SSA's $215K Medical Consultant BPA for Disability Claims Faces Scrutiny for Limited Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $214,693 ($214.7K)

Contractor: Koutrakos Stacy

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2025-09-01

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 302 days

Daily Burn Rate: $711/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE MID-WEST/WESTERN REGION (DENVER). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER

Place of Performance

Location: COCKEYSVILLE, BALTIMORE County, MARYLAND, 21030

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $214,692.5 to KOUTRAKOS STACY for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE MID-WEST/WESTERN REGION (DENVER). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER Key points: 1. The contract's value, while modest, is for a critical function supporting the disability determination process. 2. Limited competition raises concerns about potential overpayment and reduced value for taxpayer funds. 3. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides some cost certainty, but the lack of competition hinders price discovery. 4. Performance context is tied to the accuracy and efficiency of disability claim reviews. 5. The sector is professional services, specifically medical consulting for administrative processes. 6. Risk indicators include potential for insufficient vetting of consultant qualifications due to limited competition.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value of this specific medical consultant service is challenging without more detailed service descriptions and comparable contract data. However, the per-claim review cost is a key metric. Given the contract was not competed under SAP, it suggests a potential lack of market research to ensure competitive pricing. The fixed-price nature helps control costs, but the absence of competition means the SSA may not be achieving the best possible rates.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating it was likely procured through a limited or sole-source approach. The data provided states 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP,' which implies a lack of broad solicitation. Without details on the specific procurement method, it's difficult to ascertain the number of bidders or the extent of market outreach. This limited competition could lead to higher prices than if the contract had been openly competed.

Taxpayer Impact: Limited competition means taxpayers may not be benefiting from the most cost-effective service provider, potentially leading to higher overall program costs for disability determinations.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals applying for disability benefits, who rely on accurate and timely reviews of their medical case files. The services delivered involve medical consultants reviewing disability claim case files for the Social Security Administration. The geographic impact is focused on the Mid-West/Western Region, specifically Denver, for regional medical consultant services. Workforce implications include the engagement of specialized medical professionals to support the SSA's administrative functions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of robust competition may lead to suboptimal pricing and reduced value for taxpayer dollars.
Potential for a narrow pool of qualified consultants, possibly impacting the quality or breadth of expertise.
Limited transparency into the procurement process due to non-competitive award.

Positive Signals

The contract is for a fixed price, providing cost predictability for the services rendered.
The services are essential for the functioning of the SSA's disability determination program.
The contract has a defined period of performance, allowing for periodic re-evaluation of needs.

Sector Analysis

The professional services sector, specifically medical consulting for government administrative functions, is characterized by specialized expertise. The SSA's need for medical consultants to review disability claims falls within this niche. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other government agencies' procurements for similar medical review services, or examining private sector rates for such expertise. The market size for these specialized services is driven by the volume of disability claims processed.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) is false. This suggests that the contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses based on the limited information. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular BPA call is likely minimal.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Social Security Administration's internal contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance standards outlined in the Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and the specific call orders issued against it. Transparency is limited by the non-competitive nature of the award; however, contract award data is typically available through federal procurement databases.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration Disability Insurance Program
Federal Medical Consulting Services
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Administrative Support Services

Risk Flags

Limited Competition
Lack of Transparency in Procurement
Potential for Suboptimal Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $214,692.5 to KOUTRAKOS STACY. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE MID-WEST/WESTERN REGION (DENVER). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is KOUTRAKOS STACY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $214,692.5.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-01. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the typical cost per medical review for disability claims within the SSA or similar agencies?

Determining a precise 'typical' cost per medical review for disability claims is complex, as it varies significantly based on the complexity of the case, the type of medical expertise required (e.g., general practitioner vs. specialist), and the specific region or contractor. For the SSA, internal metrics or historical data from similar BPAs would be the most relevant benchmark. Without access to SSA's internal cost data or more detailed breakdowns of the services provided under this BPA call, a direct comparison to industry averages is difficult. However, the total contract value of approximately $215,000 over roughly 21 months (from September 2025 to June 2026) for potentially numerous reviews suggests a need to analyze the number of reviews anticipated to derive a per-review cost. If, for example, 1,000 reviews were conducted, the cost per review would be around $215. This figure needs to be assessed against the scope and depth of each review.

What specific medical specialties are covered by this BPA, and how were they determined to be sufficient for the SSA's needs?

The provided data does not specify the exact medical specialties covered under this Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for regional medical consultant services. It broadly refers to 'Medical Consultant Services' for 'Disability Claim Case Files.' Typically, such contracts would require a range of specialties relevant to common disabling conditions, potentially including internal medicine, orthopedics, neurology, psychiatry, and cardiology, among others. The determination of sufficiency would ideally stem from an analysis of the SSA's historical claim data to identify the most frequent and complex medical conditions requiring expert review. Given the limited competition, the process for ensuring the breadth and depth of necessary specialties were adequately addressed may not have involved a comprehensive market survey.

What is the track record of Koutrakos Stacy as a medical consultant for federal agencies?

Information regarding the specific track record of 'Koutrakos Stacy' as a medical consultant for federal agencies is not detailed in the provided data. As an individual or potentially a small firm, their experience would need to be assessed through past performance evaluations in federal procurement databases or through references provided during the procurement process. Without this specific information, it is difficult to evaluate their qualifications, past performance quality, and reliability in fulfilling the requirements of the Social Security Administration's disability claim review process. Further investigation into federal contract databases like SAM.gov or FPDS might yield more details on their prior federal contract history.

How does the $215,000 contract value compare to overall SSA spending on disability claim reviews?

The $215,000 contract value represents a very small fraction of the Social Security Administration's overall spending on disability claim reviews. The SSA processes millions of disability claims annually, and the total budget allocated to disability determination services runs into billions of dollars. This specific BPA call is for regional medical consultant services in a particular geographic area (Mid-West/Western Region, Denver) and likely covers a subset of the total reviews needed. Therefore, while the value of this individual contract is significant for its scope, it is not indicative of the SSA's total expenditure in this area. Benchmarking this amount against other similar regional or specialized consulting contracts would provide better context for its value proposition.

What are the potential risks associated with a non-competed BPA call for essential medical review services?

The primary risks associated with a non-competed Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call for essential medical review services include: 1) **Higher Costs:** Without competition, the contractor may not be incentivized to offer the lowest possible price, leading to potential overpayment by the government. 2) **Reduced Quality:** A limited vendor pool might mean accepting services from a contractor who is not the best qualified, potentially impacting the accuracy and thoroughness of disability claim reviews. 3) **Lack of Innovation:** Non-competitive awards stifle innovation as there is less pressure to improve services or processes. 4) **Limited Transparency:** The procurement process is less transparent, making it harder for oversight bodies and the public to assess fairness and value. 5) **Potential for Contractor Lock-in:** If the incumbent contractor is the only option considered, it can create dependency and hinder future opportunities for better-resourced or more efficient providers.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Offices of Physicians › Offices of Physicians, 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: 18 COCKEYSVILLE RD, COCKEYSVILLE, MD, 21030

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $214,693

Exercised Options: $214,693

Current Obligation: $214,693

Actual Outlays: $110,881

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 28321324AC0840005

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline