Blanket Purchase Agreement 28321320AV0640083

The Social Security Administration awarded Eligio Hinojosa a single-award, firm fixed-price blanket purchase agreement to provide vocational expert consulting services for its Region 6 Hearing Office. The BPA has a potential value of $0 with task orders awarded against it on an as-needed basis. One such task order was awarded on June 30, 2020 for $22,156.46 to deliver VHR Express reporting services in Weslaco, Texas through June 30, 2020. As the SSA relies on vocational experts to provide testimony in disability appeals hearings, this BPA and associated task order aim to procure consulting and reporting services to support the administration of the agency's benefits programs.

The original solicitation sought vocational expert consulting services on a total small business set-aside basis, with a posting date of October 8, 2019 and a due date of January 31, 2020. The award was made on January 27, 2020. These details indicate the SSA sought to engage small businesses to provide specialized expertise and evidence to assist administrative law judges in evaluating disability claims, highlighting the important role of vocational experts in the SSA appeals process.