VA awards $1.99M for Heart Transplant Services at MedVAMC Houston to Baylor College of Medicine
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $1,991,404 ($2.0M)
Contractor: Baylor College of Medicine
Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Start Date: 2026-02-01
End Date: 2027-01-31
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: HEART TRANSPLANT AND VAD SERVICES AT THE MEDVAMC HOUSTON, TX OPTION YEAR 4 TASK ORDER
Place of Performance
Location: HOUSTON, HARRIS County, TEXAS, 77030
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $2.0 million to BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE for work described as: HEART TRANSPLANT AND VAD SERVICES AT THE MEDVAMC HOUSTON, TX OPTION YEAR 4 TASK ORDER Key points: 1. The contract is for Option Year 4 of heart transplant and VAD services. 2. Baylor College of Medicine is the incumbent provider. 3. The contract is not available for competition, raising potential concerns about price discovery. 4. The service falls under the 'Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools' NAICS code.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
Pricing is not available for comparison as this is a sole-source award. Without competition, it's difficult to assess if the $1.99M represents a fair market price.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded sole-source, meaning no other vendors were considered. This limits price competition and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher price than if the contract were competitively bid, impacting taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Veterans in Houston will continue to receive specialized cardiac care. The award ensures continuity of critical medical services for beneficiaries. Potential for higher costs due to sole-source award impacts taxpayer value.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition
- Lack of price benchmark data
Positive Signals
- Ensures continuity of care for veterans
- Incumbent provider likely has specialized expertise
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the healthcare services sector, specifically specialized medical procedures. Spending benchmarks for similar high-acuity transplant services can vary significantly based on location and provider expertise.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award. The focus is on a specialized medical service likely requiring unique institutional capabilities.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for overseeing this contract. The sole-source nature warrants close monitoring to ensure fair pricing and quality of service.
Related Government Programs
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
- Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
- Department of Veterans Affairs Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Lack of transparency in price justification
- Dependence on a single provider for critical services
Tags
colleges-universities-and-professional-s, department-of-veterans-affairs, tx, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $2.0 million to BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. HEART TRANSPLANT AND VAD SERVICES AT THE MEDVAMC HOUSTON, TX OPTION YEAR 4 TASK ORDER
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
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 $2.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-02-01. End: 2027-01-31.
What is the justification for the sole-source award, and has a market research report been conducted to confirm no other capable vendors exist?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves demonstrating that only one vendor possesses the unique capabilities or specialized knowledge required for the service. A thorough market research report should have been conducted by the VA to validate this claim and explore any potential alternatives before proceeding with a sole-source designation. Without this documentation, it's difficult to ascertain the necessity of this procurement approach.
How does the pricing of this sole-source contract compare to historical pricing for similar services at other VA medical centers or comparable healthcare institutions?
Benchmarking the pricing of this sole-source contract against historical data for similar heart transplant and VAD services at other VA facilities or comparable non-VA medical centers is crucial for assessing value. Without this comparative analysis, it's challenging to determine if the $1.99 million represents a fair and reasonable price. The absence of competitive bids makes such benchmarking even more critical for oversight.
What performance metrics and quality assurance measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the heart transplant and VAD services provided by Baylor College of Medicine?
Robust performance metrics and quality assurance measures are essential to guarantee the effectiveness of specialized medical services like heart transplants. The VA should have clearly defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to patient outcomes, procedure success rates, recovery times, and patient satisfaction. Regular reviews and audits of these metrics are necessary to ensure the contractor is meeting contractual obligations and providing high-quality care.
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
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: ONE BAYLOR PLAZA, HOUSTON, TX, 77030
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: $1,991,404
Exercised Options: $1,991,404
Current Obligation: $1,991,404
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 36C25622D0016
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-02-01
Current End Date: 2027-01-31
Potential End Date: 2027-01-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-31
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