VA awards $23.5M for medical disability exams, extending services for veterans through April 2019

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $41,767,994 ($41.8M)

Contractor: Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2015-01-01

End Date: 2019-04-17

Contract Duration: 1,567 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMININATIONS AS AUTHORIZED UNDER PUBLIC LAW 108-183 | VA CONTRACT NUMBER VA798-13-D-0002 | THE PURPOSE OF THIS MODIFICATION IS TO AWARD A TASK ORDER FOR OPTION YEAR 2 OF THE CONTRACT. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE IS $23,506,990.03. | IGF::OT::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, TEXAS, 77380

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $41.8 million to VETERANS EVALUATION SERVICES, INC for work described as: MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMININATIONS AS AUTHORIZED UNDER PUBLIC LAW 108-183 | VA CONTRACT NUMBER VA798-13-D-0002 | THE PURPOSE OF THIS MODIFICATION IS TO AWARD A TASK ORDER FOR OPTION YEAR 2 OF THE CONTRACT. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE IS $23,506,990.03. | IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in veteran healthcare services. 2. Competition dynamics suggest a potentially competitive bidding process for this service. 3. Performance risk appears moderate, given the nature of medical examinations. 4. This contract aligns with the VA's ongoing commitment to veteran well-being. 5. The service falls within the broader healthcare sector, specifically medical assessment. 6. Funding levels indicate a sustained need for these specialized examination services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award of $23,506,990.03 for Option Year 2 of this contract appears reasonable for the provision of medical disability examinations. Benchmarking against similar contracts for veteran disability assessments would provide a clearer picture of value for money. However, the duration and scope suggest a substantial service requirement that warrants this level of funding. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract helps control costs for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive environment is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive pricing. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a robust selection process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the most cost-effective services for veteran disability evaluations.

Public Impact

Veterans requiring medical disability examinations for benefits claims are the primary beneficiaries. The services delivered include comprehensive medical assessments to support disability determinations. The contract is geographically focused on Texas, as indicated by the 'TX' and 'TEXAS' codes. This contract supports a workforce of medical professionals and administrative staff involved in conducting and processing these examinations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for delays in examination scheduling impacting veteran benefit timelines.
Ensuring consistent quality of examinations across all providers under the contract.
Managing the administrative burden associated with processing a high volume of examinations.

Positive Signals

Direct support for veterans in accessing essential disability benefits.
Contribution to the efficiency of the VA's disability claims processing system.
Potential for positive impact on the healthcare provider network in Texas.

Sector Analysis

This contract operates within the healthcare services sector, specifically focusing on medical evaluation services. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 621111, 'Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists),' is relevant here. The market for medical disability examinations is driven by government needs, particularly for veteran and military populations. Spending in this area is substantial, reflecting the ongoing commitment to supporting service members and veterans.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses arising from a small business set-aside. The primary contractor, Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc., is likely a larger entity, and opportunities for small businesses would depend on their own subcontracting strategies outside of any mandated set-asides.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and program managers. The Inspector General's office (IGF::OT::IGF is present in the data) would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements.

Related Government Programs

Veterans Affairs Medical Care Programs
Disability Benefits Administration
Military Medical Services
Healthcare Provider Services

Risk Flags

Potential for service delivery delays impacting veteran benefits.
Ensuring consistent quality and accuracy of medical evaluations.
Contractor's capacity to handle fluctuating demand for examinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $41.8 million to VETERANS EVALUATION SERVICES, INC. MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMININATIONS AS AUTHORIZED UNDER PUBLIC LAW 108-183 | VA CONTRACT NUMBER VA798-13-D-0002 | THE PURPOSE OF THIS MODIFICATION IS TO AWARD A TASK ORDER FOR OPTION YEAR 2 OF THE CONTRACT. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE IS $23,506,990.03. | IGF::OT::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VETERANS EVALUATION SERVICES, 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 $41.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-01-01. End: 2019-04-17.

What is the historical spending trend for medical disability examinations by the VA under this contract vehicle?

The provided data indicates a total funding amount of $23,506,990.03 for Option Year 2 of contract VA798-13-D-0002. To understand the historical spending trend, one would need to examine the funding and task orders awarded in previous option years and potentially prior contract vehicles for similar services. Without access to the full contract history, it's difficult to establish a trend. However, the existence of an Option Year 2 suggests a continuation and likely a sustained level of spending for these services. Analyzing the annual expenditure against the total contract value would reveal if spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing over time.

How does the per-examination cost under this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar medical disability evaluations?

The provided data does not include the number of examinations performed or the total value of task orders issued, making it impossible to calculate a precise per-examination cost. To compare this to industry benchmarks, we would need to know the average cost per examination charged by private healthcare providers or other government contractors for similar services. Factors influencing this cost include the complexity of the examinations, the types of specialists involved, and geographic location. A detailed analysis would require obtaining the actual number of examinations conducted and the total payments made under this contract, then comparing that average to publicly available data or industry reports on disability evaluation costs.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the performance of Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc. under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc. Typically, for medical examination contracts, KPIs would likely include metrics such as turnaround time for examinations and reports, accuracy and completeness of reports, patient satisfaction scores, adherence to scheduling requirements, and compliance with VA regulations and protocols. Performance would be monitored by the VA's contracting officer's representative (COR) through regular reviews of submitted reports, audits, and potentially site visits. Failure to meet these KPIs could result in corrective actions or impact future contract renewals.

What is the track record of Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc. with other federal agencies or large-scale healthcare contracts?

The provided data identifies Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc. as the contractor for VA contract VA798-13-D-0002. To assess their track record with other federal agencies, a broader search of federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would be necessary. This would reveal if they hold contracts with other departments such as the Department of Defense, Social Security Administration, or other entities requiring similar medical evaluation services. Information on past performance, including any awards, disputes, or terminations, would be crucial in understanding their overall reliability and capability in managing large-scale healthcare contracts.

Are there any known risks associated with the contractor's ability to deliver these services, such as financial instability or past performance issues?

The provided data does not contain information regarding the financial stability or past performance issues of Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc. A comprehensive risk assessment would require reviewing their financial health reports, any past performance evaluations from previous government contracts, and checking for any outstanding disputes or litigation. The 'full and open competition' award suggests they met initial qualification criteria. However, ongoing monitoring by the VA contracting office is essential to identify and mitigate any emerging risks related to service delivery, quality, or compliance throughout the contract period.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Offices of Physicians › Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9400 GROGANS MILL RD STE 305, THE WOODLANDS, TX, 77380

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $41,767,994

Exercised Options: $41,767,994

Current Obligation: $41,767,994

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: VA79813D0002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline