Treasury Spends $789K on Main Treasury 250 Celebration Lighting from Adorama Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $78,896 ($78.9K)
Contractor: Adorama Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury
Start Date: 2026-03-12
End Date: 2026-05-21
Contract Duration: 70 days
Daily Burn Rate: $1.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: MAIN TREASURY 250 CELEBRATION LIGHTING
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20220
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Treasury obligated $78,896 to ADORAMA INC. for work described as: MAIN TREASURY 250 CELEBRATION LIGHTING Key points: 1. Spending is for celebration lighting, a non-essential service. 2. Adorama Inc. is the sole awardee, raising questions about competition. 3. The contract value is relatively small, limiting significant financial risk. 4. The sector is 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing', which seems misaligned with celebration lighting.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $788,960 for celebration lighting is difficult to benchmark against similar government contracts due to its niche nature. Without more specific details on the scope of 'lighting', a direct comparison is challenging.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition. However, Adorama Inc. is listed as the sole awardee, which warrants further investigation into the bidding process and whether other qualified vendors were considered.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is limited due to the relatively small contract value, but the necessity of this expenditure for a celebration could be questioned.
Public Impact
Public funds are being used for decorative lighting for a specific event. The contract duration is short, suggesting a one-time or limited-time need. The award to a single vendor under full and open competition raises transparency concerns.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Questionable necessity of expenditure
- Potential lack of robust competition despite 'full and open' designation
- Misaligned NAICS code suggests potential data entry error or unusual procurement
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded under full and open competition
- Relatively small contract value
Sector Analysis
The procurement falls under 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing' (NAICS 334290), which is unusual for celebration lighting. Typically, such services might be procured under event planning or specialized services categories. The spending benchmark for this specific type of 'lighting' is not readily available.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would involve verifying the justification for selecting Adorama Inc. under full and open competition and ensuring the funds were used appropriately for the stated purpose of celebration lighting.
Related Government Programs
- Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing
- Department of the Treasury Contracting
- Departmental Offices Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential misclassification of NAICS code
- Questionable necessity of expenditure for celebration lighting
- Lack of clarity on competition effectiveness despite 'full and open' designation
- Limited transparency on vendor selection process
Tags
other-communications-equipment-manufactu, department-of-the-treasury, dc, delivery-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Treasury awarded $78,896 to ADORAMA INC.. MAIN TREASURY 250 CELEBRATION LIGHTING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ADORAMA INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $78,896.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-03-12. End: 2026-05-21.
What is the specific nature of the 'celebration lighting' and why was it procured under the 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing' NAICS code?
The specific nature of the 'celebration lighting' is not detailed in the provided data. The NAICS code 334290, 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing,' appears to be a misclassification for event-related lighting services. This discrepancy suggests a potential data entry error or a highly unusual procurement strategy that warrants further investigation into the contract's justification and scope.
Given the 'full and open competition' award to a single vendor, what steps were taken to ensure genuine competition and fair pricing?
While the award is designated as 'full and open competition,' the fact that only Adorama Inc. was awarded the contract raises questions about the effectiveness of the competition. It is crucial to examine the solicitation process, the number of bids received, and the justification for selecting Adorama Inc. over any other potential bidders to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential collusion or lack of market research.
What is the long-term value or necessity of spending nearly $789,000 on temporary celebration lighting for the Main Treasury 250 event?
The long-term value of temporary celebration lighting is inherently limited, as its primary purpose is aesthetic enhancement for a specific event. The necessity of spending $788,960 on such items is debatable and depends on the agency's priorities and the perceived importance of the event. A cost-benefit analysis comparing the expenditure against other potential uses of these funds would be beneficial for assessing its overall effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Communications Equipment Manufacturing › Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: LIGHTING FIXTURES, LAMPS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: WRFQ26PRSSP0134
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 42 W 18TH ST, NEW YORK, NY, 10011
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $78,896
Exercised Options: $78,896
Current Obligation: $78,896
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 47QSMA19D08QU
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-03-12
Current End Date: 2026-05-21
Potential End Date: 2026-05-21 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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