CPSC awards $31.6M for data collection on consumer product injuries, with limited competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,627 ($31.6K)

Contractor: Pennisi KIM

Awarding Agency: Consumer Product Safety Commission

Start Date: 2025-02-15

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 500 days

Daily Burn Rate: $63/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: DATA COLLECTION ON CONSUMER PRODUCT RELATED INJURIES.

Place of Performance

Location: UPPER CHICHESTER, DELAWARE County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19014

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Consumer Product Safety Commission obligated $31,626.5 to PENNISI KIM for work described as: DATA COLLECTION ON CONSUMER PRODUCT RELATED INJURIES. Key points: 1. Value for money is fair given the critical nature of injury data, but competition was limited. 2. Competition dynamics show a sole-source award, raising concerns about price discovery and potential overpayment. 3. Risk indicators include the lack of competition and reliance on a single vendor for essential data. 4. Performance context is tied to the agency's mission of ensuring product safety through data analysis. 5. Sector positioning is within IT services, specifically data processing and hosting for government functions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $31.6 million over approximately 1.5 years appears reasonable for data collection and processing services. However, without competitive bidding, it is difficult to benchmark against market rates or similar contracts to definitively assess value for money. The fixed-price nature of the award provides some cost certainty for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures and was awarded as a sole-source purchase order. The lack of competition means that multiple vendors were not given the opportunity to bid, which can limit price discovery and potentially lead to higher costs for the government. The rationale for the sole-source award is not detailed here.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution available in the market. Without bids from multiple vendors, there is less pressure to offer competitive pricing.

Public Impact

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) benefits by obtaining crucial data for its safety initiatives. Services delivered include data collection, processing, and hosting related to consumer product injuries. The geographic impact is national, as the data collected informs safety standards and recalls across the U.S. Workforce implications are minimal for the government, with the primary work being performed by the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing and potential cost savings for taxpayers.
Lack of transparency in the procurement process due to sole-source nature.
Potential for vendor lock-in if this is a recurring need without future competition.

Positive Signals

Ensures continuity of essential data collection for consumer product safety.
Fixed-price contract provides budget predictability.
Contract supports a critical government function related to public safety.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT and data services sector, specifically focusing on data processing, web hosting, and related services. The market for these services is large and competitive, with many providers capable of handling data collection and analysis. The CPSC's need for specialized data on consumer product injuries is a niche within this broader sector, but the underlying technical capabilities are widely available.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures and there is no indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting plans. Therefore, this award does not appear to directly benefit the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be managed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) through contract administration. Accountability measures are inherent in the fixed-price purchase order, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, with details on the justification for not competing not publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Consumer Product Injury Data Systems
Public Health Data Collection
Government IT Services Contracts
Data Processing and Hosting Services

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Limited competition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Consumer Product Safety Commission awarded $31,626.5 to PENNISI KIM. DATA COLLECTION ON CONSUMER PRODUCT RELATED INJURIES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PENNISI KIM.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Consumer Product Safety Commission (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $31,626.5.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-15. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the historical spending by the CPSC on data collection and analysis services?

Historical spending data for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on data collection and analysis services would provide valuable context for the current $31.6 million award. Analyzing past contracts for similar services, including their duration, scope, and cost, can help determine if this award represents an increase or decrease in spending and whether previous procurements were competitively bid. Without access to historical CPSC contract databases or specific reports, it is difficult to provide precise figures. However, agencies like the CPSC typically rely on data to inform policy and safety regulations, suggesting a consistent need for such services over time. Understanding past spending patterns would allow for a more robust assessment of the current contract's value and the agency's long-term investment in data infrastructure.

What specific data points are being collected under this contract, and how will they be used?

The contract specifies 'DATA COLLECTION ON CONSUMER PRODUCT RELATED INJURIES.' This implies the collection of information detailing incidents involving consumer products that result in harm. Specific data points likely include the type of product, the nature of the injury, demographic information of the injured party, the circumstances leading to the injury, and the severity of the harm. This data is crucial for the CPSC's mission to identify trends, assess product risks, develop safety standards, issue recalls, and educate the public. The collected data will be analyzed to pinpoint hazardous products or design flaws, thereby informing regulatory actions and preventing future injuries. The exact granularity and format of the data would be detailed in the contract's statement of work.

Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis instead of through full and open competition?

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded as 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and is a 'PURCHASE ORDER,' suggesting a sole-source or limited competition procurement. Agencies typically award contracts on a sole-source basis when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the requirement. This could be due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, urgent needs where competition is not feasible, or if the requirement is a follow-on to a previous contract where the original source is the only viable option. Without further details from the CPSC's justification for other than full and open competition (JOFOC), the specific reasons remain unknown. However, sole-source awards generally raise concerns about potential lack of competition and higher costs for taxpayers.

What is the track record of the contractor, Pennisi Kim, with the CPSC or similar government agencies?

Information regarding the contractor, Pennisi Kim, and their specific track record with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or other government agencies is not provided in the data. To assess their suitability and past performance, one would typically look at contract history, past performance evaluations, and any awards or debarments. A contractor's experience with similar data collection, processing, and hosting services, especially for government entities, would be a key indicator of their capability to fulfill this $31.6 million contract. Without this background information, it is difficult to evaluate their reliability and expertise in delivering the required services effectively and efficiently.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar data collection services procured by other federal agencies?

Benchmarking the cost of this $31.6 million contract against similar data collection services procured by other federal agencies is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of federal contracts and their specific details. Factors such as the scope of data, the complexity of analysis, the duration of the contract, and the specific services included (e.g., data hosting, software development) can vary significantly. However, given that this contract was awarded sole-source, it is less likely to reflect the most competitive market pricing. A thorough comparison would require identifying contracts with comparable objectives (e.g., collecting and analyzing public health or safety data) and analyzing their unit costs, total value, and contract type to assess if the CPSC's pricing is within an expected range, adjusted for any unique contract requirements.

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) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: CPS-21131-24-0000

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 785 CHERRY TREE RD APT A8, UPPER CHICHESTER, PA, 19014

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $99,706

Exercised Options: $31,627

Current Obligation: $31,627

Actual Outlays: $17,039

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline