Social Security Administration awards $294K BPA for regional medical consultant services in the Midwest/West

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $29,400 ($29.4K)

Contractor: Leong Apex S.C.

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2026-05-01

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 60 days

Daily Burn Rate: $490/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 FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE MID-WEST/WEST REGION (CHICAGO). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER F

Place of Performance

Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60657

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $29,400 to LEONG APEX S.C. for work described as: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE MID-WEST/WEST REGION (CHICAGO). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER F Key points: 1. Contract focuses on reviewing disability claim case files to support the agency's disability program. 2. Services are procured via a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call Order, indicating a pre-established agreement. 3. The contract is for a short duration of 60 days, suggesting a specific, immediate need. 4. The firm fixed-price contract type helps to define costs upfront. 5. The contractor, LEONG APEX S.C., is a new entity in federal contracting based on available data. 6. The service falls under the 'Offices of Physicians' NAICS code, indicating a healthcare-related service.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The total award amount of $294,000 for a 60-day period for regional medical consultant services appears high for the limited scope and duration. Without comparable contract data for similar medical consultant services for disability claims review, it is difficult to benchmark the value effectively. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty, but the overall value proposition is unclear due to the lack of competition and limited performance history of the contractor.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), suggesting it was likely awarded on a sole-source basis or through a limited competition not detailed in the provided data. The lack of open competition raises concerns about whether the SSA obtained the best possible pricing and service quality. Without multiple bidders, there is less incentive for the contractor to offer competitive rates.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective service due to the absence of a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to higher overall program costs.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries of the Social Security Administration's disability program will have their case files reviewed by medical consultants. The services delivered are critical for the accurate adjudication of disability claims. The geographic impact is focused on the Midwest/West Region, specifically Illinois. The contract supports the operational workforce of the SSA by providing external medical expertise.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition raises concerns about price reasonableness and potential for overpayment.
Limited duration (60 days) may indicate a short-term need, but the award amount seems substantial for this period.
Contractor's track record is not established, making it difficult to assess past performance and reliability.
The specific services and deliverables are not fully detailed, hindering a comprehensive risk assessment.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
BPA Call Order structure suggests a pre-existing framework, potentially streamlining the procurement process.
Focus on disability claims review aligns with the core mission of the SSA.

Sector Analysis

The healthcare services sector, particularly within the government's administrative functions, involves procuring specialized expertise for program integrity and support. This contract for medical consultant services for disability claims falls within the broader healthcare support services market. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more specific details on the scope of work and the qualifications required. However, the federal government frequently contracts for medical reviews to support various programs, with spending varying widely based on complexity and volume.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The contractor, LEONG APEX S.C., is a small business, but the contract itself was not a small business set-aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Social Security Administration's contracting officers and program managers. As a BPA Call Order, it operates under the terms of the master BPA. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. There is no specific mention of Inspector General jurisdiction for this particular call order, but the SSA OIG generally oversees agency programs and contracts.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration Disability Insurance Program
Medical Review Services
Federal Healthcare Consulting Contracts
Blanket Purchase Agreements

Risk Flags

Lack of Competition
Limited Contractor Performance History
Potentially High Cost for Short Duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $29,400 to LEONG APEX S.C.. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN THE MID-WEST/WEST REGION (CHICAGO). REVIEWS BY MEDICAL CONSULTANT OF DISABILITY CLAIM CASE FILES FOR AGENCY DISABILITY PROGRAM. CALL ORDER F

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LEONG APEX S.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $29,400.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-05-01. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the typical cost for medical consultant services for disability claims review in the Midwest/West Region?

Determining a precise 'typical' cost for medical consultant services for disability claims review is challenging without detailed scope of work and specific regional market data. However, federal agencies often use various contracting vehicles, including Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), to procure these services. Pricing can vary significantly based on factors such as the complexity of cases, the required expertise (e.g., specific medical specialties), the volume of cases, and the geographic region. For a 60-day period, an award of $294,000 suggests a potentially high per-diem or per-case rate if the volume is low, or it could be justified if the cases are exceptionally complex or require highly specialized medical opinions. Benchmarking against similar sole-source or limited-competition contracts is difficult, but open market research for physician consultant services often shows daily rates ranging from $800 to $2,500 or more, depending on specialization and experience. The SSA's specific needs and the contractor's proposed rates would dictate the final value.

What is the track record of LEONG APEX S.C. with federal contracts?

Based on the provided data, LEONG APEX S.C. appears to be a relatively new entity in the federal contracting space, or at least has limited publicly available contract history. The data does not indicate any prior significant federal contract awards or performance history for this specific company. This lack of established track record makes it difficult to assess their past performance, reliability, and ability to deliver services effectively within the federal government's stringent requirements. Future performance will be key to establishing their credibility.

How does the $294,000 award compare to historical SSA spending on similar services?

Comparing this specific $294,000 award for a 60-day BPA Call Order to historical SSA spending on similar services is difficult without more granular data. The SSA procures medical review services through various mechanisms, including direct hires, contracts with large organizations, and potentially other BPAs or task orders. This particular award is for a specific region and a short duration. Historical spending patterns for the SSA's disability determination services (DDS) are substantial, often running into hundreds of millions of dollars annually, encompassing a wide range of support functions. However, isolating spending solely on regional medical consultant services via BPAs for short periods requires access to detailed contract databases and spending reports that are not provided here. The value of this specific contract should be assessed in the context of its immediate need and scope rather than broad historical averages.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for medical consultant services?

Sole-source awards for critical services like medical consultant reviews carry several potential risks. Firstly, the absence of competition can lead to inflated pricing, as the government may not be getting the most cost-effective solution available in the market. Secondly, it limits the government's ability to explore innovative approaches or specialized expertise that might be offered by other qualified contractors. Thirdly, without a competitive process, there's less assurance regarding the contractor's capacity and commitment to performance, although past performance is typically assessed even in sole-source situations if available. Finally, it can create a perception of favoritism or lack of transparency, potentially undermining public trust. For the SSA, this could mean paying more than necessary or not accessing the best possible medical expertise for disability claim adjudications.

What is the significance of the NAICS code 621111 for this contract?

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 621111, 'Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists),' signifies that the primary business activity of the contractor, LEONG APEX S.C., is providing medical services through physicians. For this contract, it means the services procured are directly related to medical expertise and physician-led assessments. This is crucial for the Social Security Administration's disability program, as it requires qualified medical professionals to review case files and provide opinions on claimants' medical conditions. The code ensures that the services rendered align with the necessary medical qualifications and standards required for accurate disability determinations.

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: 1446 W WOLFRAM ST, CHICAGO, IL, 60657

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $29,400

Exercised Options: $29,400

Current Obligation: $29,400

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 28321321AC0540021

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline