5 win $184M contract NIH IT support

SAIC was first with its announcement of the win, and subsequently reported to Washington Technology who the other winners were.Under the contract, the five companies will compete for task orders to support the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, specifically its IT and Applications Center.The center directs a range of business, research and clinical informatics programs involving biomedical research, as well as manages the institute’s IT strategy, forecasts future needs and implements IT-related policies and procedures, SAIC said in a release.The contract is a blanket purchase agreement under which SAIC has competed for and won three task orders valued at $18 million to assist the institute by implementing new software and technology, enabling business process improvements and automation, maintaining websites and databases, and modernizing its grants management program, SAIC said."We are pleased to support the NHLBI by helping to modernize and automate its systems, enabling the institute to achieve its mission to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and enhance the health of all individuals," said Steve Comber, SAIC senior vice president and group general manager.