VA awards $11.7M contract for emergency medicine physician services at Maryland facility

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,693,591 ($11.7M)

Contractor: University of Maryland Emergency Medicine Associates, P.A.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2025-06-01

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 547 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN SERVICES FOR VETERANS REQUIRING EMERGENCY CARE AT VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM - BALTIMORE.

Place of Performance

Location: BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE CITY County, MARYLAND, 21201

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $11.7 million to UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EMERGENCY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES, P.A. for work described as: EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN SERVICES FOR VETERANS REQUIRING EMERGENCY CARE AT VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM - BALTIMORE. Key points: 1. The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a $11.7 million contract for emergency medicine physician services. 2. The contract was awarded to UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EMERGENCY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES, P.A. 3. The contract is for services at the VA Maryland Health Care System. 4. The contract duration is 547 days, ending November 30, 2026. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $11.7 million for 547 days suggests a daily rate of approximately $21,378. This rate needs to be benchmarked against similar contracts for emergency physician services at other VA facilities or comparable healthcare systems to assess its fairness.

Cost Per Unit: $21,378 per day

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not available for competition, indicating a limited competition approach. This may have impacted price discovery, as there was no competitive bidding process to ensure the best possible price for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers if a more competitive process could have secured a lower price.

Public Impact

Ensures continued emergency medical care for veterans at the VA Maryland Health Care System. Supports the operational needs of a critical healthcare service within the VA. Provides employment for physicians and medical staff associated with the University of Maryland.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition may result in suboptimal pricing.
Lack of detailed justification for limited competition.

Positive Signals

Ensures continuity of essential veteran healthcare services.
Contract awarded to an established entity likely familiar with VA operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the healthcare sector, specifically emergency medical services. Spending benchmarks for physician services can vary widely based on specialty, location, and contract structure. The $11.7 million award for a 1.5-year period for emergency medicine is a significant but not necessarily outlier amount for a large healthcare system.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or considerations for small businesses in this contract award. The awardee, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EMERGENCY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES, P.A., is likely a larger entity, and there is no information on subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a definitive contract awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Oversight would typically involve contract performance monitoring, quality assurance, and financial management to ensure services are delivered as specified and within budget.

Related Government Programs

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition raises concerns about price reasonableness.
Lack of detailed justification for sole-source or limited competition.
Potential for cost overruns if pricing is not rigorously monitored.
Dependence on a single provider for critical emergency services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $11.7 million to UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EMERGENCY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES, P.A.. EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN SERVICES FOR VETERANS REQUIRING EMERGENCY CARE AT VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM - BALTIMORE.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EMERGENCY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES, P.A..

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 $11.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-06-01. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a limited competition basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing?

The justification for limited competition is not provided in the data. Typically, this occurs when only one source is capable of meeting the requirement. To ensure fair pricing, the agency should have conducted market research and potentially used historical pricing data or independent government cost estimates. Without this information, it's difficult to assess if fair and reasonable pricing was achieved.

How does the per-unit cost of $21,378 per day compare to industry benchmarks for emergency physician services?

Benchmarking this per-unit cost requires detailed comparison with similar contracts, considering factors like physician staffing levels, geographic location, and the complexity of patient care. While $21,378 per day seems substantial, it needs to be evaluated against average daily costs for emergency physician groups serving large patient populations in comparable healthcare settings to determine if it represents good value.

What is the potential impact on veteran care if this contract is not renewed or is awarded to a less experienced provider in the future?

A disruption in emergency physician services could lead to delays in care, reduced quality of service, or increased wait times for veterans requiring emergency treatment at the VA Maryland Health Care System. Awarding to a less experienced provider might introduce risks related to service quality, operational efficiency, and adherence to VA protocols, potentially impacting patient safety and satisfaction.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 36C24524R0084

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 110 S PACA ST STE 200, BALTIMORE, MD, 21201

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Hospital, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $82,070,857

Exercised Options: $11,693,591

Current Obligation: $11,693,591

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline