GSA awards $2,935 contract for yellow toner cartridges to Arizona Industries for the Blind

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,935 ($2.9K)

Contractor: Arizona Industries for the Blind

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-09

End Date: 2026-04-16

Contract Duration: 7 days

Daily Burn Rate: $419/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: HP CF362A LJ TONER CRTG OEM YELLOW

Place of Performance

Location: YUMA, YUMA County, ARIZONA, 85365

State: Arizona Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $2,935.46 to ARIZONA INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND for work described as: HP CF362A LJ TONER CRTG OEM YELLOW Key points: 1. Value for money is difficult to assess due to lack of competition and limited contract duration. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a sole-source award, potentially limiting price discovery. 3. Risk indicators include the short performance period and the absence of competitive bidding. 4. Performance context is limited to a 7-day duration for a single toner cartridge. 5. Sector positioning is within office supplies, a common category for federal procurement.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The unit price of $2,935.46 for a single yellow toner cartridge appears exceptionally high when compared to typical market prices for such supplies. Without further details on the specific model or quantity, it's challenging to benchmark accurately. However, standard OEM toner cartridges for enterprise-level printers usually range from $50 to $200. This price point warrants further investigation into potential mispricing or unique circumstances not evident in the provided data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded as 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Small Purchase Procedures), indicating it was not openly competed. The data suggests a sole-source or limited competition scenario, likely due to specific program requirements or contractor capabilities. The absence of a competitive bidding process means that the government did not receive multiple price offers, which could lead to a less favorable price than if it had been competed.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have paid a premium for this toner cartridge due to the lack of competitive pressure to drive down costs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is Arizona Industries for the Blind, a non-profit organization that employs individuals with blindness. The service delivered is the provision of a specific OEM yellow toner cartridge. The geographic impact is limited to the location where the toner cartridge is supplied, likely within Arizona. Workforce implications are positive for the employees of Arizona Industries for the Blind.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High unit cost for a single toner cartridge.
Lack of competitive bidding raises concerns about price reasonableness.
Short contract duration may indicate a specific, immediate need rather than ongoing supply.

Positive Signals

Supports a non-profit organization that employs individuals with blindness.
Procurement aligns with federal initiatives to support specific socio-economic groups.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader office supplies and stationery sector, a segment of the federal procurement market that is consistently large. Federal agencies procure vast quantities of office supplies annually. While this specific award is for a single toner cartridge, it represents a small transaction within a much larger category. Comparable spending benchmarks for office supplies are typically measured in billions of dollars annually across all federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

Although the contractor, Arizona Industries for the Blind, is a non-profit employing individuals with blindness, this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses. The award mechanism and the nature of the contractor suggest a focus on socio-economic goals rather than traditional small business set-asides. There are no explicit subcontracting implications detailed in this award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. As a BPA Call, it is a task order against an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement. Accountability measures would involve adherence to the terms of the BPA and the specific call order. Transparency is limited by the non-competed nature of the award.

Related Government Programs

Office Supplies Procurement
GSA Schedules Program
Blind-Shops Program
Federal BPA Calls

Risk Flags

Potential overpricing
Lack of competition
Unusual unit cost

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $2,935.46 to ARIZONA INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND. HP CF362A LJ TONER CRTG OEM YELLOW

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARIZONA INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2,935.46.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-09. End: 2026-04-16.

What is the specific model of the HP CF362A toner cartridge, and what is its typical market price?

The HP CF362A is a specific OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) yellow toner cartridge designed for certain HP LaserJet Enterprise printers. A typical market price for this individual cartridge, when purchased through standard retail or office supply channels, generally ranges from $80 to $150, depending on the vendor and any available discounts. The awarded price of $2,935.46 is extraordinarily high for a single unit and suggests either a significant misunderstanding of the product, a bulk purchase misrepresented as a single unit, or a clerical error in the data provided. Further clarification on the quantity purchased is essential to assess the true value.

Why was this contract not competed under SAP?

The designation 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' indicates that the procurement did not follow the standard competitive procedures for small purchases (under the simplified acquisition threshold). This could be due to several reasons, including the use of a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) where this is a call order, a specific statutory exception, or a determination that competition was not feasible or practicable. Given the contractor is Arizona Industries for the Blind, it's possible the award falls under specific socio-economic procurement programs that allow for non-competitive awards to qualified non-profit agencies serving individuals with blindness, such as those authorized under the Javits-Wagner-O'Neill Act (JWOD) or similar initiatives, which prioritize employment for this demographic.

What is the typical performance period for a BPA call for office supplies?

Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call orders for office supplies can vary significantly in their performance periods, depending on the nature of the requirement. For routine supplies, call orders might have short durations, such as the 7 days indicated here, to fulfill an immediate need or replenish stock. However, BPAs themselves can be established for longer periods, often up to five years, with individual call orders placed against them as needed. A very short duration like 7 days for a toner cartridge suggests a specific, urgent requirement or a trial purchase rather than a long-term supply agreement.

How does the price of $2,935.46 for a single toner cartridge compare to historical federal spending on similar items?

Historical federal spending data on similar office supplies, including toner cartridges, consistently shows prices far below $2,935.46 for a single unit. Standard OEM toner cartridges, even for high-volume enterprise printers, typically cost between $50 and $200. The awarded price is an extreme outlier. If this price reflects a bulk purchase of many cartridges, the per-unit cost might be reasonable. However, as presented for a single unit, it is highly anomalous and suggests a potential data entry error, a misclassification of the item, or a highly unusual circumstance not captured by the basic data.

What are the implications of awarding contracts to organizations like Arizona Industries for the Blind?

Awarding contracts to organizations like Arizona Industries for the Blind has significant socio-economic implications. These contracts are often part of federal programs designed to create employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, particularly blindness. By directing procurement to such entities, the government fulfills its social responsibility mandates and supports the economic independence of a vulnerable population. This approach leverages federal purchasing power to achieve social good, although it requires careful management to ensure value for money is still obtained, often through specific pricing agreements or non-competitive award structures authorized by law.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Retail Trade › Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores › Office Supplies and Stationery Stores

Product/Service Code: OFFICE SUPPLIES AND DEVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT (K)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 515 N 51ST AVE, PHOENIX, AZ, 85043

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,935

Exercised Options: $2,935

Current Obligation: $2,935

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS23FGA007

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline