VA awards $2.4M contract for data management services to EM Key Solutions Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,411,833 ($2.4M)

Contractor: EM KEY Solutions Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2024-08-19

End Date: 2027-08-18

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.2K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE DATA DISCREPANCIES, ANOMALIES AND EXCEPTIONS COMPLETE DATA VERIFICATION/VALIDATION RESOLUTION ACTIVITIES DUPLICATE RECORD RESOLUTIONS AND DAILY/MONTHLY HC IDM CONTRACT WORKLOAD METRICS REPORTS.

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT PETERSBURG, PINELLAS County, FLORIDA, 33710

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $2.4 million to EM KEY SOLUTIONS INC for work described as: IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE DATA DISCREPANCIES, ANOMALIES AND EXCEPTIONS COMPLETE DATA VERIFICATION/VALIDATION RESOLUTION ACTIVITIES DUPLICATE RECORD RESOLUTIONS AND DAILY/MONTHLY HC IDM CONTRACT WORKLOAD METRICS REPORTS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on data verification, anomaly resolution, and workload metrics reporting. 2. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller procurements. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to provide cost certainty for the government. 4. Performance period spans nearly three years, indicating a need for sustained data support. 5. The contract is a Purchase Order, a common instrument for acquiring goods and services. 6. Geographic location of performance is Florida.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.4 million over three years is modest for data management services. Benchmarking against similar contracts is difficult without more specific service details. However, the use of SAP suggests the government sought a cost-effective solution for these specific data resolution tasks. The firm fixed-price nature provides budget predictability, but the overall value proposition depends heavily on the successful resolution of data discrepancies and the quality of the workload metrics produced.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for a broader range of competition for procurements under the simplified acquisition threshold. While the exact number of bidders is not specified, SAP generally encourages competition among a larger pool of vendors compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios. This competitive process is intended to drive better pricing and service quality.

Taxpayer Impact: Competing under SAP likely resulted in a more competitive price for taxpayers by allowing multiple vendors to bid on the requirement.

Public Impact

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the primary beneficiary, receiving support for critical data management functions. Services include identifying and resolving data discrepancies, validating data, and managing duplicate records. The contract supports daily and monthly workload metrics reporting, crucial for operational oversight. Performance is located in Florida, potentially impacting the local economy through contractor operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for data integrity issues if resolution activities are not thorough.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical data verification processes.
Scope creep could lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.

Positive Signals

Clear focus on data verification and anomaly resolution addresses a common government challenge.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the VA.
Purchase Order instrument is efficient for this type of service acquisition.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT and data processing sector, specifically focusing on data management and verification services. The market for these services is robust, with numerous companies offering solutions for data integrity, anomaly detection, and reporting. The VA's spending in this area is consistent with the broader federal government's need to manage vast amounts of data effectively and ensure accuracy for program operations and decision-making. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific complexity and volume of data handled.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was competed under SAP and is a Purchase Order, which can be utilized for small business set-asides. However, the provided data does not specify if this particular contract was set aside for small businesses or if subcontracting opportunities exist. Further investigation would be needed to determine the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officer and program managers. As a Purchase Order, it is a less complex instrument than a large-scale contract, but standard oversight procedures for performance monitoring, invoice review, and compliance would apply. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases, though specific performance metrics may not be publicly detailed.

Related Government Programs

Federal Data Management Services
IT Infrastructure Support
Data Verification and Validation
Workload Metrics Reporting
Department of Veterans Affairs IT Services

Risk Flags

Data Integrity Risk
Performance Risk
Scope Creep Potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $2.4 million to EM KEY SOLUTIONS INC. IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE DATA DISCREPANCIES, ANOMALIES AND EXCEPTIONS COMPLETE DATA VERIFICATION/VALIDATION RESOLUTION ACTIVITIES DUPLICATE RECORD RESOLUTIONS AND DAILY/MONTHLY HC IDM CONTRACT WORKLOAD METRICS REPORTS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EM KEY SOLUTIONS 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 $2.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-08-19. End: 2027-08-18.

What is the specific nature of the data discrepancies and anomalies that EM Key Solutions Inc. is expected to resolve?

The provided data indicates the contract aims to 'IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE DATA DISCREPANCIES, ANOMALIES AND EXCEPTIONS COMPLETE DATA VERIFICATION/VALIDATION RESOLUTION ACTIVITIES DUPLICATE RECORD RESOLUTIONS AND DAILY/MONTHLY HC IDM CONTRACT WORKLOAD METRICS REPORTS.' This suggests the data pertains to healthcare information management (HC IDM) within the VA, likely involving patient records, billing information, or administrative data. Discrepancies could range from incorrect patient identifiers, mismatched treatment codes, or incomplete demographic information. Anomalies might include unusual patterns in data entry or reporting that deviate from expected norms. The resolution activities are critical for maintaining accurate databases, ensuring proper billing and reimbursement, and supporting effective healthcare delivery and operational planning for the VA.

How does the $2.4 million contract value compare to similar data management services procured by the VA or other federal agencies?

The $2.4 million contract value over a 3-year period (approximately $800,000 per year) is relatively modest for comprehensive data management services. Many federal agencies procure larger, multi-year contracts for enterprise-wide data solutions, data warehousing, or advanced analytics that can run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. However, this contract appears to be focused on specific, targeted data resolution and verification tasks, likely within a particular system or department (indicated by 'HC IDM'). When compared to other contracts specifically for data cleaning, validation, and anomaly detection services, especially those procured under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), this value might be within a reasonable range. A direct comparison would require identifying contracts with identical or highly similar scopes of work and performance periods.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of EM Key Solutions Inc.'s performance under this contract?

The contract explicitly mentions 'DAILY/MONTHLY HC IDM CONTRACT WORKLOAD METRICS REPORTS' as part of the services to be delivered. While the specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, it is highly probable that the success of EM Key Solutions Inc. will be measured by the accuracy and completeness of the data verification and validation activities, the number and type of discrepancies and anomalies successfully resolved, and the timeliness of these resolutions. Key metrics could include the percentage of data records verified, the rate of successful anomaly detection and correction, turnaround time for issue resolution, and the quality of the workload metrics reports generated. The VA contracting officer would typically establish a Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlining these specific metrics and acceptable performance levels.

What is EM Key Solutions Inc.'s track record with the federal government, particularly with the Department of Veterans Affairs?

EM Key Solutions Inc. has a history of contracting with the federal government, including the Department of Veterans Affairs. The provided data indicates this is a Purchase Order awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). While this suggests a potentially smaller or more focused engagement, it is part of a broader pattern of federal contract awards. To fully assess their track record, one would need to examine past performance evaluations, any past performance issues or disputes, and the overall volume and type of contracts they have held with the VA and other agencies. A review of federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS would provide a more comprehensive picture of their contracting history and performance.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are likely in place?

Potential risks include the contractor's failure to accurately identify and resolve data discrepancies, leading to continued data integrity issues for the VA. There's also a risk of scope creep if the definition of 'discrepancies' or 'anomalies' is not clearly defined, potentially leading to increased costs or delays. Performance risk exists if the contractor lacks the necessary expertise or resources. Mitigation strategies likely include a well-defined Performance Work Statement (PWS) with clear deliverables and acceptance criteria, regular performance reviews by the VA, and potentially penalties or remedies for non-performance outlined in the contract terms. The Firm Fixed Price nature also mitigates financial risk for the government, provided the scope is well-managed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 36C77624Q0232

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2000 PARK ST N, SAINT PETERSBURG, FL, 33710

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,314,360

Exercised Options: $2,411,833

Current Obligation: $2,411,833

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline