VA awards $2.35M for Bronx homeless veteran housing and case management, citing sole-source justification

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,353,471 ($2.4M)

Contractor: Patriot First Professional Services Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2025-06-01

End Date: 2025-11-30

Contract Duration: 182 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SAFE-HAVEN HCHV RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR BRONX HCHV. EXERCISE OP1 12/1/2024-2/28/2025

Place of Performance

Location: STATEN ISLAND, RICHMOND County, NEW YORK, 10312

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $2.4 million to PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC. for work described as: SAFE-HAVEN HCHV RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR BRONX HCHV. EXERCISE OP1 12/1/2024-2/28/2025 Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting competitive price discovery. 2. Duration of 182 days suggests a short-term or bridging requirement. 3. Focus on residential housing and case management addresses critical needs for vulnerable veterans. 4. Performance period aligns with potential seasonal increases in demand for services. 5. No small business set-aside indicated, potentially impacting smaller organizations. 6. The contract's value is modest relative to larger federal housing initiatives.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.35 million for a 6-month period appears reasonable for specialized services like residential housing and case management for homeless veterans. Benchmarking against similar contracts is challenging without more detailed service scope and geographic data. However, the absence of competition means there's no direct market validation of the pricing. The per-unit cost, if calculated based on the number of veterans served, would be a key metric for assessing value, but this data is not provided.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning the Department of Veterans Affairs did not solicit bids from multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when only one vendor is capable of meeting the requirement, or in urgent situations. The lack of competition means that pricing and service levels were not tested against the market, potentially leading to higher costs than if multiple bids had been received. The justification for sole-source procurement should be thoroughly reviewed to ensure it was appropriate.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have paid a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding. Without competition, there is less assurance that the government secured the best possible price and value for these essential services.

Public Impact

Homeless veterans in the Bronx will receive essential residential housing and case management services. The services aim to provide stability and support to a vulnerable population. The geographic impact is focused on the New York City area, specifically the Bronx. Potential workforce implications include the need for case managers, housing support staff, and administrative personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits price competition and potential value for taxpayers.
Lack of transparency in the sole-source justification could mask inefficiencies.
Performance metrics and success indicators for case management are not detailed, making outcome assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

Addresses a critical need for homeless veteran services, demonstrating commitment to veteran welfare.
The contract provides essential housing and support, contributing to veteran stability and well-being.
Focus on case management suggests a holistic approach to addressing the complex needs of homeless veterans.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the social services sector, specifically focusing on housing and support for vulnerable populations. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 624221 for Temporary Shelters indicates a specific niche. Federal spending in this area is crucial for addressing homelessness, particularly among veteran populations. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other VA contracts for similar services in different regions or contracts from other agencies addressing homelessness.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in delivering these critical services may be limited. The prime contractor, PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC., is not identified as a small business in the provided data, suggesting a larger entity is performing the work. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be needed to assess the full impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program officials responsible for homeless veteran services. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency regarding the sole-source justification and the contractor's performance reporting would be key to assessing oversight effectiveness. The VA Office of Inspector General would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

VA Homeless Programs
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
HUD-VASH Program
Veterans Justice Outreach Program

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive transparency.
Limited data on performance metrics and outcomes.
No indication of small business participation or subcontracting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $2.4 million to PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC.. SAFE-HAVEN HCHV RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR BRONX HCHV. EXERCISE OP1 12/1/2024-2/28/2025

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 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 $2.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-06-01. End: 2025-11-30.

What is the specific justification provided by the VA for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED,' implying a sole-source award. Typically, sole-source justifications are based on factors such as urgent and compelling needs, unique capabilities of a single source, or when only one responsible source exists. For this specific contract, the VA would have had to document why a competitive process was not feasible or appropriate. This could involve a detailed explanation of the service requirements, the market research conducted, and why only PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC. could meet those needs within the required timeframe and specifications. Without access to the official justification document, the precise reasons remain unconfirmed, but it is a critical area for oversight.

How does the per-unit cost of services compare to similar contracts for homeless veteran housing and case management?

Calculating a meaningful per-unit cost requires knowing the number of veterans served and the specific services provided per veteran. The data provided ($2.35 million for 182 days) does not include the number of beneficiaries or a detailed breakdown of services. To perform a comparison, one would need to identify similar VA or HUD contracts in the New York City area or nationally, focusing on those with comparable service scopes (e.g., residential support, intensive case management) and contract durations. Benchmarking would involve dividing the total contract value by the number of veterans served or by the total number of service days provided. Without this granular data, a direct per-unit cost comparison is not feasible, highlighting a potential gap in performance transparency.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and expected outcomes for the case management services?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or expected outcomes for the case management services. Effective case management for homeless veterans typically aims for outcomes such as stable housing, increased income, improved health and well-being, and reduced reliance on emergency services. The contract's success would ideally be measured against metrics like the percentage of veterans transitioning to permanent housing, the duration of housing stability post-program, improvements in mental and physical health, and successful linkage to employment or benefits. The absence of defined KPIs in the summary data makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness and value of the case management component of this contract.

What is the track record of PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC. in providing similar services to the Department of Veterans Affairs?

Information regarding the specific track record of PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC. in providing similar services to the Department of Veterans Affairs is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their capabilities and past performance, one would need to review their contract history with the VA, including past performance evaluations, any awards or penalties, and the scope and success of previous engagements. A company's experience with federal contracting, particularly within the VA and in the domain of social services or housing support, is a crucial factor in evaluating the risk and potential effectiveness of a sole-source award. Further due diligence would be required to ascertain their relevant experience.

How does the total spending on homeless veteran services by the VA in the Bronx compare to previous years or other major metropolitan areas?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending patterns or comparative data across different geographic areas. To analyze trends, one would need access to broader VA budget data and contract databases. This would involve aggregating spending on homeless veteran services in the Bronx over several fiscal years and comparing it to spending in other high-need areas like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Houston. Such an analysis would help determine if current spending levels are increasing, decreasing, or remaining consistent, and whether resource allocation is equitable across different regions facing similar challenges.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services › Temporary Shelters

Product/Service Code: SOCIAL SERVICES › SOCIAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 570 EDGEGROVE AVE, STATEN ISLAND, NY, 10312

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,353,471

Exercised Options: $2,353,471

Current Obligation: $2,353,471

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 36C24224D0041

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline