VA awards $2.36M for emergency nurses at Houston MedCenter, citing temporary help services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,356,794 ($2.4M)

Contractor: Titan-Auxo, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2025-07-01

End Date: 2025-10-31

Contract Duration: 122 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: EMERGENCY REGISTERED NURSES REQUIREMENT FOR MEDVAMC HOUSTON

Place of Performance

Location: HOUSTON, HARRIS County, TEXAS, 77030

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $2.4 million to TITAN-AUXO, LLC for work described as: EMERGENCY REGISTERED NURSES REQUIREMENT FOR MEDVAMC HOUSTON Key points: 1. Significant award for critical healthcare staffing needs. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and price. 3. Potential for higher costs due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. Focus on immediate staffing needs in a high-demand sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's firm-fixed-price structure is standard, but without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the $2.36M price represents fair value compared to similar emergency nursing contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a limited competition approach. This likely impacted price discovery, potentially leading to a higher cost for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of full and open competition may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these essential nursing services.

Public Impact

Ensures critical healthcare services are maintained for veterans. Addresses immediate staffing shortages in a high-demand medical field. Highlights reliance on external vendors for specialized temporary staff. Potential for increased costs impacts overall VA budget allocation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition
Potential for overpayment
Urgent need may bypass cost-saving measures

Positive Signals

Addresses critical staffing shortage
Ensures continuity of care for veterans

Sector Analysis

The healthcare sector, particularly nursing services, faces persistent staffing challenges. Awards for temporary help services often reflect immediate needs, but competitive processes are crucial for cost efficiency.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, TITAN-AUXO, LLC, is not identified as a small business. The contract's limited competition approach may have excluded small businesses that could have offered competitive pricing.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient use of funds. The limited competition on this contract warrants scrutiny to confirm value for money.

Related Government Programs

Temporary Help Services
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition
Lack of price benchmark
Potential for inflated costs
No small business participation noted

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $2.4 million to TITAN-AUXO, LLC. EMERGENCY REGISTERED NURSES REQUIREMENT FOR MEDVAMC HOUSTON

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TITAN-AUXO, 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 $2.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-01. End: 2025-10-31.

What specific circumstances necessitated a limited competition award for emergency nurses, and were alternative competitive strategies explored?

The data indicates an 'EMERGENCY REGISTERED NURSES REQUIREMENT,' suggesting a critical and immediate need. However, the specific justification for limiting competition beyond 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' is not detailed. Further analysis would require reviewing the agency's justification for other than full and open competition to understand if emergency circumstances truly precluded broader outreach or if other competitive methods were feasible.

How does the $2.36M cost compare to benchmark rates for similar emergency nursing contracts in the Houston area or nationally?

Without access to a comprehensive database of comparable emergency nursing contracts, a precise benchmark is difficult. However, the duration of 122 days for a $2.36M contract suggests a high daily rate. A typical registered nurse's salary or contract rate varies significantly by specialty and location, but this award warrants comparison against industry standards for temporary, high-demand staffing to ensure cost-effectiveness.

What measures are in place to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the temporary nursing staff provided by TITAN-AUXO, LLC?

As this is a purchase order for temporary help services, the VA likely relies on TITAN-AUXO, LLC to vet and provide qualified personnel. Oversight would typically involve monitoring performance against contract requirements, ensuring proper licensing and certifications, and addressing any patient care issues promptly. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests payment is tied to service delivery, but quality assurance protocols are crucial.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Employment Services › Temporary Help Services

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › NURSING, NURSING HOME, EVAL/SCREEN

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 36C25625P1110

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 274 LANCASTER AVE STE 206, MALVERN, PA, 19355

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: $2,356,794

Exercised Options: $2,356,794

Current Obligation: $2,356,794

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline