Social Security Administration awards $152K contract for PS5 VSS workstation replacements with Ionode decoders

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $152,649 ($152.6K)

Contractor: Securityhunter, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2024-09-27

End Date: 2025-09-29

Contract Duration: 367 days

Daily Burn Rate: $416/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: REPLACE PS5 VSS WORKSTATIONS AT EXISTING PS5 SITES WITH IONODE DECODERS UNDER THE PS5 BPA.

Place of Performance

Location: BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE CITY County, MARYLAND, 21235

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $152,648.55 to SECURITYHUNTER, INC. for work described as: REPLACE PS5 VSS WORKSTATIONS AT EXISTING PS5 SITES WITH IONODE DECODERS UNDER THE PS5 BPA. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on upgrading existing infrastructure with new decoding technology. 2. The award was made under a broader Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). 3. The fixed-price contract type suggests a defined scope and cost control. 4. The duration of the contract is approximately one year. 5. The specific technical nature of the upgrade implies specialized engineering services. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $152,648.55 for replacing PS5 VSS workstations with Ionode decoders appears to be a relatively small award. Benchmarking this specific type of hardware replacement is challenging without more detailed specifications on the Ionode decoders and the existing PS5 VSS workstations. However, given the firm-fixed-price nature and the relatively modest total value, the pricing is likely within a reasonable range for the scope of work, assuming the technology meets the agency's needs.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the full and open nature suggests a competitive process was utilized. This approach is generally favored to ensure the government receives the best value by allowing a wide range of potential contractors to participate.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process maximizes the potential for competitive pricing, which benefits taxpayers by potentially lowering costs compared to less competitive procurement methods.

Public Impact

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will benefit from updated video surveillance system (VSS) workstations. The contract delivers Ionode decoders to replace existing PS5 VSS workstations. The geographic impact is likely limited to SSA facilities in Maryland, where the contractor is located. The workforce implications are minimal, likely involving installation and configuration by the awarded contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the number of bidders limits assessment of true competition intensity.
The limited dollar value may not attract a wide range of highly specialized or large-scale competitors.
The reliance on a BPA call means this is part of a larger, pre-negotiated agreement, whose overall value and competition are not detailed here.

Positive Signals

The use of full and open competition is a positive signal for a fair and transparent process.
The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The award to SECURITYHUNTER, INC. suggests they possess the necessary qualifications for this engineering service.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector (NAICS 541330). The market for specialized engineering services, particularly those related to security and surveillance systems, is diverse. While the total value of this specific award is modest, it represents a component of the broader government spending on IT infrastructure and security upgrades. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend heavily on the specific technology and scale of the upgrade, but the overall IT and security services market for the federal government is substantial.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the data indicates the contractor is not a small business. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific award is likely minimal, though the prime contractor may engage small businesses for support services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Social Security Administration's contracting and program management offices. As a BPA call, it leverages existing oversight established under the parent BPA. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration IT Infrastructure Upgrades
Federal Video Surveillance Systems
Engineering Services Contracts
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

Risk Flags

Limited information on specific performance metrics.
Lack of detail on the number of bidders.
Unclear track record of the contractor for this specific service.
Technology maturity and integration risks not fully detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $152,648.55 to SECURITYHUNTER, INC.. REPLACE PS5 VSS WORKSTATIONS AT EXISTING PS5 SITES WITH IONODE DECODERS UNDER THE PS5 BPA.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SECURITYHUNTER, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $152,648.55.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-27. End: 2025-09-29.

What is the track record of SECURITYHUNTER, INC. with the Social Security Administration or similar federal agencies?

Information regarding SECURITYHUNTER, INC.'s specific track record with the Social Security Administration (SSA) or other federal agencies is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations, contract history, and any reported issues or successes on previous government contracts. Without this data, it's difficult to gauge their reliability and experience specifically for this type of project. However, being awarded a contract, especially under full and open competition, suggests they met the minimum qualifications and demonstrated capability to perform the required services.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar workstation replacement or security system upgrade contracts within the SSA?

The contract value of $152,648.55 is relatively modest for a federal IT infrastructure or security system upgrade. Without specific details on the number of workstations replaced, the complexity of the Ionode decoders, and the scope of the 'PS5 VSS' system, direct comparison is difficult. However, larger-scale system overhauls or replacements across multiple facilities could easily run into millions of dollars. This particular award appears to be for a localized upgrade or a specific component of a larger system, making it a smaller piece of the SSA's overall technology modernization budget.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly state the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this contract. Typically, for a contract involving hardware replacement and system upgrades, KPIs would focus on successful installation and integration of the Ionode decoders, functionality of the new system, system uptime, and adherence to security protocols. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests that meeting the defined technical specifications and delivery timeline would be primary measures of success. The Social Security Administration would likely have internal benchmarks for video surveillance system performance that this upgrade aims to meet or exceed.

What is the potential risk associated with the technology being implemented (Ionode decoders)?

The potential risk associated with the Ionode decoders would depend on factors not detailed in the award data, such as the maturity of the technology, its compatibility with existing SSA infrastructure, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the vendor's support capabilities. If Ionode is a new or less-proven technology for the SSA, there could be risks related to integration challenges, performance issues, or unexpected maintenance needs. However, the use of a BPA and full and open competition suggests that the SSA has likely vetted the technology to some extent and that SECURITYHUNTER, INC. is expected to manage the implementation risks effectively.

What has been the historical spending pattern for PS5 VSS workstation replacements or similar upgrades at the SSA?

The provided data does not offer historical spending patterns for PS5 VSS workstation replacements or similar upgrades at the SSA. To analyze this, one would need access to historical contract databases to identify previous awards for video surveillance system components, workstation upgrades, or specific hardware like decoders. Understanding past spending would help contextualize the current $152K award, indicating whether it represents a routine refresh, a pilot program, or part of a larger, ongoing modernization effort. Without this historical context, it's difficult to assess trends or budget allocations for such upgrades.

What is the significance of this contract being a BPA Call?

The significance of this contract being a BPA Call is that it represents a task order issued under a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). BPAs are established with vendors to streamline the procurement of recurring or anticipated needs. This means the foundational terms, conditions, and potentially pricing structures were negotiated when the parent BPA was awarded, often through a competitive process itself. A BPA Call allows the agency to quickly order specific goods or services without needing to conduct a full, separate procurement each time, leading to faster delivery and administrative efficiency. However, the competition for this specific task order might be limited to the vendors already holding the BPA, depending on the BPA's terms.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT › INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7249 AMBASSADOR RD, WINDSOR MILL, MD, 21244

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $152,649

Exercised Options: $152,649

Current Obligation: $152,649

Actual Outlays: $152,649

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 28321320A00040037

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline