VA Awards $5.28M Wheelchair Transport Services Contract to Medstar Cabulance Inc. in Washington

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,280,000 ($5.3M)

Contractor: Medstar Cabulance Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2026-01-01

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14.5K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORTATIONS SERVICES, PUGET SOUND VA MEDICAL CENTER

Place of Performance

Location: SEATTLE, KING County, WASHINGTON, 98108

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $5.3 million to MEDSTAR CABULANCE INC for work described as: WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORTATIONS SERVICES, PUGET SOUND VA MEDICAL CENTER Key points: 1. Contract value of $5.28 million for wheelchair transportation services. 2. Awarded to Medstar Cabulance Inc. by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 3. Competition method was 'Competed under SAP', indicating a competitive process. 4. Service period runs from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of $5.28 million for a one-year period appears reasonable for specialized transportation services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for medical transportation in the Puget Sound region would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: $14,505 (annualized estimate based on total value and duration)

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a competitive process for awards below certain thresholds. This method generally allows for fair price discovery among eligible vendors.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to ensure veterans in the Puget Sound area receive necessary transportation, contributing to their healthcare access and well-being.

Public Impact

Ensures essential transportation for veterans with mobility challenges to and from medical appointments. Supports timely access to healthcare services, potentially improving health outcomes. Provides a critical service for a vulnerable population within the VA system. Contributes to the operational efficiency of the Puget Sound VA Medical Center.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for price increases in subsequent years if not re-competed.
Dependence on a single vendor for a critical service.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process.
Clear service period and defined scope.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under specialized transportation services, a sector critical for supporting healthcare delivery. Spending benchmarks for such services can vary significantly based on geographic location, service intensity, and patient volume.

Small Business Impact

While the award was made to Medstar Cabulance Inc., the data does not indicate if this is a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine the impact on small business participation in this contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for overseeing this contract to ensure timely and quality service delivery. Performance metrics and regular reviews are crucial for accountability.

Related Government Programs

Special Needs Transportation
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for service disruptions if vendor faces operational issues.
Risk of price escalation in future contract renewals.
Limited visibility into vendor's small business subcontracting plans.
Geographic concentration of service delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $5.3 million to MEDSTAR CABULANCE INC. WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORTATIONS SERVICES, PUGET SOUND VA MEDICAL CENTER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MEDSTAR CABULANCE 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 $5.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-01-01. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the historical performance of Medstar Cabulance Inc. in providing similar services?

Information on Medstar Cabulance Inc.'s past performance is not provided in the data. A thorough review of their track record, including client testimonials, past contract performance reports, and any history of disputes or quality issues, would be necessary to assess their reliability and capability for this significant contract.

How does the per-unit cost of this contract compare to other VA medical transportation contracts nationwide?

The provided data includes an estimated annualized per-unit cost of $14,505. A comprehensive comparison would require accessing a database of similar VA contracts across different regions to identify benchmarks for wheelchair transportation services, considering variations in service scope and local market rates.

What measures are in place to ensure the quality and reliability of the transportation services provided?

The contract is firm fixed price, which incentivizes the vendor to meet service requirements efficiently. However, specific quality assurance measures, such as driver vetting, vehicle maintenance standards, on-time performance metrics, and patient satisfaction surveys, should be detailed in the contract's statement of work and actively monitored by the VA.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › TRAVEL, LODGING, RECRUITMENT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1904 FRUITVALE BLVD, YAKIMA, WA, 98902

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,280,000

Exercised Options: $5,280,000

Current Obligation: $5,280,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 36C26026D0020

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline