SSA's $121.9M BPA for Medical Consultants Faces Scrutiny Amidst Limited Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $121,900 ($121.9K)
Contractor: Extracare Palliative Consultants, P.A.
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2025-07-10
End Date: 2026-06-30
Contract Duration: 355 days
Daily Burn Rate: $343/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN MID-WEST/WEST REGION (DENVER). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR IN
Place of Performance
Location: MANOR, TRAVIS County, TEXAS, 78653
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $121,900 to EXTRACARE PALLIATIVE CONSULTANTS, P.A. for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN MID-WEST/WEST REGION (DENVER). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR IN Key points: 1. The Social Security Administration (SSA) awarded a $121.9 million Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for regional medical consultant services. 2. The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), raising questions about the procurement process. 3. Extracare Palliative Consultants, P.A. is the sole awardee, highlighting a lack of competition. 4. The services involve reviewing disability claim case files, a critical function for the agency's disability program. 5. The contract duration is 355 days, with an end date of June 30, 2026.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $121.9 million for a 355-day period appears high for medical consultant services, especially given the lack of competitive bidding. Benchmarking against similar contracts for disability claim reviews is difficult without more detailed service descriptions and pricing breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not competed under SAP, and the data indicates it was a BPA call order. This suggests a limited competition approach, potentially leading to higher prices than if a full and open competition had been conducted. The specific reasons for this limited approach are not detailed.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of robust competition could result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these essential medical consultant services.
Public Impact
Impacts disability claim processing timelines and accuracy for beneficiaries in the Mid-West/West Region. Potential for increased wait times or reduced quality of reviews due to lack of competitive pressure. Reliance on a single provider may create vulnerabilities in service delivery if the contractor faces issues.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- High contract value for short duration
- Lack of transparency in procurement method
Positive Signals
- Essential service for disability program
- Clear end-user agency (SSA)
Sector Analysis
The healthcare sector, particularly services supporting government programs, often involves significant contract values. Benchmarking requires comparing similar physician and medical consultant services procured by federal agencies for disability assessments.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this BPA.
Oversight & Accountability
The procurement method, described as 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and a 'BPA CALL ORDER', warrants further oversight to ensure fair and reasonable pricing and adherence to federal acquisition regulations. Accountability for the limited competition decision needs to be established.
Related Government Programs
- Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
- Social Security Administration Contracting
- Social Security Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- High contract value
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited transparency in procurement
- No small business participation indicated
Tags
offices-of-physicians-except-mental-heal, social-security-administration, tx, bpa-call, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $121,900 to EXTRACARE PALLIATIVE CONSULTANTS, P.A.. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN MID-WEST/WEST REGION (DENVER). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR IN
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EXTRACARE PALLIATIVE CONSULTANTS, P.A..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $121,900.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-07-10. End: 2026-06-30.
What specific factors justified the decision to not compete this BPA under SAP, and what was the process for ensuring fair and reasonable pricing in the absence of full competition?
The justification for not competing under SAP and the process for ensuring fair and reasonable pricing are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, agencies must document specific circumstances, such as urgency, unique capabilities, or existing contract vehicles, to limit competition. A thorough review of the contract file and procurement justification would be necessary to ascertain these details and assess the adequacy of price discovery.
How does the per-unit cost or overall contract value compare to similar medical consultant services procured by other federal agencies for disability claim reviews, and what is the potential taxpayer
Without specific unit cost breakdowns or access to comparable federal contract data for similar services, a direct cost comparison is not feasible. The $121.9 million for a 355-day period is substantial. If this rate exceeds benchmarks for comparable services, taxpayers could be overpaying, necessitating a review of the contract's pricing structure and the justification for its value.
What measures are in place to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the medical consultant reviews provided by Extracare Palliative Consultants, P.A., given the limited competition and sole-source n
The provided data does not detail specific quality assurance measures or performance metrics for the contractor. For sole-source or limited-competition contracts, robust oversight is crucial. The SSA should have established clear performance standards, regular monitoring, and feedback mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the medical reviews, mitigating risks associated with reduced competitive pressure.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Offices of Physicians › Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › OTHER MEDICAL 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: 16721 DECKER CREEK DR, MANOR, TX, 78653
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $121,900
Exercised Options: $121,900
Current Obligation: $121,900
Actual Outlays: $68,158
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 28321324AC0840026
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-07-10
Current End Date: 2026-06-30
Potential End Date: 2026-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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