SSA's $116M medical consultant BPA for disability claims reviews awarded to Vanderplate Calvin

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $116,472 ($116.5K)

Contractor: Vanderplate Calvin

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2026-03-06

End Date: 2027-12-31

Contract Duration: 665 days

Daily Burn Rate: $175/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 CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE (ATLANTA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM.

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30313

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $116,472 to VANDERPLATE CALVIN for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE (ATLANTA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential disability claim reviews, supporting a critical agency function. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about potential cost savings through competition. 3. Fixed-price contract type offers cost certainty but may limit flexibility. 4. Long duration suggests a sustained need for these specialized medical consulting services. 5. Geographic focus on Georgia for regional medical consultant services. 6. No small business set-aside indicates potential missed opportunities for smaller firms.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The total award of $116,472 for medical consultant services appears low for a multi-year contract, suggesting either a very limited scope or potentially underpriced services. Without comparable contracts for similar regional medical consultant services for disability claims reviews, it is difficult to benchmark the value effectively. The fixed-price nature provides cost certainty for the agency, but the lack of competition raises concerns about whether the government is receiving the best possible price.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and was awarded as a sole-source BPA call. This means that only one contractor, Vanderplate Calvin, was considered for this requirement. The lack of competition limits the agency's ability to explore alternative providers and potentially negotiate more favorable terms or pricing. It is unclear why this requirement was not competed, which could be due to specific expertise or a pre-existing relationship.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers may not benefit from competitive pricing, potentially leading to higher costs than if multiple bids were solicited.

Public Impact

Individuals applying for Social Security disability benefits will have their case files reviewed by medical consultants. The services directly support the Social Security Administration's mission to determine eligibility for disability programs. The geographic impact is focused on the Atlanta region, serving claims originating from or processed within Georgia. The contract supports specialized medical professional roles, contributing to the healthcare consulting sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition for a sole-source award may lead to suboptimal pricing.
The fixed-price contract might not incentivize efficiency gains from the contractor.
Limited transparency into the justification for a sole-source award.
Potential for over-reliance on a single provider for critical medical reviews.

Positive Signals

Contract provides essential services for disability determination, a core agency function.
Fixed-price contract offers budget predictability for the agency.
Long-term award (through 2027) suggests a stable and ongoing need for these services.

Sector Analysis

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 621112, 'Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists,' falls within the Healthcare and Social Assistance sector. This contract specifically leverages physician expertise for administrative and review purposes rather than direct patient care. The market for medical consulting services is broad, encompassing various specialties and administrative support functions. Benchmarking this specific contract is challenging due to its specialized nature and sole-source award, but the overall healthcare consulting market is substantial.

Small Business Impact

The contract details indicate that small business participation was not a specific consideration, as it was not set aside for small businesses and the awardee is not explicitly identified as a small business. This sole-source award means there are no subcontracting opportunities mandated for small businesses through this specific contract vehicle. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral to negative, as competitive opportunities were not extended to them.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Social Security Administration's internal contracting and program management offices. As a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call, it operates under the terms of the overarching BPA, which should have established guidelines. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature. There is no specific mention of Inspector General jurisdiction for this particular award, though the SSA OIG generally oversees agency programs.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration Disability Insurance Program
Medical Review Services
Federal Healthcare Consulting Contracts
Blanket Purchase Agreements

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competition
Potential for non-optimal pricing
Limited transparency on award justification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $116,472 to VANDERPLATE CALVIN. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE (ATLANTA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VANDERPLATE CALVIN.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $116,472.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-03-06. End: 2027-12-31.

What is the specific expertise of Vanderplate Calvin that justified a sole-source award for medical consultant services?

The provided data does not specify the unique qualifications or expertise of Vanderplate Calvin that led to the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source justifications require a detailed explanation of why only one contractor can meet the government's needs, such as possessing unique intellectual property, specialized skills, or being the only source capable of performing the work. Without this justification, it is difficult to assess if the government received the best value or if competition was inappropriately bypassed. Further investigation into the contract's justification documentation would be necessary to understand the rationale.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar medical consultant services for disability claims reviews?

Benchmarking the pricing for this $116,472 contract is challenging due to the limited information available and the sole-source nature of the award. Comparable contracts for similar services, especially those that were competitively procured, would provide a better basis for comparison. The total award amount over its duration (ending December 31, 2027) suggests a relatively modest scope or potentially low per-case review costs. Without access to detailed pricing structures or data from similar competitively awarded contracts, it is difficult to definitively assess if this represents good value for money.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a multi-year contract on a sole-source basis?

Awarding a multi-year contract on a sole-source basis carries several risks. Firstly, it eliminates the potential for cost savings that typically arise from competitive bidding, meaning the government might be paying more than necessary. Secondly, it can lead to complacency from the contractor, as there is no immediate threat of losing the business to a competitor, potentially impacting service quality or innovation. Thirdly, it limits the government's flexibility to adapt to changing needs or to leverage new technologies or providers that may emerge during the contract period. Finally, it can raise public perception issues regarding fairness and efficient use of taxpayer funds.

What is the historical spending pattern for medical consultant services by the Social Security Administration?

The provided data focuses solely on this specific Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call and does not offer historical spending patterns for medical consultant services by the Social Security Administration (SSA). To understand historical spending, one would need to analyze past contracts awarded by the SSA for similar services, noting the award amounts, contract types (competed vs. sole-source), and the contractors involved. This would help identify trends, assess the consistency of spending, and evaluate whether this current BPA aligns with or deviates from past procurement strategies.

What is the expected impact of these medical reviews on the efficiency and accuracy of disability claim processing?

The medical consultant reviews are intended to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of disability claim processing by providing expert medical opinions on case files. These reviews help adjudicate claims by assessing the medical evidence against established disability criteria. By ensuring that qualified medical professionals evaluate complex cases, the SSA aims to improve the consistency and fairness of its decisions, potentially reducing appeals and backlogs. The effectiveness hinges on the quality of the consultants' reviews and their integration into the SSA's overall claims adjudication process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Offices of Physicians › Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND SURGICAL SVCS

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: 285 CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK DR NW # 2, ATLANTA, GA, 30313

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $116,472

Exercised Options: $116,472

Current Obligation: $116,472

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 28321321AC0440023

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline