NIH awards $19.7M for Animal Husbandry Support Services to New Year Tech, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,749,889 ($19.7M)

Contractor: NEW Year Tech, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2004-03-01

End Date: 2013-12-12

Contract Duration: 3,573 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: R&D

Official Description: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20191

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $19.7 million to NEW YEAR TECH, INC for work described as: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 3573 days (over 9 years) indicates a long-term need for these services. 3. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541710 points to Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector. 4. The contract was awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health. 5. The contract type is 'Labor Hours', which can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not carefully managed. 6. The contract was awarded in March 2004 and completed in December 2013, indicating a historical award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $19.7 million over approximately 9.8 years averages to about $2 million per year. Without specific performance metrics or detailed breakdowns of services provided, it is difficult to benchmark the value for money definitively. However, the extended duration suggests a consistent need and potentially stable pricing over time. Further analysis would require comparing the scope of services to similar contracts within NIH or other research institutions.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition', indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This typically fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service quality. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition suggests that multiple entities likely vied for this contract, providing the government with a range of options.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by promoting a competitive marketplace, which can drive down costs and encourage innovation, leading to better value for public funds.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely researchers and scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who rely on animal husbandry support for their studies. The services delivered would encompass the care, feeding, housing, and health monitoring of research animals. The geographic impact is concentrated at NIH facilities, primarily in Virginia (ST='VA', SN='VIRGINIA'). This contract supports a critical function within the biomedical research ecosystem, indirectly impacting advancements in healthcare and scientific understanding.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration (over 9 years) could mask potential inefficiencies or price increases over time if not actively managed.
Labor hour contract type can be susceptible to scope creep and cost overruns if not meticulously monitored.
Lack of specific performance details makes it hard to assess the true value and efficiency of the services rendered.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust and fair bidding process.
The extended period of performance indicates a sustained need and potentially a successful working relationship with the contractor.
The contract supports critical research functions within a leading health research agency.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically supporting life sciences research. The animal husbandry services are crucial for preclinical studies and drug development. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other government contracts for similar support services at research institutions like NIH, CDC, or university research centers. The market for such specialized support services is often tied to the funding levels of federal research agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (SB=false) and does not specify any subcontracting goals for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears minimal for this specific award. However, larger prime contractors often engage small businesses for specialized support, though this is not evident here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the contracting officers and program managers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) would have jurisdiction for audits and investigations into potential fraud, waste, or abuse. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS, though detailed performance reports are often internal.

Related Government Programs

NIH Research Support Contracts
Biomedical Research Services
Animal Care and Use Programs
Federal Laboratory Support Services

Risk Flags

Long contract duration
Labor hour contract type
Lack of detailed performance data

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $19.7 million to NEW YEAR TECH, INC. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NEW YEAR TECH, 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 $19.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-03-01. End: 2013-12-12.

What specific animal husbandry services were included in this $19.7 million contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific services rendered under this contract, only the broad category of 'ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SUPPORT SERVICES'. Typically, such services include the daily care, feeding, watering, sanitation, and health monitoring of research animals. This can also encompass specialized veterinary care, breeding programs, environmental enrichment, and record-keeping related to animal welfare and experimental protocols. The exact scope would have been defined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW), which is not publicly available in this data snippet. The total value suggests a comprehensive, long-term support package for a significant animal research program.

How does the $19.7 million award compare to other animal husbandry contracts at NIH?

Benchmarking this $19.7 million award requires comparing it to similar contracts for animal husbandry support services at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other federal research agencies over a comparable timeframe. Given the contract's duration of over 9 years (March 2004 - December 2013), the average annual spend was approximately $2 million. This figure needs to be contextualized by the scale and type of research conducted at the specific NIH facility. Larger, more complex research endeavors requiring extensive animal facilities and diverse species would naturally incur higher support costs. Without access to a broader dataset of NIH animal husbandry contracts, a precise comparison is challenging, but $2 million annually for comprehensive support suggests a substantial research operation.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate New Year Tech, Inc.'s performance?

The provided data does not include information on the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate New Year Tech, Inc.'s performance under this contract. Federal contracts, especially those for support services, typically include performance standards related to animal welfare, adherence to protocols, timeliness of services, and overall client satisfaction. For animal husbandry, KPIs might involve metrics like animal health outcomes, cleanliness of facilities, response times for veterinary needs, and compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., Animal Welfare Act). The contracting officer's representative (COR) at NIH would have been responsible for monitoring these KPIs and ensuring the contractor met the terms of the contract.

What is the significance of the 'Labor Hours' contract type (PT='LABOR HOURS') for this award?

The 'Labor Hours' contract type signifies that the government is paying the contractor based on the number of hours worked by their personnel at agreed-upon hourly rates, rather than for a fixed scope of work or a specific deliverable. For animal husbandry support, this means the contractor provides staff (technicians, caretakers, etc.) who bill for their time. While this type of contract offers flexibility, allowing for adjustments in staffing levels as research needs change, it also carries a risk of cost overruns if the total hours exceed initial estimates or if hourly rates are not competitive. Effective management and oversight are crucial to ensure that the labor hours are necessary, efficient, and deliver the required support services within budget.

How did the 'full and open competition' impact the final price and service quality?

Awarding the contract through 'full and open competition' generally implies that multiple companies were invited to bid, and the contract was awarded to the responsible source offering the best value. This competitive process typically drives down prices as contractors strive to be the most cost-effective while meeting technical requirements. It also encourages innovation and higher service quality as companies compete for the business. While the specific number of bidders isn't provided, the open nature of the competition suggests that NIH received proposals from various qualified vendors, allowing them to select a contractor that balanced cost, technical capability, and past performance, ultimately benefiting the taxpayer through potentially better value and reliable service delivery.

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) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation ID: 27303P0008

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Contractor Details

Address: 12330 PINECREST RD # 100, RESTON, VA, 11

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $61,982,079

Exercised Options: $24,950,279

Current Obligation: $19,749,889

Timeline