HHS Awards $13.3M for Bioinformatics Support to Sciome LLC Under Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,302,047 ($13.3M)
Contractor: Sciome LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2017-03-24
End Date: 2023-06-29
Contract Duration: 2,288 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF BIOINFORMATICS SUPPORT FOR THE NIEHS IN DIR&DNTP
Place of Performance
Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $13.3 million to SCIOME LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF BIOINFORMATICS SUPPORT FOR THE NIEHS IN DIR&DNTP Key points: 1. The contract supports bioinformatics services for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). 2. Sciome LLC, the contractor, has a history of performing similar services. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The sector is professional, scientific, and technical services, with a focus on IT/data analysis within healthcare research.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar bioinformatics support contracts is difficult without more detailed service scope.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Awarded under full and open competition, this method generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the specific pricing discovery mechanism for a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract requires detailed review of proposals and negotiations.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for essential research support services. The competitive award aims to ensure value, but cost-plus contracts warrant close monitoring for efficiency.
Public Impact
Supports critical research at NIEHS, potentially leading to advancements in environmental health. The contract's duration of over 6 years indicates a long-term need for these specialized services. Bioinformatics is crucial for analyzing complex biological data, impacting public health research outcomes.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 58 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type can incentivize higher costs if not managed.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it hard to assess value for money.
- Contract duration is long, increasing exposure to potential scope creep or evolving needs.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust market.
- Contractor has prior experience in the domain.
- Supports a vital government research agency (NIEHS).
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically IT and data analysis supporting biomedical research. Spending benchmarks in this niche area are highly variable based on project complexity and duration.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (sb: false). There is no information provided on subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically be managed by the National Institutes of Health program officials. The contract type and duration necessitate diligent monitoring to ensure cost control and adherence to research objectives.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Overruns Risk (CPFF)
- Scope Creep Risk (Long Duration)
- Performance Measurement Difficulty
- Limited Small Business Participation
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-health-and-human-services, nc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $13.3 million to SCIOME LLC. IGF::OT::IGF BIOINFORMATICS SUPPORT FOR THE NIEHS IN DIR&DNTP
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SCIOME LLC.
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 $13.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2017-03-24. End: 2023-06-29.
What specific bioinformatics services are provided, and how do they align with NIEHS research priorities?
The contract supports 'Bioinformatics Support for the NIEHS'. This likely includes data analysis, interpretation, and management of large biological datasets generated by NIEHS research projects. Alignment with priorities would be detailed in task orders and performance work statements, focusing on areas like environmental exposure, toxicology, and disease mechanisms.
What is the rationale for using a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract structure for these services?
CPFF contracts are often used when the scope of work is not precisely defined or when there is significant uncertainty in the cost of performance. For complex R&D or support services like bioinformatics, it allows flexibility while providing the contractor with a fixed profit margin, though it requires robust government oversight to manage costs.
How is the effectiveness of the bioinformatics support measured to ensure it contributes to NIEHS research goals?
Effectiveness is typically measured through performance metrics outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and task orders. This could include timeliness of data analysis, accuracy of results, successful integration of new tools, and direct contributions to research publications or grant outcomes, assessed via regular progress reports and reviews.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: NIHES2015048
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2 DAVIS DR, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 27709
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $13,864,630
Exercised Options: $13,302,047
Current Obligation: $13,302,047
Actual Outlays: $3,378,304
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2017-03-24
Current End Date: 2023-06-29
Potential End Date: 2023-06-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-24
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