SSA Awards $2.4M for Verbatim Hearing Recorder Services in Northeast Sub-Region 3
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,444,271 ($2.4M)
Contractor: Stratcomm, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2026-02-01
End Date: 2027-01-31
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: VERBATIM HEARING RECORDER (VHR) SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST SUB-REGION 3 (PHILADELPHIA) WHICH ENCOMPASSES DELAWARE, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA. PROVIDE DIGITAL RECORDING FOR DISABILITY HEARINGS. TASK ORDER FOR 46,924 HEARINGS.
Place of Performance
Location: BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE CITY County, MARYLAND, 21201
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $2.4 million to STRATCOMM, INC. for work described as: VERBATIM HEARING RECORDER (VHR) SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST SUB-REGION 3 (PHILADELPHIA) WHICH ENCOMPASSES DELAWARE, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA. PROVIDE DIGITAL RECORDING FOR DISABILITY HEARINGS. TASK ORDER FOR 46,924 HEARINGS. Key points: 1. Contract covers digital recording for 46,924 disability hearings in DE, MD, PA, VA, WV. 2. STRATCOMM, INC. is the awardee for this critical service. 3. The contract utilizes a Firm Fixed Price model. 4. This award falls under Document Preparation Services (NAICS 561410).
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award amount of $2,444,271.16 for 46,924 hearings suggests a per-hearing cost of approximately $52.07. This appears reasonable given the specialized nature of verbatim recording and the need for digital accuracy.
Cost Per Unit: $52.07
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources'. While full and open competition is generally positive, the exclusion of sources warrants further understanding to ensure optimal price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to secure efficient services for taxpayers, ensuring the Social Security Administration can effectively process disability claims.
Public Impact
Ensures accurate and accessible records for disability hearings, crucial for claimant rights. Supports the operational efficiency of the Social Security Administration's hearing process. Provides a vital service to individuals navigating the disability benefits system. Digital recording enhances record management and retrieval for legal and administrative purposes.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for increased hearing volume impacting service delivery.
- Dependence on a single vendor for a critical function.
Positive Signals
- Clear definition of services and deliverables.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
- Competition mechanism, even with exclusions, suggests market engagement.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the administrative support and document services sector. Spending benchmarks for similar services can vary widely based on geographic scope and technical requirements, but the price appears aligned with industry standards for specialized recording services.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was considered or if opportunities were missed.
Oversight & Accountability
The award is a Delivery Order under an existing contract, suggesting a framework for oversight is in place. However, specific oversight mechanisms for this task order, such as performance monitoring and quality assurance, are not detailed in the provided data.
Related Government Programs
- Document Preparation Services
- Social Security Administration Contracting
- Social Security Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if transition is difficult.
- Reliance on technology that requires ongoing maintenance and updates.
- Risk of data security breaches with sensitive hearing information.
- Dependence on a single awardee for a critical function.
Tags
document-preparation-services, social-security-administration, md, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $2.4 million to STRATCOMM, INC.. VERBATIM HEARING RECORDER (VHR) SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST SUB-REGION 3 (PHILADELPHIA) WHICH ENCOMPASSES DELAWARE, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA. PROVIDE DIGITAL RECORDING FOR DISABILITY HEARINGS. TASK ORDER FOR 46,924 HEARINGS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is STRATCOMM, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-02-01. End: 2027-01-31.
What specific criteria led to the exclusion of other sources in the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award method, and how did this impact the final price?
The exclusion of sources typically occurs when specific technical capabilities, past performance, or unique requirements are identified that only a limited number of vendors can meet. Understanding these criteria is crucial to assess if the exclusion unduly limited competition and potentially inflated the price. Without further details on the justification for exclusion, it's difficult to definitively state the price impact, though competitive processes generally aim for the best value.
What are the performance metrics and quality assurance procedures in place to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the Verbatim Hearing Recorder (VHR) services?
The provided data does not detail the specific performance metrics or quality assurance procedures. For a service critical to legal proceedings and claimant rights, robust monitoring of accuracy, timeliness of delivery, and system uptime is essential. The Social Security Administration should have established protocols to track vendor performance against contract requirements and address any deficiencies promptly.
How does the Social Security Administration plan to manage potential increases in hearing volume that could strain the vendor's capacity and impact service delivery timelines?
The contract is for a fixed number of hearings (46,924) over a specific period. Managing potential increases in hearing volume would likely involve proactive workload forecasting by the SSA and potentially exercising options or issuing new contracts if demand consistently exceeds projections. Clear communication channels with STRATCOMM, INC. would be necessary to address any capacity concerns and ensure timely service provision.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Business Support Services › Document Preparation Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Stratcomm Inc.
Address: 24 SUPERIOR DR, NATICK, MA, 01760
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $2,444,271
Exercised Options: $2,444,271
Current Obligation: $2,444,271
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 28321323DR0360001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-02-01
Current End Date: 2027-01-31
Potential End Date: 2027-01-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-25
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