VA awards $11.8M for non-emergent wheelchair transport, with 2 bidders competing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,883,239 ($11.9M)

Contractor: Wheelchair Transport Service, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-03-01

End Date: 2026-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,279 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.3K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: NON EMERGENT WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT

Place of Performance

Location: BAY PINES, PINELLAS County, FLORIDA, 33744

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $11.9 million to WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT SERVICE, INC. for work described as: NON EMERGENT WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the contract's scope and duration. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a healthy market for specialized transportation services. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a firm fixed-price contract type mitigating cost overruns. 4. Performance context suggests a need for reliable, specialized transport for veterans. 5. Sector positioning is within essential healthcare support services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $11.8 million over approximately 3.5 years suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar contracts for specialized medical transportation is challenging without more granular data on service levels and geographic coverage. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the award provides cost certainty for the government. The number of bidders (2) suggests adequate competition for this niche service.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating it was likely solicited broadly to qualified vendors. With two bidders participating, there was a degree of competition, which generally helps in achieving fair market prices. The specific details of the solicitation and evaluation process would provide further insight into the level of competition achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: The competition, while not extensive, likely prevented price gouging and ensured a reasonable cost for taxpayers. A sole-source or limited competition award could have resulted in higher prices.

Public Impact

Veterans in Florida will benefit from reliable non-emergent wheelchair transportation. Services delivered include transport to and from medical appointments and facilities. Geographic impact is concentrated in Florida, serving the veteran population there. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for drivers and support staff in the transportation sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service disruptions if the sole provider faces operational issues.
Ensuring consistent quality of care and vehicle maintenance across all transports.

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a specialized provider with a clear focus on transport services.
Firm fixed-price contract offers budget predictability.
Competition, even with two bidders, suggests market availability of services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader healthcare support services sector, specifically focusing on specialized transportation. The market for medical transportation is significant, driven by an aging population and the need for accessible healthcare. This contract represents a portion of the government's spending on ensuring veterans can access necessary medical care, a critical component of healthcare infrastructure.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans was not explicitly provided in the data. However, the contract was competed under SAP, which can sometimes include provisions for small business participation. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved either as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officer and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, requiring the vendor to deliver services as specified. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics may not always be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Veteran Health Administration Medical Services
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for service gaps if contractor faces unforeseen operational challenges.
Need for ongoing monitoring to ensure quality and timeliness of transports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $11.9 million to WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT SERVICE, INC.. NON EMERGENT WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT SERVICE, 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 $11.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-03-01. End: 2026-08-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for non-emergent wheelchair transport by the VA?

Historical spending data for non-emergent wheelchair transport by the VA is not directly available in the provided snippet. However, the current award of $11.8 million over approximately 3.5 years suggests an average annual expenditure of roughly $3.4 million for this specific service in Florida. To understand the broader historical pattern, one would need to analyze VA contract databases for similar services over multiple fiscal years, looking for trends in contract values, number of awards, and geographic distribution. This would help determine if current spending is consistent with past investments or represents an increase or decrease in resource allocation for this critical veteran support function.

How does the price per transport compare to industry benchmarks?

The provided data does not include the number of transports or the specific services rendered per transport, making a direct per-unit cost comparison impossible. To benchmark the price per transport, we would need to know the total number of trips or the average trip distance and duration. Industry benchmarks for non-emergent medical transportation can vary significantly based on geographic location, type of vehicle, level of care provided (e.g., basic wheelchair vs. advanced life support), and whether the service is contracted by a government agency or a private insurer. Without these details, assessing the value for money on a per-unit basis is speculative.

What is the contractor's track record with the VA or other government agencies?

The provided data identifies the contractor as WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT SERVICE, INC. However, it does not offer details on their past performance, contract history, or any past performance evaluations with the VA or other government entities. A comprehensive assessment of the contractor's track record would require accessing databases like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) or conducting a search of previous federal contract awards to this entity. This would reveal their reliability, quality of service, and adherence to contract terms in previous engagements.

What are the specific performance metrics and service level agreements (SLAs) for this contract?

The provided data does not specify the performance metrics or service level agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, contracts for transportation services would include metrics related to on-time performance, vehicle availability, driver qualifications, safety standards, and patient satisfaction. These SLAs are crucial for ensuring the quality and reliability of the service provided to veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs would have established these metrics within the contract's statement of work to hold the contractor accountable for meeting defined standards of service delivery.

What is the geographic scope of service beyond Florida?

The provided data indicates the contract's state (ST) is 'FL' and state name (SN) is 'FLORIDA'. This strongly suggests that the primary geographic scope of this contract is limited to Florida. While it's possible that the contractor might have operations or be able to extend services beyond Florida under specific circumstances or amendments, the contract details as presented focus solely on Florida. Without further information, it is reasonable to assume the services are intended for veterans residing within or requiring transport within the state of Florida.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation › Special Needs Transportation

Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › OTHER TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCAT SV

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 36C24823Q0152

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 14561 58TH ST N, CLEARWATER, FL, 33760

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,883,239

Exercised Options: $11,883,239

Current Obligation: $11,883,239

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline