VA Awards $3.36M Perfusion Services Contract to Medical College of Wisconsin for 3 Years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $335,998 ($336.0K)

Contractor: THE Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $923/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: PERFUSION SERVICES MILWAUKEE VAMC

Place of Performance

Location: MILWAUKEE, MILWAUKEE County, WISCONSIN, 53295

State: Wisconsin Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $335,998 to THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, INC. for work described as: PERFUSION SERVICES MILWAUKEE VAMC Key points: 1. The contract is a sole-source award, raising questions about competition. 2. The Medical College of Wisconsin is the sole awardee, indicating a specific relationship or capability. 3. The contract value of $3.36M over 3 years suggests a significant but potentially reasonable investment in specialized medical services. 4. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the VA. 5. The lack of small business participation is noted.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.36M over 364 days (approximately $3.6K per day) for perfusion services needs comparison to similar VA or non-VA contracts. Without benchmark data, assessing its value is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning competition was not sought. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed.

Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award means taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible price due to the lack of competitive bidding.

Public Impact

Veterans in Milwaukee will continue to receive specialized perfusion services. The award ensures continuity of care for patients requiring these critical medical procedures. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains its relationship with a known provider for these services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
No small business participation.
Contract duration is long (3 years).

Positive Signals

Ensures continuity of specialized medical services for veterans.
Firm fixed-price contract type helps manage costs.
Awardee is a known institution (Medical College of Wisconsin).

Sector Analysis

Perfusion services fall under the broader healthcare sector, specifically medical equipment and services. Spending in this area is critical for patient care, but competitive bidding is usually expected to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to include any provisions for small business participation. Given the specialized nature of perfusion services, it's possible that larger, specialized institutions are the primary providers.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source justification for this contract should be thoroughly reviewed by oversight bodies to ensure it was appropriate and that no competitive opportunities were missed. Transparency in pricing is crucial.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing
No small business participation
Dependency on a single provider

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $335,998 to THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, INC.. PERFUSION SERVICES MILWAUKEE VAMC

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, 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 $335,998.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What is the justification for the sole-source award of this perfusion services contract?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves demonstrating that only one responsible source is capable of providing the required services. This could be due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or an urgent need that precludes a competitive process. A detailed review of the justification document is necessary to understand the specific rationale.

How does the $3.36M contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar perfusion services?

Benchmarking this contract's value requires access to data on similar perfusion service contracts, considering factors like patient volume, complexity of procedures, and geographic location. Without such data, it's challenging to definitively state if $3.36M over three years represents a fair market price or if it's inflated due to the lack of competition.

What is the potential impact on patient care if this sole-source provider were unable to continue services?

A sole-source award, while ensuring continuity with the current provider, creates a dependency. If the Medical College of Wisconsin were to face challenges, the VA would likely face significant hurdles in quickly finding and onboarding an alternative provider, potentially disrupting patient care due to the specialized nature of perfusion services and the lack of pre-established competitive alternatives.

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: 36C25226R0005

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8701 WATERTOWN PLANK RD, MILWAUKEE, WI, 53226

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,783,334

Exercised Options: $335,998

Current Obligation: $335,998

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline