SSA's $104K medical consultant BPA for disability claims reviews in PA, awarded non-competitively
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $104,599 ($104.6K)
Contractor: Robert J. Balogh, JR. CO.
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2025-07-14
End Date: 2026-06-30
Contract Duration: 351 days
Daily Burn Rate: $298/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION (PHILADELPHIA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS AND NON CASE SERVIC
Place of Performance
Location: LEBANON, LEBANON County, PENNSYLVANIA, 17042
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $104,598.7 to ROBERT J. BALOGH, JR. CO. for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION (PHILADELPHIA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS AND NON CASE SERVIC Key points: 1. Value for money is difficult to assess due to the non-competitive nature of the award. 2. Competition dynamics are limited, with a sole-source award raising questions about price discovery. 3. Risk indicators include the lack of competition and potential for cost overruns without benchmarking. 4. Performance context involves reviewing disability claim case files for the agency's disability program. 5. Sector positioning is within healthcare consulting services, specifically for disability assessments.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value is hard to ascertain without competitive bids. The fixed price nature provides some cost certainty, but the lack of comparison to similar contracts or market rates for medical consultant services in the Northeast region makes a true value assessment challenging. The agency relies on the contractor's expertise, but oversight will be crucial to ensure fair pricing and quality of service.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded as a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call under a non-competitive process. The data indicates it was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP,' suggesting a sole-source justification was likely applied. The limited competition means there was no opportunity for multiple bidders to offer proposals, which typically drives down prices and encourages innovation.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective service due to the absence of a competitive bidding process. Without comparing offers, it's harder to ensure the price paid is aligned with market value.
Public Impact
The Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits from this contract by obtaining necessary medical consultant services. Services delivered include independent reviews of disability claim case files. The geographic impact is focused on the Northeast region, specifically Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Workforce implications are minimal for the agency, relying on external expertise rather than internal hiring.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
- Potential for contractor lock-in due to sole-source award.
- Difficulty in benchmarking performance and cost without comparable contracts.
Positive Signals
- Fixed price contract provides some cost predictability.
- Focus on specialized medical consulting expertise for disability claims.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically medical consulting for administrative purposes. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 621111, 'Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists),' indicates a focus on medical expertise. The market for such services is competitive, but this specific award was not subject to that competition, making direct sector spending benchmarks difficult.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides or subcontracting opportunities. The award was made to a single entity, Robert J. Balogh, Jr. Co., and the focus appears to be on specialized consulting rather than broad service delivery that might typically involve a subcontracting network.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will primarily fall to the Social Security Administration's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would involve monitoring the quality and timeliness of the medical reviews. Transparency is limited due to the non-competitive award, but contract performance data should be available through federal procurement databases.
Related Government Programs
- Social Security Administration Disability Insurance Program
- Medical Consulting Services
- Independent Medical Reviews
- Disability Claims Processing
Risk Flags
- Non-competitive award
- Limited price transparency
- Potential for suboptimal value
Tags
healthcare, social-security-administration, medical-consulting, disability-claims, northeast-region, pennsylvania, philadelphia, blanket-purchase-agreement, bpa-call, sole-source, firm-fixed-price, professional-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $104,598.7 to ROBERT J. BALOGH, JR. CO.. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION (PHILADELPHIA). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS AND NON CASE SERVIC
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ROBERT J. BALOGH, JR. CO..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $104,598.7.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-07-14. End: 2026-06-30.
What is the track record of Robert J. Balogh, Jr. Co. with the Social Security Administration or similar agencies?
Information regarding the specific track record of Robert J. Balogh, Jr. Co. with the Social Security Administration (SSA) or other federal agencies is not detailed in the provided data. To assess this, one would need to consult federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS for past performance reviews, contract history, and any reported issues. A strong track record with the SSA on similar medical consulting services would increase confidence in the contractor's ability to perform effectively. Conversely, a history of performance issues or disputes could be a significant risk indicator.
How does the estimated value of this BPA Call compare to typical costs for similar medical consultant services?
The estimated value of this BPA Call is approximately $104,598.70. Without access to a competitive bidding process or specific market research data for medical consultant services related to disability claim reviews in the Philadelphia region, it is difficult to benchmark this cost. Typically, a competitive environment would yield pricing data. However, given the specialized nature of reviewing disability claim case files, costs can vary significantly based on the complexity of cases and the required expertise. Further analysis would require comparing this rate against industry standards or other sole-source contracts for similar services, if available.
What are the primary risks associated with awarding this contract on a non-competitive basis?
The primary risk associated with awarding this contract on a non-competitive basis is the potential for paying a higher price than would be achieved through a competitive process. Without multiple bids, there is less incentive for the contractor to offer the lowest possible price. Additionally, a lack of competition can reduce the agency's leverage in negotiating terms and may limit the pool of potential providers, potentially excluding more qualified or cost-effective options. There's also a risk that the agency may not be fully aware of the best available solutions or pricing in the market.
How effective is the current approach to procuring medical consultant services for disability claims?
The effectiveness of this specific procurement approach (a non-competed BPA Call) is difficult to gauge solely from the provided data. While it allows the SSA to quickly obtain necessary services, the lack of competition raises questions about its overall effectiveness in terms of achieving best value for taxpayer dollars. The effectiveness hinges on the quality of the reviews provided by Robert J. Balogh, Jr. Co. and whether these reviews accurately support the SSA's disability determination process. A more comprehensive assessment would require evaluating the outcomes of the disability claims reviewed under this contract.
What are the historical spending patterns for medical consultant services by the SSA in the Northeast region?
Historical spending patterns for medical consultant services by the SSA in the Northeast region are not detailed in the provided data. To understand this, one would need to analyze past contract awards for similar services within that geographic area. This would involve looking at the volume of contracts, the total amounts spent, the types of services procured, and whether these were competitively or non-competitively awarded. Such an analysis could reveal trends in reliance on external consultants, average costs, and the prevalence of sole-source awards, providing context for the current BPA Call.
What specific criteria were used to justify the non-competitive award of this BPA Call?
The provided data states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), which implies a justification for non-competitive award was made. Common justifications include specific urgency, unique capabilities of a sole provider, or when only one source is capable of meeting the requirement. Without the actual justification document, the specific criteria remain unknown. However, for contracts under SAP, justifications often relate to the small dollar value and the perceived administrative burden of a full competition outweighing the potential benefits.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Offices of Physicians › Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › OTHER MEDICAL 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: 1200 ASH LN, LEBANON, PA, 17042
Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $104,599
Exercised Options: $104,599
Current Obligation: $104,599
Actual Outlays: $58,203
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 28321321AC0340024
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-07-14
Current End Date: 2026-06-30
Potential End Date: 2026-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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