VA awards $14.6K for medical equipment, highlighting rapid delivery needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,593 ($14.6K)

Contractor: Performance Health Supply, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2025-08-20

End Date: 2025-09-19

Contract Duration: 30 days

Daily Burn Rate: $486/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: PARALLEL BARS AND ELECTRIC MOUNT WITH INSTALLATION

Place of Performance

Location: ASHEVILLE, BUNCOMBE County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28805

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $14,592.58 to PERFORMANCE HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC for work described as: PARALLEL BARS AND ELECTRIC MOUNT WITH INSTALLATION Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential medical supplies, indicating a focus on patient care. 2. Short performance period suggests urgent need or pilot program. 3. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), implying a focus on smaller value procurements. 4. Fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 5. Limited competition may impact price competitiveness. 6. Geographic location of awardee is North Carolina, potentially impacting local supply chains.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $14,592.58 is relatively small, typical for supplies procured under SAP. Benchmarking against similar contracts for "PARALLEL BARS AND ELECTRIC MOUNT WITH INSTALLATION" is difficult without more specific product details. However, the price appears reasonable for a short-term, single-item purchase. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for less formal competition than larger contracts. The data indicates 2 offers were received, suggesting some level of competition, but it is not full and open. The limited number of bidders may have resulted in a higher price than if more vendors had participated.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, limited competition can mean a potentially higher cost for goods and services compared to a fully competed contract. However, SAP is designed to balance efficiency and cost for smaller purchases.

Public Impact

Veterans will benefit from the availability of necessary medical equipment. The contract ensures the supply of surgical appliances and supplies. The geographic impact is primarily within the VA facilities served by this purchase. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving installation and maintenance personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Short duration could indicate a recurring need that may escalate in cost over time.
Reliance on a single awardee for specific equipment could pose supply chain risks if not managed.

Positive Signals

Awarded under SAP, indicating efficient procurement for smaller dollar values.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Multiple offers received, showing some vendor interest.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Healthcare sector, specifically related to medical equipment and supplies. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 339113, Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing, indicates a specialized market. Spending in this area is consistent with the VA's mission to provide healthcare services to veterans.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate if this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses. Given the small dollar value and SAP competition, it's possible small businesses participated or were awarded. Further analysis would be needed to determine subcontracting implications or direct impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Veterans Affairs' contracting officers and program managers. As a Purchase Order under SAP, it is subject to standard procurement regulations and internal VA oversight. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases, though detailed performance metrics may not be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Medical Equipment Procurement
Surgical Supplies
Veterans Health Administration Contracts
Simplified Acquisition Procedures

Risk Flags

Limited Competition
Short Performance Period
Potential for Price Inflation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $14,592.58 to PERFORMANCE HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC. PARALLEL BARS AND ELECTRIC MOUNT WITH INSTALLATION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PERFORMANCE HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC.

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 $14,592.58.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-08-20. End: 2025-09-19.

What is the track record of PERFORMANCE HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC with the federal government?

A review of federal procurement data indicates that PERFORMANCE HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC has received federal contracts. To provide a comprehensive assessment of their track record, a deeper dive into their past performance ratings, any history of contract disputes or terminations, and the types and values of previous awards would be necessary. This would help determine their reliability and experience in fulfilling government requirements, particularly for medical equipment and supplies.

How does the price of $14,592.58 for parallel bars and electric mount compare to similar federal contracts?

Benchmarking this specific contract's price is challenging without more granular data on the exact specifications of the 'PARALLEL BARS AND ELECTRIC MOUNT WITH INSTALLATION.' However, given the short 30-day performance period and the award under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), the total value of $14,592.58 appears to be within a reasonable range for a single unit or a small batch of such equipment. Contracts for similar items under full and open competition or with longer durations might show different price points due to economies of scale or different service inclusions.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract award?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential supply chain disruptions if PERFORMANCE HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC faces issues fulfilling the order, especially given the short performance period. Limited competition, indicated by only two offers, presents a risk of paying a non-competitive price. Furthermore, the short duration (30 days) might suggest a recurring need, and if this is a pilot, there's a risk of the solution not scaling effectively or requiring significant follow-on investment without clear long-term value.

How effective is the VA in procuring essential medical supplies through SAP?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) utilizes Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) to efficiently procure goods and services below the $250,000 threshold. SAP is designed to streamline the acquisition process, reduce administrative burden, and enable faster delivery of needed items, which is crucial for medical supplies. While SAP can be effective for smaller, urgent needs, its effectiveness in achieving optimal value for money is dependent on adequate market research and competition, even within the SAP framework. The VA's overall effectiveness is subject to continuous review and improvement initiatives.

What are the historical spending patterns for surgical appliance and supply manufacturing by the VA?

Historical spending by the VA within the Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing sector (NAICS 339113) is substantial, reflecting the ongoing need to support veteran healthcare. Annual spending typically runs into hundreds of millions of dollars, covering a wide array of products from prosthetics and orthotics to durable medical equipment and disposables. This specific $14.6K award represents a very small fraction of the VA's overall expenditure in this category, likely addressing a localized or immediate requirement.

Does the firm fixed price (FFP) contract type adequately mitigate cost risks for this specific medical equipment purchase?

Yes, the Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type is generally effective in mitigating cost risks for the government in this scenario. Under an FFP contract, the contractor assumes the risk of cost overruns. For a defined product like 'PARALLEL BARS AND ELECTRIC MOUNT WITH INSTALLATION' with a short performance period, the scope is relatively clear, making it suitable for an FFP arrangement. This ensures the VA pays a set price, preventing unexpected cost increases, provided the initial price negotiated was fair and reasonable.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing › Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL/DENTAL/VETERINARY EQPT/SUPP

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Carnegie Learning, Inc.

Address: 28100 TORCH PKWY STE 800, WARRENVILLE, IL, 60555

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,593

Exercised Options: $14,593

Current Obligation: $14,593

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline