Grainger's $199,770 Contract for Anti-Flash Gloves Awarded Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $199,770 ($199.8K)

Contractor: W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-10

End Date: 2026-04-17

Contract Duration: 7 days

Daily Burn Rate: $28.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: (MIN 10) WHITE OS ANTI-FLASH GLOVES FLAM

Place of Performance

Location: LAKE FOREST, LAKE County, ILLINOIS, 60045

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $199,770 to W.W. GRAINGER, INC. for work described as: (MIN 10) WHITE OS ANTI-FLASH GLOVES FLAM Key points: 1. Contract awarded to W.W. Grainger, Inc. for specialized gloves. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract has a short duration of 7 days. 4. The spending category is Home Centers (NAICS 444110).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $199,770 for a 7-day period appears high for gloves. Benchmarking against similar PPE contracts is needed to assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential protective equipment. The fairness of the price relative to market rates will determine the ultimate taxpayer impact.

Public Impact

Ensures availability of critical safety equipment for federal employees. Supports a large, established supplier (W.W. Grainger) in the federal market. Potential for price fluctuations due to economic price adjustment clause.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High per-unit cost potential given the contract value and short duration.
Economic price adjustment clause could lead to cost overruns.
Lack of detailed product specifications makes value assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition.
Contract supports essential safety needs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the retail trade sector, specifically home centers, for the procurement of personal protective equipment. Spending benchmarks for similar PPE contracts would provide context for the $199,770 award.

Small Business Impact

While W.W. Grainger is a large business, the contract does not specify any set-asides for small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were excluded or had opportunities to participate.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service managed this award. Oversight should focus on the justification for the contract value and the impact of the economic price adjustment.

Related Government Programs

Home Centers
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potentially high per-unit cost.
Economic price adjustment introduces cost uncertainty.
Short contract duration may indicate urgency or limited scope.
Lack of small business set-aside.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $199,770 to W.W. GRAINGER, INC.. (MIN 10) WHITE OS ANTI-FLASH GLOVES FLAM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is W.W. GRAINGER, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $199,770.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-10. End: 2026-04-17.

What is the estimated per-unit cost of these gloves based on the contract value and expected quantity?

Without knowing the exact quantity of gloves to be procured under this $199,770 contract, it's impossible to determine the per-unit cost. The short 7-day duration suggests a specific, potentially urgent need. A high per-unit cost could indicate a premium for rapid delivery or specialized features, warranting further investigation into the product's specifications and market comparables.

What are the specific risks associated with the 'FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT' contract type for these gloves?

The primary risk with an economic price adjustment (EPA) clause is that the final cost to the government could exceed the initial fixed price if market prices for raw materials or labor increase significantly. For specialized items like anti-flash gloves, this could lead to unexpected cost overruns, impacting the overall budget and potentially reducing the quantity of gloves purchased if funds are capped.

How effectively does this contract ensure the government receives high-quality, compliant anti-flash gloves at a competitive price?

The use of 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' is a positive indicator for achieving a competitive price. However, the effectiveness in ensuring quality hinges on the clarity and rigor of the product specifications within the solicitation. Without detailed technical requirements, there's a risk that the lowest bid might not correspond to the highest quality or most suitable product for the intended use.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Retail Trade › Building Material and Supplies Dealers › Home Centers

Product/Service Code: HAND TOOLS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

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

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 100, GRAINGER PARKWAY, LAKE FOREST, IL, 60045

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $199,770

Exercised Options: $199,770

Current Obligation: $199,770

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSCC21A0001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline