Millbrook Support Services Inc. awarded $6.3M for psychiatrist services at VA Medical Center

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,330,460 ($6.3M)

Contractor: Millbrook Support Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2021-01-18

End Date: 2026-01-17

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.5K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: PSYCHIATRIST SERVICES FOR MEDVAMC

Place of Performance

Location: HOUSTON, HARRIS County, TEXAS, 77030

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $6.3 million to MILLBROOK SUPPORT SERVICES INC for work described as: PSYCHIATRIST SERVICES FOR MEDVAMC Key points: 1. Contract awarded for temporary help services, specifically psychiatrist support. 2. The contract duration is 5 years, indicating a long-term need. 3. Awarded under a competitive process, suggesting potential for price discovery. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 5. The contractor, Millbrook Support Services Inc., has secured this award. 6. The services are for the VA Medical Center in Texas.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $6.3 million over five years. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for temporary medical staffing requires detailed analysis of specific roles, locations, and service levels. Without more granular data on the number of psychiatrists, hours, or specific duties, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating it was likely a full and open competition among eligible bidders. With 8 bidders participating, the level of competition appears robust for this contract size. This suggests that the VA sought multiple offers, which generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process with 8 bidders is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of securing services at a reasonable price and encourages contractors to offer their best terms.

Public Impact

Veterans receiving care at the VA Medical Center in Texas will benefit from the availability of psychiatrist services. Ensures continuity of mental health care for the veteran population served by the facility. Supports the operational capacity of the VA Medical Center by providing essential medical personnel. The contract's geographic impact is focused on Texas, specifically where the VA Medical Center is located.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for over-reliance on temporary staffing if not managed effectively.
Ensuring consistent quality of care across different psychiatrists provided by the contractor.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process suggests a good selection of qualified providers.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides budget certainty.
Long-term contract (5 years) indicates a stable and ongoing need, potentially leading to better integration of services.

Sector Analysis

The healthcare staffing sector, particularly for specialized medical professionals like psychiatrists, is a critical component of healthcare delivery. The market often sees a mix of direct hires by institutions and the use of temporary staffing agencies to fill immediate or long-term needs. This contract falls within the broader temporary help services industry, which is a significant market supporting various sectors, including government healthcare.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans was not explicitly provided in the data. As the contract was competed under SAP and had 8 bidders, it's possible that small businesses participated. However, without specific details on set-aside status or subcontracting goals, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem remains unclear.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Veterans Affairs' contracting officers and program managers. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for the contractor to deliver services within the agreed-upon cost. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance metrics and oversight activities are internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

VA Medical Services Contracts
Temporary Medical Staffing
Mental Health Services Contracts
Healthcare Professional Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if fixed price is not adequately estimated.
Risk of inconsistent quality of care from temporary staff.
Dependence on contractor for critical medical services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $6.3 million to MILLBROOK SUPPORT SERVICES INC. PSYCHIATRIST SERVICES FOR MEDVAMC

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MILLBROOK SUPPORT SERVICES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-01-18. End: 2026-01-17.

What is the historical spending pattern for psychiatrist services at this specific VA Medical Center?

Analyzing historical spending for psychiatrist services at this VA Medical Center would involve reviewing past contracts for similar services. This would include examining the total dollar amounts awarded, the duration of those contracts, the contractors involved, and the pricing structures used. A trend analysis could reveal whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable over time, and whether this current $6.3 million award represents a significant deviation from past expenditures. Understanding historical patterns helps in assessing the reasonableness of the current contract's value and identifying any potential shifts in demand or service provision.

How does the per-hour or per-physician cost of this contract compare to market rates for psychiatrists in Texas?

To compare the per-unit cost, we would need to estimate the number of psychiatrist hours or full-time equivalents (FTEs) covered by the $6.3 million award over its 5-year duration. For instance, if the contract covers 10,000 hours annually, that's 50,000 hours over five years, leading to an effective hourly rate. This rate would then be benchmarked against average hourly rates for psychiatrists in Texas, considering factors like experience, specialization, and geographic location within the state. Data from salary surveys (e.g., BLS, industry-specific reports) or other government contracts for similar services would be used for comparison. A significantly higher rate might indicate a need for further justification or negotiation.

What is Millbrook Support Services Inc.'s track record with VA contracts, particularly for medical staffing?

Assessing Millbrook Support Services Inc.'s track record involves reviewing their past performance on contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies. This includes examining contract histories for any performance issues, disputes, or awards for exceptional performance. Specifically, looking at their experience with providing medical staffing, especially psychiatrist services, would be crucial. Information from contract databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) and past performance evaluations can shed light on their reliability, quality of service, and ability to meet contract requirements. A history of successful, timely, and high-quality service delivery would be a positive indicator for this current award.

What are the specific performance metrics and quality standards outlined in the contract?

The contract likely includes specific performance work statements (PWS) or statements of work (SOW) that detail the required services, deliverables, and performance standards. These metrics could include factors such as psychiatrist availability, response times for patient consultations, adherence to treatment protocols, patient satisfaction scores, and timely completion of medical records. Quality assurance surveillance plans (QASPs) are often employed by the government to monitor contractor performance against these metrics. Understanding these standards is key to evaluating the effectiveness of the contract and ensuring the VA receives the quality of psychiatric care it requires for veterans.

How does the number of bidders (8) reflect the competitiveness of the market for these specific services?

Having 8 bidders for a contract competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) suggests a reasonably competitive market for psychiatrist services in the relevant geographic area. SAP is typically used for acquisitions valued between the simplified acquisition threshold and a higher threshold (often $250,000, but can be higher for certain categories). The number of bidders indicates that multiple firms were aware of and interested in the opportunity. While 8 bidders is a healthy number, the true competitiveness also depends on the qualifications and capacity of those bidders. If many were small businesses or lacked specific experience, the competition might be less impactful than if all were large, experienced providers.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Employment Services › Temporary Help Services

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND SURGICAL SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 36C25620Q0622

Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 149 CHURCH ST, MILLBROOK, NY, 12545

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,908,778

Exercised Options: $6,330,460

Current Obligation: $6,330,460

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline