SSA's $7.3M Medical Consultant Services BPA with COLB MD Faces Scrutiny for Lack of Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $7,313 ($7.3K)
Contractor: Colb MD, a Mark
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2026-04-10
End Date: 2026-06-30
Contract Duration: 81 days
Daily Burn Rate: $90/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 CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DISABILITY ADJUDICATION (BOSTON). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CAL
Place of Performance
Location: WEST ROXBURY, SUFFOLK County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02132
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $7,312.5 to COLB MD, A MARK for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DISABILITY ADJUDICATION (BOSTON). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CAL Key points: 1. The contract, valued at $7.3 million, is for essential medical consultant services supporting disability claims adjudication. 2. COLB MD, a single awardee, holds the contract, raising questions about competitive sourcing. 3. The primary risk lies in potentially inflated costs due to the absence of a competitive bidding process. 4. The 'Offices of Physicians' sector is critical for government health services, but transparency in contracting is vital.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's fixed price of $7.3 million for 81 days of service needs closer examination. Without competitive benchmarks, it's difficult to assess if this price is reasonable compared to similar medical consultant services procured through competitive means.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
This contract was not competed under SAP, indicating a limited competition approach. This method may not yield the best possible pricing or value for taxpayers as it bypasses a broader search for qualified contractors.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of full and open competition could lead to higher costs for taxpayers, as the agency may not be securing the most cost-effective services available.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential medical review services due to limited competition. The Social Security Administration's ability to efficiently process disability claims could be impacted if service quality or cost is suboptimal. Future contracts of this nature may continue to lack competition if current practices are not reviewed.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- Potential for overpayment
- Lack of transparency in pricing
Positive Signals
- Essential service provision
- Clear contract duration and scope
Sector Analysis
The Social Security Administration relies on medical consultant services to adjudicate disability claims. This sector often involves specialized expertise, and ensuring competitive procurement is crucial for managing costs and ensuring quality of service delivery.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded to a single entity and does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were considered or excluded from this procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
The limited competition approach warrants further oversight to ensure the agency is obtaining fair value. Accountability measures should focus on validating the necessity of limited competition and the reasonableness of the price paid.
Related Government Programs
- Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
- Social Security Administration Contracting
- Social Security Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of full and open competition
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Absence of clear per-unit cost benchmarks
- Limited transparency on contractor selection justification
- No explicit small business participation noted
Tags
offices-of-physicians-except-mental-heal, social-security-administration, ma, bpa-call, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $7,312.5 to COLB MD, A MARK. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DISABILITY ADJUDICATION (BOSTON). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CAL
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COLB MD, A MARK.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $7,312.5.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-10. End: 2026-06-30.
What is the justification for limiting competition on this BPA call, and how was the contractor selected?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and awarded as a 'BPA CALL'. This suggests a limited competition strategy, potentially due to urgency, existing BPA framework, or specific expertise requirements. A full justification would typically be documented by the agency, outlining why full and open competition was not feasible or advantageous in this instance.
How does the per-unit cost of these medical reviews compare to industry benchmarks or similar government contracts?
Without specific details on the volume of reviews per dollar or the complexity of cases, a direct per-unit cost benchmark is difficult. However, given the limited competition and the $7.3 million award for a short duration, there is a risk that the cost per review is higher than it would be in a fully competitive environment. Benchmarking against other SSA contracts or similar healthcare service procurements is recommended.
What mechanisms are in place to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the medical reviews provided by COLB MD?
The data does not specify quality assurance mechanisms. Typically, contracts include performance standards, review processes, and potential remedies for substandard work. The agency's oversight of the BPA call should include monitoring the quality of reviews to ensure they meet the requirements for disability adjudication and contribute effectively to the program's integrity.
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: 226 WREN ST, WEST ROXBURY, MA, 02132
Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $7,313
Exercised Options: $7,313
Current Obligation: $7,313
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 28321324AC0140015
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-10
Current End Date: 2026-06-30
Potential End Date: 2026-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-10
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