Social Security Administration Awarded a Contract to LEONARD A. SIMPSON, M.D.: A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION for $116.23

Summary of Award

The contract awarded by the U.S. federal government, represented by the Social Security Administration (SSA), is a Blanket Purchase Agreement Call (BPA CALL) designed to facilitate Regional Medical Consultant Services for the agency in Region 9, specifically San Francisco. This contract underscores the SSA's ongoing commitment to enhancing the efficacy and accuracy of disability claim reviews by leveraging expert medical consultations.

The contract is valued at $116.23, with obligations that reflect both base and additional options being exercised at the same value. It underscores a firm-fixed pricing strategy, indicative of a predictable cost structure over its duration from January 30, 2024, to December 31, 2024. This predictable pricing is pivotal for federal budgeting, allowing the SSA to anticipate expenses and allocate resources efficiently.

This particular BPA CALL was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), highlighting a non-competitive selection process. This aspect denotes that the contract was likely awarded based on the recipient's prior expertise and reliable service delivery, crucial for reviewing the SSA's disability program files. The contract award was facilitated by the SSA's Office of Acquisition and Grants, emphasizing the agency's strategic focus on acquiring specialized services to augment its disability claim processes. The SSA internalized the funding and awarding processes, showcasing its capacity to independently manage contracts of this nature. The recipient, Dr. Leonard A. Simpson, M.D.: A Professional Corporation, is based in San Francisco, California. This corporation is categorized as a U.S.-owned small business, a limited liability company, and a corporate entity not exempt from tax. It is involved primarily in the provision of medical consultation services, aligning seamlessly with the contract’s core requirement. Their expertise focuses on healthcare through physician services, excluding mental health specialists, as denoted by the NAICS code 621111. Operating out of San Francisco, this professional corporation is strategically positioned within the same region that the SSA's services are targeted, allowing for a localized and possibly more effective engagement with disability claim reviews. This regional proximity can enhance both efficiency and responsiveness, necessitating minimal logistical challenges in service rendering. The transactions associated with this contract reflect adjustments in obligation amounts and actual outlays. Initially, a transaction on January 30, 2024, detailed a financial commitment of $1,162.30, reflecting an operational alignment with planned budgetary allocations. This transaction encapsulates the substantial initial investment sparked by the commencement of services, covering startup costs and initial consultations. A subsequent transaction, dated April 10, 2025, shows a negative transaction amount of -$464.92. This adjustment indicates a necessary financial revision or expected cost reduction, perhaps reflecting actual service usage reconciled against initial projections. Such adjustments are typical in dynamic contracts and exemplify prudent financial oversight, aligning expenditures more closely with actual service deliveries. The receipt of only one offer for this non-competed BPA CALL is noteworthy and reflects the unique specialization required for executing the contract’s demands, likely limiting suitable candidates. Given the highly technical and specialized nature of disability case file reviews, partnership continuity with an experienced consultant like Dr. Simpson enhances the SSA’s ability to process claims accurately and efficiently. Furthermore, the contract is affiliated with major program R09, highlighting the regional focus of medical consultant services. This program alignment ensures clarity in objectives and streamlines service delivery, with Dr. Simpson’s corporation providing critical insights and reviews pivotal for an accurate assessment of disability claims. Overall, the contract showcases a strategic partnership aimed at supporting the SSA's operational needs within Region 9. The reliance on Dr. Simpson's medical expertise not only confirms the incumbent’s valuable role in the SSA’s disability program but also accentuates the strategic intentionality in ensuring that recipients of federal assistance rightly benefit from these health-oriented services. The SSA's choice of a Blanket Purchase Agreement underscores a cost-efficient, service-focused approach without exercising expansive competitive measures due to the specialized medical consultation needs. This strategic decision encourages continuity and stability in service provision, crucial for meeting mandated social programs' intricate needs. The contract reflects a balanced alignment of medical expertise, fiscal responsibility, and programmatic output, critical to the SSA's mission of effectively managing disability programs nationwide.