HHS awards Northrop Grumman $50.6M for FASD Center for Excellence

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $50,682,840 ($50.7M)

Contractor: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2007-07-29

End Date: 2008-04-22

Contract Duration: 268 days

Daily Burn Rate: $189.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: OTHER (NONE OF THE ABOVE)

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD) CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE

Place of Performance

Location: FALLS CHURCH, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22042

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $50.7 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION for work described as: FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD) CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single large business, raising questions about small business participation. 2. The contract value is significant for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services'. 3. Limited duration (268 days) suggests a specific project or phase. 4. The award date is in the past, indicating this is historical data.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $50.6M for a 268-day period is substantial. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific service details within NAICS 541990.

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. However, the award to a single large contractor may limit broader market engagement.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for a specialized center focused on FASD, aiming to provide expertise and resources.

Public Impact

Supports critical research and services for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Potential impact on public health initiatives and awareness campaigns. Funds allocated to a major defense contractor for a health-related service.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Lack of small business participation noted.
  • Contract duration is relatively short.
  • Awardee is a large, non-traditional provider for this specific service area.

Positive Signals

  • Addresses a significant public health concern (FASD).
  • Utilizes a large, established contractor with broad capabilities.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990). Spending in this broad category can vary widely, but $50.6M for a short-term project is notable.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates the contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false) and no small business participation was noted (sb: false). This suggests a lack of direct engagement with small businesses for this award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within HHS. The short duration might imply a focused oversight period.

Related Government Programs

  • All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
  • Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Programs

Risk Flags

  • Potential lack of specialized expertise from awardee.
  • Limited small business involvement.
  • Short contract duration may indicate a pilot or specific phase.
  • Significant funding for a broad service category.

Tags

all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-health-and-human-services, va, do, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $50.7 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION. FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD) CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $50.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-07-29. End: 2008-04-22.

What was the specific scope of work for the FASD Center for Excellence, and how did it justify the $50.6M award value for the contract duration?

The specific scope of work is not detailed in the provided data. However, a Center for Excellence typically involves research, data collection, dissemination of best practices, training, and technical assistance. The $50.6M award suggests a comprehensive program requiring significant resources for a defined period, potentially encompassing national-level coordination and support for FASD initiatives.

Given the award to Northrop Grumman, what were the key performance indicators and risk mitigation strategies for ensuring effective delivery of specialized FASD services?

While Northrop Grumman has broad capabilities, their primary expertise is not typically in public health services. Key performance indicators would likely focus on project milestones, report delivery, and stakeholder engagement. Risk mitigation would involve ensuring subject matter experts were integrated into the team and that the company's project management structure could adapt to the unique demands of a health-focused center.

How did the 'full and open competition' process ensure the best value for taxpayers when awarding a health-focused center to a company not traditionally known for this specialization?

Full and open competition theoretically allows any qualified vendor to bid, promoting price and technical competition. The agency likely assessed that Northrop Grumman, despite its primary focus, could assemble the necessary expertise or had a competitive proposal that met or exceeded technical requirements and offered the best value. The agency's evaluation criteria would be crucial in determining if this was indeed the case.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesOther Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesAll Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT)PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 277070183

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: OTHER (NONE OF THE ABOVE) (3)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation (UEI: 967356127)

Address: 8110 GATEHOUSE RD, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $50,702,433

Exercised Options: $50,702,433

Current Obligation: $50,682,840

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSS283200700030I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2007-07-29

Current End Date: 2008-04-22

Potential End Date: 2013-04-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2013-03-04

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