SSA's $384K BPA for Northeast Medical Consultants to Review Disability Claims

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $384,539 ($384.5K)

Contractor: Maurice Prout

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2025-07-21

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 344 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.1K/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 REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION (PHILADELPHIA). SERVICES BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS AND NON-C

Place of Performance

Location: WAYNE, DELAWARE County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19087

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $384,539.1 to MAURICE PROUT for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION (PHILADELPHIA). SERVICES BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS AND NON-C Key points: 1. Contract focuses on independent case reviews for disability claims. 2. Services are essential for the agency's disability determination process. 3. The contract is a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call Order. 4. It utilizes a Firm Fixed Price contract type. 5. The period of performance is approximately one year. 6. The contractor, Maurice Prout, is based in Pennsylvania.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

This BPA Call Order for medical consultant services appears to be a standard procurement for disability claim reviews. Without specific benchmarks for per-case review costs or comparisons to similar regional contracts, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the agency, but the overall cost-effectiveness depends on the volume and complexity of cases reviewed. The contract amount of $384,539.10 covers a period of roughly one year, suggesting a moderate investment in external expertise.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating it was likely awarded through a limited competition or a pre-existing BPA. The data specifies 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP,' which suggests that while it might not be a sole-source award, the competition was restricted. The limited competition could potentially lead to less aggressive pricing compared to a full and open competition, as fewer vendors had the opportunity to bid.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, limited competition can mean potentially higher costs than if the contract were fully and openly competed, as the agency may not have received the most competitive pricing available in the market.

Public Impact

Benefits individuals applying for Social Security disability benefits by ensuring thorough case reviews. Services are delivered in the Northeast Region, specifically supporting operations in Pennsylvania. The contract supports the agency's mission to accurately determine disability eligibility. It indirectly impacts the workforce by ensuring efficient processing of claims, potentially reducing backlogs.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition may result in higher costs for taxpayers.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes assessing contractor efficiency difficult.
Geographic focus on the Northeast Region might not capture broader national trends in disability claims.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost predictability.
BPA structure allows for efficient ordering of services.
Contract supports a critical agency function: disability determination.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically supporting healthcare and administrative functions for government agencies. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 621112, 'Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists,' indicates the type of expertise being procured. The market for medical consulting services, particularly for disability claims, is specialized and often involves firms with deep knowledge of regulatory requirements and medical-legal frameworks. Spending in this area is driven by the volume of disability claims processed by agencies like the Social Security Administration.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). This means there was no explicit requirement for small businesses to be awarded a portion of this contract. Consequently, the impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor, Maurice Prout, is itself a small business or engages in subcontracting with small businesses. Without further information on subcontracting plans, it's difficult to assess the broader impact.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Social Security Administration's internal contracting and program management offices. As a BPA Call Order, it leverages an existing agreement, implying some level of pre-qualification and oversight. Transparency is moderate, as the award details are publicly available. Accountability would be managed through performance reviews and adherence to the terms of the BPA Call Order. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration Disability Insurance Program
Medical Review Contractor Services
Independent Medical Examinations
Federal Healthcare Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Limited competition may lead to higher costs.
Lack of specific performance metrics hinders evaluation.
Contractor's past performance data is not readily available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $384,539.1 to MAURICE PROUT. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION (PHILADELPHIA). SERVICES BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER FOR INDEPENDENT CASE REVIEWS AND NON-C

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MAURICE PROUT.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $384,539.1.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-21. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the typical cost per disability claim review for similar contracts within the SSA or other federal agencies?

Determining a precise benchmark for the cost per disability claim review is complex due to variations in case complexity, required documentation, and the specific expertise needed (e.g., medical specialties, mental health). However, industry averages for independent medical reviews can range significantly. For routine case file reviews, costs might be in the low hundreds of dollars per case. More complex cases requiring detailed analysis or specialized physician input could push this cost higher. Without specific data from the SSA on the average complexity of cases handled under this BPA or comparative data from other agencies' procurements for similar services, it's difficult to provide a definitive per-unit cost. The total contract value of $384,539.10 over approximately one year suggests an operational budget that needs to be carefully managed against the volume and complexity of reviews to ensure value.

What is the track record of the contractor, Maurice Prout, with the Social Security Administration or other federal agencies?

Information regarding the specific track record of Maurice Prout with the Social Security Administration (SSA) or other federal agencies is not detailed in the provided data. As a contractor performing medical consultant services for disability claims, their past performance would ideally include successful completion of similar contracts, adherence to deadlines, quality of reviews, and compliance with federal regulations. A thorough review would involve examining past performance evaluations, any documented disputes or contract terminations, and the overall history of their engagement with government entities. Without this specific performance history, assessing their reliability and capability to fulfill the current contract's requirements is challenging.

How does the limited competition for this BPA Call Order impact the potential for cost savings for the SSA?

The limited competition for this BPA Call Order suggests that the Social Security Administration (SSA) may not have achieved the most favorable pricing possible. When a contract is not fully and openly competed, the number of potential bidders is restricted. This can reduce the pressure on vendors to offer their lowest possible prices, as they face less direct competition. While a BPA might streamline the acquisition process and potentially offer some pre-negotiated rates, the lack of broad competition means the SSA might be paying more than if multiple qualified vendors had submitted bids in a competitive environment. The extent of this impact depends on the specific terms of the underlying BPA and the nature of the limited competition used for this call order.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this medical consultant services contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this medical consultant services contract. Typically, for such contracts, KPIs would focus on the quality and timeliness of the independent case reviews. This could include metrics such as the accuracy rate of reviews, the turnaround time for completing case reviews, adherence to specific medical-legal guidelines, and the number of cases reviewed per period. Effective KPIs are crucial for the Social Security Administration to monitor the contractor's performance, ensure the integrity of the disability determination process, and ultimately assess the value for money received. Without defined KPIs, oversight and performance management become more challenging.

What is the historical spending pattern for medical consultant services related to disability claims by the SSA?

The provided data focuses on a single BPA Call Order and does not offer historical spending patterns for medical consultant services related to disability claims by the SSA. To understand historical spending, one would need to analyze procurement data over several fiscal years, looking at similar contracts, BPAs, and task orders issued by the SSA for medical reviews. This analysis would reveal trends in contract values, the number of awards, the types of services procured, and the primary contractors utilized. Such historical data is essential for budgeting, identifying potential cost efficiencies, and understanding the agency's reliance on external medical expertise for its disability determination process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Health Care and Social Assistance › Offices of Physicians › Offices of Physicians, 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: 211 S ABERDEEN AVE, WAYNE, PA, 19087

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $384,539

Exercised Options: $384,539

Current Obligation: $384,539

Actual Outlays: $241,143

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 28321321AC0340002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline