GSA awards $4,399 for 55-gallon drum of USDA-biobased cleaner/degreaser to ASCI Federal Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,399 ($4.4K)

Contractor: Asci Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2026-04-14

Contract Duration: 7 days

Daily Burn Rate: $628/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CLEANING COMPOUND, SOLVENT-DETERGENT: CONCENTRATED, NON-ABRASIVE, NON-HAZARDOUS, NON-FLAMMABLE, NON-CORROSIVE GENERAL PURPOSE CLEANER/DEGREASER. MEETS USDA BIO-BASED REQUIREMENTS. VOC COMPLIANT. ONE (1) EACH FIFTY-FIVE (55) GALLON PLASTIC DRUM.

Place of Performance

Location: ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE County, ALASKA, 99501

State: Alaska Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $4,399.04 to ASCI FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: CLEANING COMPOUND, SOLVENT-DETERGENT: CONCENTRATED, NON-ABRASIVE, NON-HAZARDOUS, NON-FLAMMABLE, NON-CORROSIVE GENERAL PURPOSE CLEANER/DEGREASER. MEETS USDA BIO-BASED REQUIREMENTS. VOC COMPLIANT. ONE (1) EACH FIFTY-FIVE (55) GALLON PLASTIC DRUM. Key points: 1. Product is a concentrated, non-hazardous, general-purpose cleaner/degreaser meeting USDA bio-based and VOC requirements. 2. Procurement was Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources, suggesting a specific reason for source exclusion. 3. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price delivery order with a short 7-day duration. 4. The awardee, ASCI Federal Services LLC, is not identified as a small business. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 493190 (Other Warehousing and Storage).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The price of $4,399.04 for a single 55-gallon drum of specialized cleaner appears high when compared to commercial bulk pricing for similar industrial cleaning agents. Benchmarking against bulk industrial cleaning supplies is necessary for a more accurate assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources.' This method implies that while competition was sought, certain sources were excluded, potentially limiting the competitive landscape and impacting price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is moderate, as the price may be inflated due to limited competition, but the quantity purchased is small.

Public Impact

Ensures availability of specialized cleaning supplies for federal operations. Supports compliance with USDA bio-based and VOC regulations. The procurement method raises questions about the extent of competition and potential cost efficiencies. The specific exclusion of sources warrants further investigation into the rationale and its impact on pricing.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition due to source exclusion.
Potentially high per-unit cost for specialized cleaning compound.
Awardee is not a small business, missing an opportunity for SMB set-aside.

Positive Signals

Meets USDA bio-based requirements.
VOC compliant.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

The procurement falls under general supplies and services, likely supporting facilities maintenance or operational needs. Benchmarking against similar cleaning supply contracts across different agencies would provide better context for the price paid.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, ASCI Federal Services LLC, is not listed as a small business. This contract did not appear to be set aside for small businesses, representing a missed opportunity to support small business participation in federal contracting.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' designation requires careful review to ensure the exclusion was justified and did not unduly restrict competition, impacting overall value for taxpayer dollars.

Related Government Programs

Other Warehousing and Storage
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential overpricing due to limited competition.
Lack of transparency regarding source exclusion justification.
Awardee is not a small business.
High unit cost for a cleaning compound.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $4,399.04 to ASCI FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. CLEANING COMPOUND, SOLVENT-DETERGENT: CONCENTRATED, NON-ABRASIVE, NON-HAZARDOUS, NON-FLAMMABLE, NON-CORROSIVE GENERAL PURPOSE CLEANER/DEGREASER. MEETS USDA BIO-BASED REQUIREMENTS. VOC COMPLIANT. ONE (1) EACH FIFTY-FIVE (55) GALLON PLASTIC DRUM.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ASCI FEDERAL SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4,399.04.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2026-04-14.

What was the specific justification for excluding certain sources in this 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' award, and how did it impact the final price?

The justification for excluding sources typically relates to specific technical requirements, past performance, or unique capabilities not met by all potential offerors. Without detailed documentation, it's difficult to ascertain the precise reason. However, excluding sources inherently limits the competitive pool, which can lead to higher prices than if a broader range of vendors were considered. Further investigation into the solicitation documents would be needed to confirm the exact rationale and its price impact.

How does the price of $4,399.04 for a single 55-gallon drum of this cleaning compound compare to market rates for similar industrial-grade, USDA-biobased, VOC-compliant cleaners?

The price of $4,399.04 for a single 55-gallon drum of concentrated cleaner appears significantly above typical market rates for industrial cleaning solvents, even for specialized bio-based and VOC-compliant formulations. Commercial bulk pricing for similar products often ranges from a few hundred to perhaps a thousand dollars per drum, depending on specific certifications and concentration. This suggests a potential overpayment or a highly unique product specification driving the cost.

What is the operational necessity for a non-hazardous, non-flammable, concentrated cleaner, and could a less specialized, more competitively priced alternative have met the agency's needs?

The operational necessity likely stems from specific environmental, health, and safety (EHS) requirements within the agency or the specific application. Non-hazardous, non-flammable, and VOC-compliant characteristics are often mandated for use in sensitive environments or to meet regulatory standards. However, the high cost warrants an analysis to determine if alternative, more cost-effective products meeting the core requirements (cleaning efficacy, bio-based, VOC compliance) could have been sourced through a more competitive process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Warehousing and Storage › Other Warehousing and Storage

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 721 DEPOT DR, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99501

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,399

Exercised Options: $4,399

Current Obligation: $4,399

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSCC23D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline