Agency Health Department

Contractor REGENTS OF THE UNIV OF MINN

SWIFT Contract Number 195801

Project Name Serologic Testing of Minnesota Populations for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Project Number (if applicable) 195801

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: The state was in need of seroprevalence studies in target populations to test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This contract covered three projects: Serologic Testing for Minnesota Participants of COVID-19 Household
Impact Survey; Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Minnesota Grocery Store Workers; and Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Minnesota Healthcare Workers and Their Families

Project Duration

Start Date Tue, 06/01/2021 - 00:00

Original end date Tue, 03/01/2022 - 00:00

Actual end date Sat, 12/31/2022 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $988198

Amendments $293956

Contract total $1282154

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? Federal funding through the Epidemiology and Lab Capacity grant at CDC

Is this a sole source contract? Yes

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) This was a contract with the University of Minnesota and was executed under an emergency authorization where there was not sufficient time to conduct a competitive RFP process.

Evaluator Name Stephanie Yendell

Evaluator Email Address stephanie.yendell@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness The contractor had excellent timeliness. The contract timeline was extended as the situation was evolving and more data analysis was needed.

Evaluate the contractor's quality This work was of high quality and resulted in multiple peer-reviewed scientific articles:
- Demmer R, Baumgartner B, Wiggen TD, Ulrich AK, Strickland AJ, Naumchik BM, Bohn B, Walsh S, Smith S, Kline S, Stovitz SD, Yendell S, Beebe T, Hedberg C. Identification of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in seroprevalence studies among vaccinated populations. Mayo Clinical Proceedings. 2022; 97(4): 754–60.
- Wiggen TD, Bohn B, Ulrich AK, Stovitz AD, Strickland AJ, Naumchik BM, Walsh S, Smith S, Baumgartner B, Kline A, Yendell S, Hedberg C, Beebe TJ, Demmer RT. SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers. PLoS One. 2022; 17(4): e0266410.
- Abhold J, Wozniak A, Mulcahy J, Walsh S, Zepeda E, Demmer R, Yendell S, Hedberg C, Ulrich AK, Wurtz R, and Beebe T. Demographic, social, and behavioral correlates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in a representative, population-based study of Minnesota residents. PLOS ONE. 2023; 18(6): e0279660.
- Ulrich A, Pankratz GK, Bohn B, Yendell S, Beebe TJ, Hedberg CW, and Demmer RT. COVID-19 vaccine confidence and reasons for vaccination among health care workers and household members. Vaccine. 2022; 40(41): 5856–9.
- Vachon MS, Demmer RT, Yendell SJ, Draeger KJ, Beebe T, Hedberg CW. SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Survey in Grocery Store Workers — Minnesota, 2020–2021. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(6): 3501.
- Brandt S, Demmer RT, Walsh S, Mulcahy JF, Zepeda E, Yendell S, Hedberg C, Ulrich A, and Beebe T. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in a population-based study of Minnesota residents. Vaccines. 2023; 11(4):766.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The contractor's costs were reasonable for the work. They identified novel solutions and partnerships to gather data at a reasonable cost.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance The contractor performed very well. They were in regular communication with the state's representative and added greatly to our understanding of the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): None

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied