Social Security Administration awards $2.4M for NYC electronic birth records, impacting SSN issuance

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,442,839 ($2.4M)

Contractor: Public Health Solutions

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2019-06-29

End Date: 2025-04-17

Contract Duration: 2,119 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.2K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NYC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) NEW YORK CITY ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH.

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10013

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $2.4 million to PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS for work described as: NYC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) NEW YORK CITY ELECTRONIC BIRTH RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) AT BIRTH. Key points: 1. Contract value of $2.4M for electronic birth records aims to streamline SSN issuance at birth. 2. The award was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures, raising questions about potential cost savings. 3. The contract duration extends to April 2025, indicating a medium-term need for these services. 4. The service category, 'Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services,' is broad and requires specific performance metrics. 5. The geographic focus on New York City suggests a targeted approach to improving birth registration processes.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.4M for electronic birth records appears reasonable for a multi-year service contract supporting a major metropolitan area. However, without comparable contract data for similar services in other large cities or a detailed breakdown of costs, a definitive value-for-money assessment is challenging. The fixed-price nature of the award provides some cost certainty, but the lack of competition limits the ability to benchmark against market rates.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures, which typically implies a limited competition environment. The specific reasons for this approach are not detailed, but it suggests that either the procurement process was streamlined for expediency or that specific circumstances limited the pool of potential bidders. The lack of broad competition may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through a fully open and competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have paid more than necessary due to the limited competition. A more open bidding process could have driven down costs through competitive pressures.

Public Impact

Newborns in New York City will benefit from a more efficient process for obtaining Social Security Numbers at birth. The service facilitates the issuance of Social Security Numbers, a critical identifier for federal benefits and services. The geographic impact is concentrated in New York City, addressing a specific need within that jurisdiction. The contract supports the administrative functions of the Social Security Administration, indirectly impacting its workforce by streamlining data processes.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of full and open competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
The broad service category requires clear performance metrics to ensure effective service delivery.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical birth record data processing could pose a risk if not managed carefully.

Positive Signals

The contract aims to improve a critical government function: SSN issuance at birth.
The fixed-price contract provides cost predictability for the agency.
The focus on electronic records suggests a move towards modernization of government processes.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT and data processing sector, specifically focusing on services related to government administration and vital records. The market for such services involves companies specializing in secure data management, cloud hosting, and application development for public sector clients. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more specific details on the scope of services, but government contracts for data processing and IT infrastructure can range from thousands to billions of dollars depending on scale and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The contract details do not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions or subcontracting requirements. Given the nature of the service and the procurement method, it is unlikely that small businesses were significantly involved as prime contractors. Further investigation would be needed to determine if any subcontracting opportunities were made available to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Social Security Administration's contracting and program management offices. As a purchase order, it is subject to standard procurement regulations and agency oversight. Transparency is limited by the non-competitive nature of the award; however, the contract's existence and basic details are publicly available through federal procurement databases. There is no specific mention of an Inspector General's direct involvement in this particular award, but the SSA OIG generally oversees agency programs and contracts.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration IT Services
Vital Records Management Systems
Federal Data Processing Contracts
Newborn Services

Risk Flags

Limited Competition
Lack of Detailed Cost Breakdown
Potential for Vendor Lock-in

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $2.4 million to PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS. NYC ENUMERATION AT BIRTH (EAB) NEW YORK CITY 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 PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-06-29. End: 2025-04-17.

What is the specific technology or platform being used for the NYC Electronic Birth Records system?

The provided data does not specify the exact technology or platform utilized for the NYC Electronic Birth Records (EAB) system. The contract falls under the broad category of 'Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services.' This suggests that the vendor is responsible for providing the necessary IT infrastructure, data processing capabilities, and potentially web hosting services to manage and transmit electronic birth records. To understand the specific technology, one would need to review the detailed contract statement of work (SOW) or performance work statement (PWS), which would outline the technical requirements, software, hardware, and integration protocols involved in the system's operation and its interface with the Social Security Administration.

How does this contract compare to similar contracts for birth record processing in other major US cities?

Direct comparison to similar contracts for birth record processing in other major US cities is challenging with the provided data alone. The contract value of $2.4 million over its duration (approximately $1.15 million per year) is for services specifically for New York City. Factors influencing cost include the population size, the existing technological infrastructure, the scope of services (e.g., data transmission, storage, verification), and the level of competition. Without access to procurement data for comparable contracts in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Houston, it's difficult to benchmark this award definitively. The limited competition for this specific contract also hinders a direct value-for-money comparison against potentially more competitively bid contracts elsewhere.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. However, given the purpose of facilitating Social Security Number (SSN) issuance at birth, critical KPIs would likely include the timeliness of data transmission, accuracy of the transmitted data, system uptime and availability, and data security compliance. SLAs would define the acceptable thresholds for these metrics, such as the maximum allowable time for processing and transmitting a birth record after it is registered. The Social Security Administration would have established these metrics in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of the electronic birth records system.

What is the track record of the contractor, PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS, with the Social Security Administration or similar federal agencies?

The provided data identifies 'PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS' as the contracting office, which is unusual as it is typically an agency or department. Assuming 'PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS' is the contractor or a key entity involved, their specific track record with the Social Security Administration (SSA) or other federal agencies is not detailed in the provided summary. Further research into federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would be necessary to ascertain their past performance, contract history, and any relevant experience in providing IT, data processing, or vital records management services to the federal government. Without this information, it's difficult to assess their reliability and expertise for this specific contract.

What is the historical spending pattern for electronic birth records or similar services by the Social Security Administration?

The provided data only includes information for this specific $2.4 million contract awarded in June 2019 with an end date in April 2025. It does not offer historical spending patterns for the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding electronic birth records or similar services. To understand historical spending, one would need to analyze SSA's procurement data over multiple fiscal years, looking for contracts related to vital records, data processing, and IT infrastructure supporting birth registration and SSN issuance. This would involve searching databases like FPDS for relevant contract actions and values to identify trends, significant investments, or changes in procurement strategies over time.

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: 40 WORTH ST FL 5, NEW YORK, NY, 10013

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,442,839

Exercised Options: $2,442,839

Current Obligation: $2,442,839

Actual Outlays: $1,983,329

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline