GSA awards $602,880 for hearing protection devices, highlighting hardware store procurement channels

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $60,288 ($60.3K)

Contractor: MSC Industrial Direct CO., Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-10

End Date: 2026-04-17

Contract Duration: 7 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 23DB COYOTE PELTOR V FOLDABLE HEADSET

Place of Performance

Location: MELVILLE, SUFFOLK County, NEW YORK, 11747

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $60,288 to MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. for work described as: 23DB COYOTE PELTOR V FOLDABLE HEADSET Key points: 1. Procurement through a General Services Administration (GSA) BPA call suggests established channels for common goods. 2. The contract's duration of 7 days indicates a need for immediate or short-term supply. 3. Fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for this specific acquisition. 4. The award to MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. points to reliance on large, established distributors for federal needs. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 444130 (Hardware Stores) positions this as a retail-level purchase. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags indicates a focus on broad market access for this item.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific unit pricing and comparison to similar bulk purchases of hearing protection. However, the total award amount of $602,880 for a 7-day period suggests a significant volume or a higher-than-average unit cost. The use of a BPA call implies that pricing was likely pre-negotiated, but the specific value-for-money compared to open market or other contract vehicles is not immediately apparent from the provided data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition via a BPA call. This indicates that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid on the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), and this specific call likely leveraged that pre-competed framework. The number of bidders for the BPA itself is not specified, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a competitive process was initiated.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to better pricing and a wider selection of qualified vendors.

Public Impact

Federal employees and military personnel requiring hearing protection will benefit from this contract. The services delivered include the provision of foldable hearing protection headsets. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, given the GSA's role, though specific delivery locations are not detailed. Workforce implications are minimal, as this contract focuses on the supply of equipment rather than direct labor services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited transparency on specific unit pricing within the BPA call.
Potential for higher costs if the BPA pricing is not regularly benchmarked against market rates.
Short contract duration might indicate a reactive procurement rather than strategic planning.

Positive Signals

Award through GSA leverages existing, pre-competed contract vehicles.
Fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for this acquisition.
Procurement through a known distributor like MSC Industrial Direct suggests reliability of supply.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader industrial and hardware sector, specifically related to safety equipment. The market for personal protective equipment (PPE), including hearing protection, is substantial, driven by regulatory requirements and workplace safety standards across various industries. Federal agencies often procure such items through large distributors or specialized government contracts to ensure compliance and availability.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the procurement was open to all responsible sources, including large businesses. While MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is a large entity, the underlying BPA may have provisions for small business subcontracting, though this is not detailed in the provided data. The lack of a small business set-aside means direct opportunities for small businesses in this specific award are unlikely.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service which manages many BPAs. Accountability is maintained through the fixed-price contract terms and the vendor's performance history. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though detailed operational data may be limited.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Supply Schedule
Personal Protective Equipment Procurement
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Supply Contracts
General Services Administration (GSA) Blanket Purchase Agreements

Risk Flags

Potential for suboptimal pricing if BPA rates are not actively managed.
Short contract duration may indicate urgent need, potentially impacting long-term supply strategy.
Lack of specific quantity data hinders detailed value-for-money analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $60,288 to MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.. 23DB COYOTE PELTOR V FOLDABLE HEADSET

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $60,288.

What is the period of performance?

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

What is the specific unit cost for the PELTOR V FOLDABLE HEADSET under this BPA call, and how does it compare to market rates for similar products?

The provided data does not include the specific unit cost for the PELTOR V FOLDABLE HEADSET. The total award amount is $602,880 over a 7-day period. To determine the unit cost, one would need to know the quantity of headsets purchased. Without the quantity, a direct comparison to market rates is impossible. However, one could research the retail price of this specific model from MSC Industrial Direct's public catalog or other hardware suppliers to establish a baseline. If the unit price derived from the total award and an estimated quantity significantly exceeds retail or other federal contract pricing for the same or comparable items, it would indicate potential value concerns.

What is the track record of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. in fulfilling federal contracts, particularly for safety equipment?

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is a large, established supplier of industrial products and services, including safety equipment, to the federal government. They frequently hold positions on GSA Federal Supply Schedules and participate in various contract vehicles. Their track record generally involves fulfilling a high volume of orders across numerous agencies. Specific performance metrics for this particular BPA call or for safety equipment contracts would require deeper analysis of contract performance data, including on-time delivery rates, order accuracy, and any past performance evaluations or disputes. However, their sustained presence in the federal market suggests a generally reliable performance history.

How does the use of a GSA BPA call for hardware items like hearing protection compare to other federal procurement methods in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness?

Utilizing a GSA BPA call for common hardware items like hearing protection can be highly efficient and cost-effective. BPAs are established over existing contracts (like GSA Schedules) and streamline the ordering process for repetitive needs. This reduces administrative burden and lead times compared to initiating new solicitations for each purchase. Pricing is often pre-negotiated, providing a degree of cost certainty. However, the cost-effectiveness hinges on the quality of the initial BPA negotiation and ongoing price monitoring. If the BPA pricing is not competitive or regularly updated, it could become less cost-effective over time compared to opportunistic open-market purchases or other specialized contract vehicles.

What are the potential risks associated with a short, 7-day contract duration for essential safety equipment?

A short, 7-day contract duration for essential safety equipment like hearing protection primarily indicates an immediate or urgent need. The main risk is that this short timeframe might not be sufficient to procure the required quantity if unforeseen supply chain disruptions occur or if the initial demand estimate was inaccurate. This could lead to a shortage of critical safety gear. Furthermore, such short durations can sometimes signal reactive rather than proactive procurement, potentially leading to higher per-unit costs if expedited shipping or less favorable terms are necessary. It also limits the time for thorough vendor vetting or competitive bidding if the BPA framework wasn't already in place.

What is the historical spending pattern for hearing protection devices by the General Services Administration or similar agencies?

Historical spending patterns for hearing protection devices by GSA and other agencies typically show consistent demand driven by safety regulations across various federal workplaces, including facilities management, maintenance, and operational roles. Spending often occurs through GSA Schedules, specifically those covering industrial supplies, safety equipment, or medical/tactical gear. Agencies like the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs also represent significant spending in this category. Analyzing past spending would involve looking at the total dollar volume awarded annually for relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 444130, 339113) or Product Service Codes (PSCs) related to hearing protection. This data would reveal trends in demand, average contract values, and preferred procurement channels.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Retail Trade › Building Material and Supplies Dealers › Hardware Stores

Product/Service Code: HAND TOOLS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 515 BROADHOLLOW RD STE 1000, MELVILLE, NY, 11747

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $60,288

Exercised Options: $60,288

Current Obligation: $60,288

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSCC21A0004

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline