VA awards $2.46M contract for pathology and laboratory medicine database solution to GovernmentJobs.com

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,457,730 ($2.5M)

Contractor: Governmentjobs.com, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-09-21

End Date: 2027-03-20

Contract Duration: 1,276 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.9K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE SERVICE DATABASE SOLUTION

Place of Performance

Location: EL SEGUNDO, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 90245

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $2.5 million to GOVERNMENTJOBS.COM, INC. for work described as: PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE SERVICE DATABASE SOLUTION Key points: 1. Contract awarded for computer systems design services to support a pathology and laboratory medicine database. 2. The contract has a base period and option periods, with a total duration of 1276 days. 3. The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), indicating a focus on smaller value procurements. 4. The award was made to GovernmentJobs.com, Inc., a provider of government HR and recruitment solutions. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 6. The base award amount is $2,457,730.08. 7. The contract was awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 8. The contract is not a small business set-aside.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract requires more detailed information on the specific services and deliverables. However, the contract value of approximately $2.46 million over roughly 3.5 years for a specialized database solution appears within a reasonable range for government IT projects of this nature. Without comparable contract data for similar pathology and laboratory medicine database solutions, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the government, but the ultimate value will depend on the contractor's performance and the system's effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which are typically used for procurements valued between the micro-purchase threshold and the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000). The data indicates 3 bidders participated in this competition. While SAP aims for efficiency, it generally involves less robust competition than full and open competition. The limited number of bidders suggests that the market for this specific type of specialized database solution may be concentrated or that the procurement strategy favored a more streamlined process.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of SAP and a limited number of bidders may result in less competitive pricing compared to a full and open competition. Taxpayers may not benefit from the lowest possible price if the competition was not sufficiently robust to drive down costs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries of this contract are the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its medical facilities, which will utilize the pathology and laboratory medicine service database. The contract will deliver a database solution to manage and analyze pathology and laboratory data, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy, research capabilities, and patient care within the VA system. The geographic impact is nationwide, as the VA operates numerous facilities across the United States serving veterans. The contract supports the IT sector by engaging a technology provider for specialized software and database services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the database solution is highly proprietary and difficult to migrate from.
Risk of performance issues if the contractor lacks deep expertise in both IT systems and the specific clinical domain of pathology and laboratory medicine.
Data security and privacy concerns are paramount for sensitive medical information, requiring robust safeguards.
The effectiveness of the system will depend on user adoption and integration with existing VA healthcare IT infrastructure.

Positive Signals

The firm fixed-price contract structure incentivizes the contractor to deliver the solution within budget.
The competition, though limited, involved multiple bidders, suggesting some level of market interest and potential for competitive pricing.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a clear need for improved data management in critical medical services like pathology and laboratory medicine.
The contract duration allows for a phased implementation and potential for ongoing support and refinement.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader Information Technology (IT) and Healthcare IT sectors. The market for specialized healthcare databases is significant, driven by the increasing digitization of medical records and the need for advanced analytics in clinical research and patient care. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other government or large healthcare organizations' investments in similar clinical information systems. The size of the market for pathology and laboratory information systems (LIS) is substantial, with numerous vendors offering solutions, though specialized government requirements can narrow the field.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and the data does not indicate any specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The prime contractor, GovernmentJobs.com, Inc., is a well-established company in the government HR and recruitment technology space. The absence of small business considerations in this specific award means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this particular contract are limited unless they are direct subcontractors to the prime. The overall impact on the small business ecosystem for this contract is likely minimal.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the contracting officer and the relevant program officials within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by placing the cost risk on the contractor. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Specific Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected related to the contract's execution. Regular performance reviews and milestone tracking are expected oversight mechanisms.

Related Government Programs

VA Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Compliance Systems
Healthcare Data Analytics Platforms
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) IT Modernization Initiatives

Risk Flags

Limited competition under SAP
Potential lack of specialized clinical domain expertise from the prime contractor
Data security and privacy risks for sensitive medical information

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $2.5 million to GOVERNMENTJOBS.COM, INC.. PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE SERVICE DATABASE SOLUTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GOVERNMENTJOBS.COM, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-21. End: 2027-03-20.

What is the track record of GovernmentJobs.com, Inc. in delivering complex IT solutions for healthcare or laboratory systems?

GovernmentJobs.com, Inc. is primarily known for its Human Resources (HR) and recruitment software solutions tailored for government entities. Their core business revolves around providing platforms for job postings, applicant tracking, and HR management. While they possess expertise in IT development and government contracting, their specific track record in delivering complex, specialized IT solutions for clinical domains like pathology and laboratory medicine is less established compared to dedicated healthcare IT vendors. This contract represents a potential expansion or diversification of their service offerings into a more specialized area. Further investigation into their past performance on similar clinical IT projects, if any, would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment of their capabilities in this specific domain.

How does the $2.46 million contract value compare to similar pathology and laboratory medicine database solutions in the federal market?

Benchmarking this $2.46 million contract requires access to detailed data on comparable federal procurements for pathology and laboratory medicine database solutions. Such solutions can vary significantly in scope, features, and complexity, impacting their cost. Contracts for enterprise-level Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) or integrated pathology data management platforms can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the size of the agency, the number of users, integration requirements with existing systems (like EHRs), and the level of customization. Given that this contract was competed under SAP and involves a specific database solution rather than a full LIS replacement, the $2.46 million figure appears to be within a plausible range for a specialized IT service contract of approximately 3.5 years. However, without specific comparable contract details, a precise value-for-money assessment remains difficult.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks include potential performance issues if GovernmentJobs.com, Inc. lacks deep domain expertise in pathology and laboratory medicine, leading to a system that doesn't fully meet clinical needs. Data security and privacy are critical risks given the sensitive nature of medical data, requiring robust cybersecurity measures. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in if the solution is proprietary and difficult to integrate with or migrate from. Mitigation strategies likely involve clear performance metrics in the contract, stringent security requirements, regular oversight from the VA, and potentially phased implementation to allow for adjustments. The firm fixed-price structure also incentivizes the contractor to manage costs and deliver the agreed-upon scope.

What is the expected effectiveness of this database solution in improving VA's pathology and laboratory services?

The expected effectiveness hinges on the system's ability to centralize, standardize, and streamline the management of pathology and laboratory data. If successfully implemented, it could lead to improved data accuracy, faster access to results, enhanced reporting capabilities for clinical and research purposes, and better integration with the VA's broader electronic health record system. This, in turn, could support more efficient workflows, aid in diagnostic processes, facilitate epidemiological studies, and ultimately contribute to better patient care outcomes for veterans. The actual effectiveness will depend on the quality of the software, the success of its integration, and its adoption by end-users within the VA's medical facilities.

How does this contract align with historical spending patterns for IT services within the Department of Veterans Affairs?

The Department of Veterans Affairs is a significant consumer of IT services, with substantial historical spending across various categories including software development, system integration, data management, and cybersecurity. Contracts for specialized clinical IT solutions, such as this pathology and laboratory medicine database, are a recurring component of their overall IT expenditure. While the specific amount of $2.46 million is modest in the context of the VA's total IT budget (which can run into billions annually), it aligns with the agency's ongoing efforts to modernize its IT infrastructure and improve its clinical data management capabilities. This contract fits within the broader trend of federal agencies investing in technology to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 36C10B23R0024

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2120 PARK PL STE 100, EL SEGUNDO, CA, 90245

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,735,338

Exercised Options: $2,457,730

Current Obligation: $2,457,730

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline