Does This Make Sense?

See the notice below, recently posted by Social Security. Perhaps there is some good explanation, but it is hard to understand why this contractor is moving so slowly on something that does not sound all that complicated -- or why they even need to have "a conference of expert consultants" at a time when Social Security is so short of money that it may furlough staff. And who are these "expert consultants?" Indeed, why did Social Security need a contractor for this to begin with? If the whole idea is to change to something simple, would it not be simple to set up a test? Why does Social Security's Inspector General spend a lot of time chasing down penny ante claimant fraud while ignoring wasteful expenditures for contractors?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to modify its contract with Abt Associates, Inc. (contract #SS00-04-60110), $1 for $2 Benefit Offset Demonstration in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, to include the contractor?s work to facilitate a conference of expert consultants from the Four State Benefit Offset Pilot programs that will serve to complement pre-implementation tasks under the contract. BACKGROUND: On September 30, 2004 SSA awarded a 2-year contract to Abt Associates for design of a multi-site, demonstration project that tests alternate methods of treating work activity in the Title II disability program. After the design is completed, subsequent phases of this demonstration will be awarded to the same contractor on a sole source basis for the implementation, data collection and evaluation and management of the project, conditional upon successful performance of the design phase. REQUIREMENTS: Abt will be responsible for arranging all necessary activities related to planning and facilitating the aforementioned conference. Interested sources that believe they have the capability to perform the services required should submit a capability statement to Daniel Walker via email at daniel.walker@ssa.gov. Responses shall be marked CONF - CAPABILITY STATEMENT, and shall be received no later than January 12, 2007, 2:30PM EST. All responsible sources will be considered. If no responses are received by the cutoff date, a modification will be effected against the Abt contract referenced above. All questions must be submitted in writing to Daniel Walker via the email address listed above. Telephone calls will NOT be accepted.