Healthcare & Life Sciences Government Contracting

Healthcare and life sciences represent one of the largest sectors in federal contracting.

Combined Annual Spending: HHS, VA, and related agencies spend over $100 billion annually on healthcare-related contracts.

Key Agencies: - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Growth Drivers: - Aging population increasing healthcare demand - Technology modernization requirements - Public health infrastructure needs - Research and development investment

HHS is responsible for protecting health of all Americans.

Budget Overview: $1.7 trillion total budget (mostly mandatory spending) $15+ billion in discretionary contract spending

Operating Divisions: - CMS: Medicare/Medicaid systems - CDC: Public health programs - NIH: Research funding - FDA: Regulatory support - ACF: Human services programs

Key Contracting Priorities: - Healthcare IT modernization - Data analytics and management - Public health infrastructure - Program management support - Research support services

VA operates the nation's largest integrated healthcare system.

Healthcare System: - 170+ medical centers - 1,000+ outpatient sites - 9+ million enrolled veterans

Contract Spending: $30+ billion in annual contract spending

Key Initiatives: - Electronic Health Record Modernization - Telehealth expansion - Community care network - Infrastructure improvements - Medical supply chain

Vets First Program: SDVOSB and VOSB receive contracting priority.

NIH is the nation's medical research agency.

Research Investment: $45+ billion annual budget $5+ billion in contract research

Research Priorities: - Cancer research (NCI) - Infectious disease (NIAID) - Heart and lung (NHLBI) - Aging research (NIA) - Mental health (NIMH)

SBIR/STTR Programs: NIH has the largest SBIR/STTR program: - $1+ billion annually - Phase I/II/III funding - Commercialization support

Major opportunity areas in healthcare contracting:

IT Modernization: - Claims processing systems - Electronic health records - Data analytics platforms - Telehealth infrastructure - Cybersecurity

Research Support: - Clinical trial management - Laboratory services - Data management - Scientific consulting - Research administration

Healthcare Delivery: - Community care networks - Staffing and workforce - Medical equipment - Facility management - Supply chain

Compliance Considerations: - HIPAA requirements - Healthcare data security - Clinical quality standards - Research ethics (IRB)