Georgia's $2.89M Contract for Electronic Birth Records to Issue SSNs at Birth
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,886,809 ($2.9M)
Contractor: State of Georgia Department of Public Health
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2019-06-29
End Date: 2025-04-16
Contract Duration: 2,118 days
Daily Burn Rate: $1.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: GA ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) GEORGIA ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH.
Place of Performance
Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30303
State: Georgia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $2.9 million to STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH for work described as: GA ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) GEORGIA ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH. Key points: 1. The contract leverages existing state infrastructure for SSN issuance, potentially streamlining a critical government function. 2. Limited competition raises questions about price discovery and potential cost savings. 3. The primary risk lies in data security and privacy for sensitive birth and SSN information. 4. This falls under IT services, specifically data processing and hosting.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract is a firm-fixed-price purchase order. Without a competitive process, it's difficult to assess if the $2.89M price represents fair value compared to similar data processing and hosting services for government agencies.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a potential lack of full and open competition. This limited competition may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through a more robust bidding process.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could mean taxpayers are paying more than necessary for these essential data processing services.
Public Impact
Ensures all newborns in Georgia receive a Social Security Number at birth, a crucial step for accessing benefits and services. Streamlines the process for parents, reducing administrative burden during a critical life event. Enhances data accuracy and efficiency in vital records management for both state and federal agencies.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Data security and privacy concerns
- Potential for overpayment due to limited price discovery
Positive Signals
- Streamlined process for SSN issuance
- Leverages existing state infrastructure
- Ensures critical government function is met
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT sector, specifically data processing and hosting services. Benchmarks for similar government contracts in this area vary widely based on data volume, security requirements, and service level agreements.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication in the provided data whether small businesses were involved in this procurement. The contract was awarded to the State of Georgia Department of Public Health, suggesting it may not have been structured to encourage small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The Social Security Administration is the end-user agency, while the State of Georgia Department of Public Health is the awardee. Oversight would likely involve both entities ensuring data integrity, security, and adherence to the contract terms.
Related Government Programs
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
- Social Security Administration Contracting
- Social Security Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential data privacy and security risks
- Uncertainty regarding fair market price
- Dependence on state infrastructure
Tags
computing-infrastructure-providers-data-, social-security-administration, ga, purchase-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $2.9 million to STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. GA ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) GEORGIA ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-06-29. End: 2025-04-16.
What specific data security measures are in place to protect sensitive birth and SSN information?
The provided data does not detail the specific security protocols. However, given the sensitive nature of the data (birth records and SSNs), robust encryption, access controls, regular audits, and compliance with federal data protection standards (like NIST) would be expected. The contract's effectiveness hinges on the rigorous implementation and continuous monitoring of these security measures.
Could this service have been procured more cost-effectively through a competitive bidding process?
It is highly probable. The 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation suggests a limited competition or sole-source award. Without a full and open competition, the government may not have benefited from the lowest possible price achievable through market forces. A competitive process could have driven down costs and potentially identified more innovative or efficient solutions.
How does the efficiency of this electronic system compare to previous methods of SSN issuance at birth?
The contract aims to improve efficiency by digitizing the process. Electronic systems generally reduce processing times, minimize manual errors, and allow for faster data transmission between agencies. This likely leads to quicker SSN assignment for newborns compared to older, paper-based systems, benefiting families and government administration.
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) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2 PEACHTREE ST NW FL 33, ATLANTA, GA, 30303
Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, U.S. Regional/State Government
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $2,886,809
Exercised Options: $2,886,809
Current Obligation: $2,886,809
Actual Outlays: $2,476,882
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-06-29
Current End Date: 2025-04-16
Potential End Date: 2025-04-16 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-23
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