Social Security Administration awards $142.5K BPA for medical consultant services in Southeast region

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $142,500 ($142.5K)

Contractor: Lewis James M MD

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2026-07-01

End Date: 2027-06-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $391/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 MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION (ATLANTA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS.

Place of Performance

Location: BIRMINGHAM, SHELBY County, ALABAMA, 35242

State: Alabama Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $142,500 to LEWIS JAMES M MD for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION (ATLANTA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on independent case reviews for disability claims. 2. Limited competition due to the nature of the BPA call order. 3. Performance period extends through mid-2027. 4. Services are crucial for the agency's disability determination process. 5. Firm-fixed-price contract type aims to control costs. 6. No small business set-aside noted for this specific award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The awarded amount of $142,500 for a 364-day period appears reasonable for specialized medical consultant services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for independent medical reviews is challenging without more detailed service scope and geographic specificity. However, the firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the agency. The value proposition hinges on the quality and efficiency of the reviews provided by LEWIS JAMES M MD.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract was issued as a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call Order, and the data indicates it was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures). This suggests it may have been awarded under an existing BPA or potentially through a limited competition process not fully detailed in the provided data. The lack of explicit competition details makes it difficult to assess the number of bidders or the impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited information on competition makes it difficult to definitively assess the impact on taxpayers. If competition was indeed limited, it could potentially lead to higher prices than a fully competed contract.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries include individuals applying for Social Security disability benefits, ensuring timely and accurate case reviews. Services delivered involve independent medical reviews of disability claim case files. Geographic impact is focused on the Southeast region, specifically Alabama. Workforce implications include the engagement of specialized medical consultants to support the agency's workload.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed competition information raises questions about potential price optimization.
Limited transparency on the specific qualifications and experience of the awarded consultant.
Geographic focus on Alabama might not fully address needs across the entire Southeast region if not managed carefully.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability for the agency.
BPA structure allows for efficient ordering of services as needed.
Focus on independent reviews supports the integrity of the disability determination process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Healthcare sector, specifically related to medical consulting and administrative support for government programs. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 621111, 'Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists),' indicates the type of professional services involved. Spending in this area is driven by the need for expert medical opinions to adjudicate claims, a consistent requirement for agencies like the Social Security Administration.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). There is no information available regarding subcontracting plans or opportunities for small businesses within this specific BPA call order. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this particular award appears minimal.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Social Security Administration's internal program management and contracting offices. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver services as specified. Transparency is limited by the available public data; further details on performance metrics and review processes would enhance oversight assessment. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration Disability Determination Services
Medicare/Medicaid Claims Processing
Veterans Affairs Disability Claims
Federal Employee Health Benefits Program

Risk Flags

Limited Competition
Lack of Performance Metrics
Potential for Service Disruption

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $142,500 to LEWIS JAMES M MD. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION (ATLANTA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LEWIS JAMES M MD.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $142,500.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-07-01. End: 2027-06-30.

What is the typical cost range for independent medical consultant services for disability claims in the Southeast region?

Determining a precise cost range for independent medical consultant services for disability claims in the Southeast region is complex due to variations in service scope, required expertise, and geographic nuances. However, contracts for similar services often involve per-case review fees or hourly rates for consultants. For a 364-day period with a total award of $142,500, the implied average daily rate is approximately $391. This figure needs to be contextualized against the number of cases reviewed and the complexity of each case. Without specific benchmarks from the Social Security Administration or publicly available data on comparable contracts, it's difficult to definitively state if this rate is high or low. Factors such as the specialty of the physician, the level of detail required in the review, and turnaround time expectations significantly influence pricing.

How does the 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation impact the potential value for taxpayers?

The designation 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures) suggests that this contract was likely awarded under an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) or through a procurement method that did not involve full and open competition under standard SAP thresholds. While SAP is designed for efficiency in acquiring goods and services below certain dollar amounts, not competing under it can limit price discovery. If the BPA itself was not competitively established, or if this call order was issued without soliciting multiple quotes, taxpayers may not benefit from the lowest possible price achievable through robust competition. This could potentially lead to higher costs compared to a fully competed contract, although the firm-fixed-price nature provides some cost certainty.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the effectiveness of LEWIS JAMES M MD's medical consultant services?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the effectiveness of LEWIS JAMES M MD's medical consultant services. Typically, for such contracts, KPIs would likely include metrics related to the accuracy and thoroughness of medical reviews, adherence to review timelines (turnaround time), compliance with agency guidelines and regulations, and potentially client satisfaction from the Social Security Administration's perspective. The quality of the consultant's reports and their contribution to the accurate adjudication of disability claims would be paramount. Without explicit KPIs defined in the contract or performance reports, a comprehensive assessment of effectiveness is not possible.

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

Historical spending patterns for medical consultant services by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the Southeast region are not detailed in the provided data. To establish such a pattern, one would need to analyze past contract awards for similar services, including the number of contracts, their values, durations, and the specific geographic areas covered within the Southeast. This analysis would reveal trends in spending, identify key contractors, and potentially highlight fluctuations in demand or pricing over time. Understanding this history is crucial for benchmarking current awards and identifying any significant deviations or emerging cost drivers.

Are there any specific risks associated with relying on a single medical consultant (LEWIS JAMES M MD) for disability claim reviews in this region?

Relying on a single medical consultant, LEWIS JAMES M MD, for disability claim reviews in the Southeast region presents several potential risks. Firstly, there's a risk of service disruption if the consultant becomes unavailable due to illness, departure, or other unforeseen circumstances, potentially delaying claim adjudications. Secondly, a single reviewer might introduce a degree of bias or a specific interpretation style that could affect consistency across claims. Thirdly, without competitive pressure, there might be less incentive for the consultant to optimize efficiency or offer the most competitive pricing over time. Finally, the agency's ability to scale services up or down rapidly based on workload fluctuations could be constrained by the capacity of a single provider.

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: 5204 MEADOW BROOK RD, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35242

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $142,500

Exercised Options: $142,500

Current Obligation: $142,500

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 28321321AC0440034

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline