HHS Awards $26M for Wound Imaging Tech to Aid Mass Casualty Burn Response
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $26,000,674 ($26.0M)
Contractor: Spectral MD, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2013-09-30
End Date: 2021-09-29
Contract Duration: 2,921 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS SPECTRAL MD - CONTRACT TITLE: NON-CONTACT WOUND BED IMAGING TO AUGMENT NON-BURN SURGEON CAPABILITIES AND PRESERVE SCARCE GRAFT PRODUCTS IN A MASS CASUALTY INCIENT INVOLVING THERM BURN INJURY
Place of Performance
Location: DALLAS, DALLAS County, TEXAS, 75206
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $26.0 million to SPECTRAL MD, INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS SPECTRAL MD - CONTRACT TITLE: NON-CONTACT WOUND BED IMAGING TO AUGMENT NON-BURN SURGEON CAPABILITIES AND PRESERVE SCARCE GRAFT PRODUCTS IN A MASS CASUALTY INCIENT INVOLVING THERM BURN INJURY Key points: 1. Focuses on advanced wound imaging for mass casualty burn incidents. 2. Contract awarded to Spectral MD, Inc., a single entity. 3. Potential for significant impact on surgeon capabilities and graft preservation. 4. Research and Development in Biotechnology sector, NAICS 541711.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $26M over 8 years for R&D in biotechnology is within a reasonable range for specialized medical technology development. However, without specific benchmarks for similar wound imaging systems or comparable R&D efforts, a precise pricing assessment is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures the government receives competitive pricing, though the specific outcomes of this competition are not detailed.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are supporting the development of potentially life-saving medical technology for mass casualty events, which could reduce long-term healthcare costs associated with severe burns.
Public Impact
Enhances preparedness for mass casualty events involving severe burns. Aims to improve surgical outcomes and conserve valuable skin graft resources. Supports innovation in medical imaging and biotechnology.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long contract duration (8 years) may indicate evolving technology or extended development needs.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical need in mass casualty preparedness.
- Potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and resource management.
- Awarded through full and open competition.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in Biotechnology sector (NAICS 541711). Spending in this area is crucial for advancing medical science and developing innovative healthcare solutions, often involving significant upfront investment for long-term benefits.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. The contract was awarded to Spectral MD, Inc., and further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically the Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Oversight would involve monitoring the R&D progress, adherence to contract terms, and effective utilization of funds.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in Biotechnology
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Programs
Risk Flags
- Technology maturity and readiness for mass casualty deployment.
- Potential for cost overruns in a CPFF R&D contract.
- Long-term effectiveness and adoption by surgical teams.
- Dependence on a single vendor for critical technology.
Tags
research-and-development-in-biotechnolog, department-of-health-and-human-services, tx, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $26.0 million to SPECTRAL MD, INC.. IGF::OT::IGF FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS SPECTRAL MD - CONTRACT TITLE: NON-CONTACT WOUND BED IMAGING TO AUGMENT NON-BURN SURGEON CAPABILITIES AND PRESERVE SCARCE GRAFT PRODUCTS IN A MASS CASUALTY INCIENT INVOLVING THERM BURN INJURY
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SPECTRAL MD, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $26.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-09-30. End: 2021-09-29.
What is the projected impact of this wound imaging technology on reducing the need for skin grafts in mass casualty burn incidents?
The technology aims to provide surgeons with detailed, real-time imaging of wound beds, enabling more precise assessment of tissue viability. This could lead to more targeted treatment decisions, potentially reducing unnecessary harvesting of scarce graft materials and improving the efficiency of care for burn victims in mass casualty scenarios.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract to ensure the technology effectively augments surgeon capabilities?
Key performance indicators would likely include metrics related to imaging accuracy (e.g., correlation with actual tissue viability), speed of image acquisition and analysis, ease of use for surgeons in high-stress environments, and demonstrable reduction in graft utilization or improved patient outcomes (e.g., reduced infection rates, faster healing times) compared to standard methods.
How does the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure align with the R&D nature of this contract and ensure value for taxpayer money?
A Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract is often used for R&D where the scope may evolve. It covers allowable costs plus a fixed fee representing profit. While it allows flexibility, rigorous oversight is crucial to manage costs and ensure the fixed fee remains reasonable relative to the project's complexity and the contractor's performance, thereby safeguarding taxpayer value.
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: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2515 MCKINNEY AVE STE 1000, DALLAS, TX, 75206
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $26,000,674
Exercised Options: $26,000,674
Current Obligation: $26,000,674
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-09-30
Current End Date: 2021-09-29
Potential End Date: 2021-09-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-09-29
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