SSA awards $58.7K for 27" monitors, highlighting potential for bulk purchasing efficiencies
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $58,700 ($58.7K)
Contractor: NCS Technologies Inc
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2026-04-08
End Date: 2030-12-18
Contract Duration: 1,715 days
Daily Burn Rate: $34/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: LARGE SCREEN 27" MONITORS FOR EWD
Place of Performance
Location: BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE CITY County, MARYLAND, 21235
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $58,700.4 to NCS TECHNOLOGIES INC for work described as: LARGE SCREEN 27" MONITORS FOR EWD Key points: 1. Contract value suggests a focus on essential equipment upgrades rather than large-scale deployments. 2. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the agency. 3. Limited duration indicates a need for timely delivery and potential for future refresh cycles. 4. The award falls within the Electronic Computer Manufacturing NAICS code, aligning with IT hardware procurement. 5. No small business set-aside was utilized, suggesting a focus on best value or specific capabilities. 6. The BPA Call award type implies a pre-negotiated agreement, potentially streamlining future orders.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $58.7K for monitors appears reasonable for the quantity implied by the scope. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for bulk monitor purchases suggests this price point is competitive, especially considering the specific size (27") and potential for a firm-fixed-price agreement. The agency likely leveraged existing purchasing power or a competitive process to secure favorable terms. Without specific quantity data, a precise per-unit cost comparison is difficult, but the overall award size does not raise immediate value concerns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The specific award type, BPA Call, suggests that a broader Basic Purchasing Agreement (BPA) was likely established previously through a competitive process, and this call order was then placed against that agreement. The number of bidders for this specific call order is not provided, but the initial competition for the BPA would have established a competitive baseline.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to lower prices and better quality goods and services.
Public Impact
Federal employees within the Social Security Administration will benefit from updated display technology. The contract facilitates the delivery of essential IT hardware to support agency operations. The geographic impact is focused on Maryland, where the contract is being performed. Workforce implications include the potential for improved productivity and user experience for SSA staff.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific quantity details makes it difficult to fully assess per-unit value.
- No small business subcontracting plan mentioned, potentially limiting opportunities for smaller firms.
Positive Signals
- Firm-fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment.
- BPA Call award type can indicate streamlined procurement and potential for future efficiencies.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on computer hardware. The market for large-screen monitors is mature and highly competitive, with numerous manufacturers and resellers. Government agencies often leverage bulk purchasing agreements and competitive solicitations to acquire such equipment efficiently. The spending benchmark for IT hardware within federal agencies is substantial, and contracts like this represent a small but necessary component of overall IT infrastructure modernization and maintenance.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it appear to have specific small business subcontracting requirements noted. This suggests that the primary evaluation criteria may have focused on factors other than small business participation, such as price, technical capability, or delivery timelines. While this specific award may not directly benefit small businesses through set-asides, the overall IT hardware market does include many small businesses that could potentially compete for future, larger, or differently structured contracts.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is subject to standard federal procurement oversight. As a firm-fixed-price award under full and open competition, the primary accountability lies in ensuring the delivered goods meet the specified requirements. The Social Security Administration's internal procurement and financial oversight mechanisms would apply. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General oversight would be applicable if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Federal IT Hardware Procurement
- Social Security Administration IT Modernization
- Desktop Computer Equipment and Accessories
Risk Flags
- Potential for higher-than-market unit cost without quantity.
- Lack of specific performance details limits value assessment.
- No explicit small business subcontracting requirements noted.
Tags
it-hardware, social-security-administration, maryland, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, bpa-call, electronic-computer-manufacturing, monitor-procurement, federal-contracting, ssa
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $58,700.4 to NCS TECHNOLOGIES INC. LARGE SCREEN 27" MONITORS FOR EWD
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NCS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $58,700.4.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-08. End: 2030-12-18.
What is the specific quantity of 27" monitors being procured under this contract?
The provided data does not specify the exact quantity of 27" monitors being procured. The award amount is $58,700.40. Without the quantity, it is challenging to perform a precise per-unit cost analysis or to fully understand the scale of this procurement. However, the contract type is a BPA Call, which often implies a call-off from a larger, pre-negotiated agreement. Future orders against this BPA could increase the total quantity and value over the contract's period of performance, which extends to December 2030.
How does the price per monitor compare to market rates for similar 27" displays?
A direct per-unit price comparison is not possible without knowing the exact quantity of monitors purchased. If we assume a hypothetical quantity, for example, 100 monitors, the per-unit cost would be approximately $587. This price point is at the higher end for standard 27" monitors in the commercial market, which can range from $150 to $400 depending on features and brand. However, government contracts often include specific requirements (e.g., enhanced durability, security features, specific warranty terms) that can increase the unit cost. Furthermore, bulk government purchasing may not always achieve the lowest commercial retail prices due to procurement processes and specific vendor agreements.
What are the key performance requirements or specifications for these monitors?
The provided data indicates the NAICS code is 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing), suggesting the monitors are standard IT equipment. However, specific performance requirements, such as resolution, refresh rate, connectivity options (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C), brightness, color accuracy, or ergonomic features, are not detailed in the summary data. These specifications would typically be outlined in the detailed contract statement of work (SOW) or the BPA Call's specific requirements. Without these details, it's difficult to assess if the price aligns with high-performance or specialized monitor needs.
What is the track record of NCS Technologies Inc. in supplying IT hardware to the federal government?
NCS Technologies Inc. has a history of federal contracting. A review of federal procurement data would reveal their past performance, including contract values, agencies served, and types of products/services delivered. Generally, companies awarded BPA Calls and firm-fixed-price contracts have demonstrated capability to meet government requirements. Their ability to secure this contract under full and open competition suggests they met the agency's criteria. Further analysis would involve examining past performance evaluations and any reported issues on previous contracts.
What is the expected lifespan or refresh cycle for these monitors within the SSA?
The contract's period of performance extends from its award date (implied to be recent) to April 8, 2026, with an end date of December 18, 2030. This suggests the monitors are intended for use throughout this period, potentially aligning with a typical IT hardware refresh cycle of 3-5 years. However, the contract itself doesn't explicitly state an expected lifespan or mandate a specific refresh cycle. Agencies usually have internal IT lifecycle management policies that dictate when equipment is replaced, often based on technological obsolescence, maintenance costs, or performance degradation.
Are there any specific security or compliance requirements mandated for these monitors?
The provided summary data does not explicitly list security or compliance requirements for these monitors. However, given that they are for the Social Security Administration (SSA), it is highly probable that the monitors must meet certain federal IT security standards (e.g., NIST guidelines) and potentially agency-specific security protocols. This could include requirements related to data protection, secure disposal, or physical security features. These details would be found within the full contract documentation or the BPA's terms and conditions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing › Electronic Computer Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - END USER
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 9601 DISCOVERY BLVD, MANASSAS, VA, 20109
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $58,700
Exercised Options: $58,700
Current Obligation: $58,700
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 28321326A00040001
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-08
Current End Date: 2030-12-18
Potential End Date: 2030-12-18 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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