Georgia's Electronic Death Records system receives $2.27M contract for IT infrastructure and hosting services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,266,590 ($2.3M)

Contractor: State of Georgia Department of Public Health

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2023-12-27

End Date: 2026-12-26

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.1K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: GEORGIA (GA)-ELECTRONIC DEATH RECORDS (EDR)

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30303

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $2.3 million to STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH for work described as: GEORGIA (GA)-ELECTRONIC DEATH RECORDS (EDR) Key points: 1. The contract value of $2.27 million for a 3-year period suggests a moderate investment in critical public health infrastructure. 2. The absence of competition raises questions about potential overpricing and the availability of more cost-effective solutions. 3. Reliance on a single vendor for essential IT services could pose risks if the vendor experiences performance issues or financial instability. 4. The contract supports the modernization of vital public health data collection, aiming to improve accuracy and accessibility of death records. 5. This spending falls within the broader category of government IT services, specifically focusing on data processing and hosting.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.27 million over three years, averaging approximately $755,000 annually, appears reasonable for IT infrastructure and hosting services supporting a state-level public health system. However, without competitive bidding, it is difficult to benchmark against market rates or identify potential cost savings. Comparable contracts for similar state-level health data systems could provide a more precise valuation, but the lack of competition limits this analysis.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a sole-source award. This means only one vendor was solicited and awarded the contract. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to explore various solutions and negotiate the best possible price. It also suggests potential reasons for sole-sourcing, such as a unique capability or a pre-existing relationship, which are not detailed here.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the best value for their money due to the absence of competitive pressure, which typically drives down prices and encourages innovation.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the State of Georgia's Department of Public Health, which will utilize the enhanced electronic death records system. The services delivered include essential IT infrastructure, data processing, and web hosting necessary for the operation of the EDR system. The geographic impact is statewide within Georgia, affecting the collection and management of vital statistics across the entire state. The contract supports the public health workforce by providing them with a more efficient and reliable tool for data management.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Sole-source awards can reduce transparency and accountability.
Potential vendor lock-in could limit future flexibility and cost-saving opportunities.

Positive Signals

Supports a critical public health function (death records).
Provides necessary IT infrastructure for data management.
Long-term contract (3 years) offers stability for system operation.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on data processing, web hosting, and related infrastructure. The market for such services is highly competitive, with numerous providers offering cloud hosting, data management, and IT support. Government spending in this area is substantial, supporting everything from agency websites to complex data analysis platforms. Benchmarking would typically involve comparing pricing models of cloud providers and specialized government IT contractors, but the sole-source nature here prevents direct comparison.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides or subcontracting opportunities. As a sole-source award, it is unlikely that small businesses were specifically targeted or considered as primary awardees. Further analysis would be needed to determine if any subcontracting opportunities exist within the awarded vendor's scope of work.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the State of Georgia Department of Public Health, as the contracting agency. The Social Security Administration is listed as the awarding agency, suggesting a potential federal partnership or funding mechanism. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Accountability measures would be defined in the purchase order terms and conditions, focusing on service delivery and performance.

Related Government Programs

State Vital Statistics Improvement Program
Public Health Data Modernization Initiative
Federal Electronic Health Records (EHR) Initiatives

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits price discovery and potential savings.
Lack of competition may indicate limited market options or a pre-existing relationship.
Critical public health infrastructure reliance on a single vendor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $2.3 million to STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. GEORGIA (GA)-ELECTRONIC DEATH RECORDS (EDR)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-12-27. End: 2026-12-26.

What is the track record of the awarded contractor in providing similar IT infrastructure and data hosting services to government entities?

The provided data does not include information on the specific contractor awarded this purchase order, nor does it detail their track record. To assess the contractor's reliability and experience, a review of their past performance on similar government contracts, client references, and any history of performance issues or contract disputes would be necessary. Without this information, it is difficult to evaluate the risk associated with the contractor's ability to meet the requirements of the Electronic Death Records system.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar state-level public health IT infrastructure contracts?

The annual cost for this contract is approximately $755,000 ($2.27 million / 3 years). Benchmarking this against similar state-level public health IT infrastructure contracts is challenging without knowing the specific scope of services, the scale of the system (e.g., number of users, data volume), and the level of customization required. Typically, contracts for cloud hosting and data processing can vary significantly based on these factors. The sole-source nature of this award further complicates direct comparisons, as competitive bids often reveal market pricing.

What are the specific risks associated with a sole-source award for a critical public health system like the Electronic Death Records?

A sole-source award for a critical system like the Electronic Death Records (EDR) presents several risks. Firstly, the lack of competition means the state may be paying a higher price than if the contract were competed, potentially leading to inefficient use of taxpayer funds. Secondly, there is a risk of vendor lock-in, where the state becomes dependent on a single provider, making it difficult and costly to switch vendors in the future. Thirdly, without competitive pressure, the vendor may have less incentive to innovate or provide superior customer service. Finally, if the sole-source vendor experiences financial difficulties or operational issues, the continuity of the EDR system could be jeopardized.

What is the expected impact of this contract on the efficiency and accuracy of Georgia's death recordkeeping?

This contract is intended to provide the necessary IT infrastructure and hosting services to support Georgia's Electronic Death Records (EDR) system. By modernizing the underlying technology, the expectation is to improve the efficiency of data entry, processing, and retrieval. Enhanced system reliability and accessibility should lead to more accurate and timely reporting of death data, which is crucial for public health surveillance, epidemiological research, and policy-making. The transition to an electronic system aims to reduce manual errors and streamline workflows for public health officials.

What has been the historical spending trend for Georgia's Electronic Death Records system or similar vital statistics systems?

The provided data does not contain historical spending information for Georgia's Electronic Death Records system or similar vital statistics systems. To understand the spending trend, one would need to access historical contract awards and budget allocations for the Georgia Department of Public Health related to vital records management. Analyzing past expenditures would help determine if this $2.27 million contract represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of investment in the EDR system over time, and whether it aligns with inflation or system expansion.

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: 200 PIEDMONT AVENUE, SE WEST TOWER, ATLANTA, GA, 30334

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,005,914

Exercised Options: $2,266,590

Current Obligation: $2,266,590

Actual Outlays: $1,409,068

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline