North Carolina's electronic birth records contract awarded for $2.8M to support SSN issuance at birth

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,809,898 ($2.8M)

Contractor: Dhhs State Public Health LAB

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2019-06-29

End Date: 2024-06-28

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) NORTH CAROLINA ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH.

Place of Performance

Location: RALEIGH, WAKE County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27611

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $2.8 million to DHHS STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LAB for work described as: NC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) NORTH CAROLINA ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH. Key points: 1. Contract aims to streamline Social Security Number issuance for newborns. 2. Focus on computing infrastructure and data processing services. 3. Long-term contract duration of five years. 4. Single award indicates potential for limited competition. 5. Fixed-price contract type may offer cost predictability. 6. Geographic focus on North Carolina.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.8 million over five years for electronic birth records management appears reasonable given the scope of supporting Social Security Number issuance at birth. Benchmarking against similar state-level IT contracts for vital records management is challenging without more specific service details. However, the cost per year is approximately $560,000, which falls within a moderate range for specialized data processing and infrastructure services for a state agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting it may have been a sole-source or limited competition award. Further details on the procurement process are needed to determine the level of competition. If it was sole-source, it implies a lack of alternative providers or a specific justification for selecting a single vendor, which could impact price negotiation.

Taxpayer Impact: A lack of robust competition could potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers if the selected vendor did not face market pressure to offer the most competitive pricing.

Public Impact

Benefits North Carolina newborns and their families by facilitating timely SSN issuance. Supports the Social Security Administration's mandate to provide SSNs. Enhances the efficiency of vital records management for the state. Impacts the state's public health and administrative infrastructure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of transparency regarding the competition level could hide potential overspending.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical data processing raises concerns about vendor lock-in and continuity of service.
The specific nature of 'Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services' needs further definition to assess value.

Positive Signals

Supports a critical government function: SSN issuance at birth.
Long-term contract provides stability for service delivery.
Fixed-price contract offers some budget certainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT and data processing sector, specifically focusing on cloud infrastructure and related services for government operations. The market for such services is large and competitive, with many providers offering solutions for data management and hosting. However, government contracts often require specific security clearances and compliance standards, which can limit the pool of eligible vendors. The annual spending of approximately $560,000 places this contract in the mid-tier range for state-level IT procurements.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business participation, including set-asides or subcontracting plans, is not provided in the available data. Without this information, it is difficult to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem. Typically, government contracts of this nature may include provisions for small business involvement, but this specific award's details are unknown.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms are not detailed in the provided data. Standard government contract oversight would typically involve contract officers, performance reviews, and potentially Inspector General audits. Transparency regarding the contract's performance metrics and any associated audits would be crucial for assessing accountability.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration IT Services
State Vital Records Management Systems
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition
Lack of detailed performance metrics
Absence of small business subcontracting information

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $2.8 million to DHHS STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LAB. NC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) NORTH CAROLINA ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DHHS STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LAB.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-06-29. End: 2024-06-28.

What is the specific track record of the awarded contractor, 'NC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB)', with the Social Security Administration or similar state agencies?

The provided data does not specify the contractor's name beyond the contract description 'NC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB)'. It also does not detail the contractor's past performance with the Social Security Administration or other state agencies. To assess the contractor's track record, a review of their performance history on previous government contracts, client references, and any documented performance issues or successes would be necessary. Without this information, it is difficult to gauge their reliability and capability in delivering the required services.

How does the annual cost of approximately $560,000 compare to similar state-level contracts for electronic birth records and SSN integration services?

Benchmarking this contract's annual cost of roughly $560,000 against similar state-level contracts is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of such agreements. Factors like the specific functionalities, user base size, data security requirements, and the level of integration with federal systems (like the Social Security Administration's) can significantly influence costs. Generally, IT infrastructure and data processing services for state agencies can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars annually, depending on complexity. This contract appears to be in the mid-range, suggesting a moderate scope of services.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source or limited-competition award for this critical data processing service?

A sole-source or limited-competition award for critical data processing services like managing electronic birth records for SSN issuance carries several risks. Primarily, it can lead to reduced price competition, potentially resulting in higher costs for the government and taxpayers. It also increases vendor lock-in, making it difficult and costly to switch providers if performance issues arise or better solutions become available. Furthermore, a single vendor may have less incentive to innovate or maintain high service levels compared to a competitive environment. Ensuring robust contract management and performance monitoring becomes even more crucial in such scenarios.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness of this contract in facilitating SSN issuance at birth?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for a service aimed at facilitating Social Security Number (SSN) issuance at birth, effective KPIs would likely include metrics such as the timeliness of data transmission from the state to the SSA, the accuracy and completeness of the transmitted data, the system uptime and availability of the electronic birth records platform, and the reduction in manual processing or error rates for SSN applications. Measuring the successful integration and data flow between North Carolina's system and the SSA's systems would be paramount.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar services by the Social Security Administration or North Carolina's DHHS?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for this specific contract or similar services by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). To analyze historical spending, one would need to examine past contracts for vital records management, data processing, and IT infrastructure related to birth registrations and SSN issuance within these agencies. Understanding previous expenditures would help determine if the current $2.8 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable investment compared to prior periods.

Are there any specific data security and privacy compliance requirements mandated for this contract, given the sensitive nature of birth records?

While not explicitly detailed in the provided data, contracts involving sensitive personal information like birth records and Social Security Numbers invariably include stringent data security and privacy compliance requirements. These typically align with federal standards such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and potentially Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) if health-related data is involved. The contract would likely mandate specific encryption standards, access controls, audit trails, and breach notification protocols. The vendor would be expected to demonstrate compliance through regular audits and certifications.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4312 DISTRICT DR, RALEIGH, NC, 27607

Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, U.S. Regional/State Government

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,809,898

Exercised Options: $2,809,898

Current Obligation: $2,809,898

Actual Outlays: $2,355,422

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline