that individual research grants might not be able to sustain independently.

What is the historical spending pattern for Bioinformatics Resource Centers for Infectious Diseases?

Without access to historical contract databases, it's difficult to provide precise historical spending figures for this specific program. However, NIH has consistently invested in research infrastructure, including bioinformatics capabilities, for decades. The establishment of dedicated 'Resource Centers' suggests a strategic approach to consolidating expertise and resources for critical research areas like infectious diseases. The funding levels for such centers can vary based on scope, duration, and the number of centers established, but multi-million dollar awards over several years are typical for such foundational research support.

What are the implications of the 'Bacterial Species Organisms' focus?

The specific focus on 'Bacterial Species Organisms' indicates that the bioinformatics resources developed and maintained under this contract will be tailored to the unique data types and analytical needs associated with bacteria. This includes areas like genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics relevant to bacterial pathogens. This specialization allows for the development of highly relevant databases, analytical tools, and expertise that can accelerate research into bacterial mechanisms of infection, antibiotic resistance, and the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics, distinguishing it from broader infectious disease bioinformatics efforts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in Biotechnology

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: University of Chicago (UEI: 005421136)

Address: 1225 E 60TH ST, CHICAGO, IL, 60637

Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Manufacturer of Goods, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,659,602

Exercised Options: $22,659,602

Current Obligation: $22,659,602

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 9

Total Subaward Amount: $10,077,241

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline