So, not sure what all of you do for a living, but for those that negotiate large contracts as part of their jobs, just a quick comment/question/discussion topic. This mostly to address comments by some that the award will be awarded when BARDA decides it will be awarded (without SIGA involvement/knowledge is the implied message). I tend to disagree.

So for large corporate engagements(IT software, hardware, telcos, etc. is what I'm used to) you have a need, you submit a RFP, get a set of responses by several vendors, you do further DD and finally you select a partner/vendor. Then you begin exclusive negotiations with that vendor and they know they are the "winners"...dependent on the negotiations of course. You then negotiate business terms (implementation, requirements, price, SLA's, support, etc.). Once you get thru that then you go thru legal review (for large IT contracts average of 5-8 weeks sometimes) and then you get to signature.

So, not sure if it's the same for bio's and the gov't factor is foreign to me.

But, assuming it is, you've got very very close involvement by SIGA in EVERY step of the process. They KNOW if they are the only ones at a certain point. And my point is they should know when they are very very close to getting signature/the award just by the mere fact of knowing for example that they are down to a few redlines on the legal review of the contract.

So, if we believe that SIGA is ramping up hiring or preparing for a PR campaign...that should be a fairly solid indicator that the contract is nearing completion. (Do we know that? Have there been any indications of that?)

And then assuming...let's assume that BARDA and SIGA basically came to terms on the contract and both parties signed...are we all assuming BARDA would just announce SIGA got the award...or would they work with SIGA on the announcement of the award (timing and content).

Ok...some points, some comments and some questions.

Anyways, if any of you have an insight or thoughts on this topic...be glad to hear it. If you just want to bash...well, I guess I can't stop you. (Although as PLTH stated, I can just put you on ignore which I've only done to one person thus far...ever...take a wild guess who?)