GSA awards $8,819 BPA Call for toner cartridges, highlighting potential for price adjustments

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,819 ($8.8K)

Contractor: Supplies NOW Inc

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-04-09

Contract Duration: 6 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: CARTRIDGE, TONER I.A.W. XEROX P/N 106R03501

Place of Performance

Location: GREENACRES, PALM BEACH County, FLORIDA, 33463

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $8,819.04 to SUPPLIES NOW INC for work described as: CARTRIDGE, TONER I.A.W. XEROX P/N 106R03501 Key points: 1. Value for money is subject to economic price adjustments, requiring ongoing monitoring. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a full and open competition, suggesting a competitive market. 3. Risk indicators include potential price volatility due to economic adjustments. 4. Performance context is a short-term call against a broader BPA. 5. Sector positioning is within office supplies, a mature and competitive market.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The awarded amount of $8,819 for toner cartridges appears to be for a relatively small quantity given the short duration of the call (6 days). The contract type, Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FP-EPA), introduces a variable that could impact the final cost. Without knowing the exact quantity or the specific economic factors that can trigger adjustments, a direct value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the unit price benchmark of approximately $1470 per cartridge (based on the provided 'br' value, though its exact meaning is unclear without more context) seems high for standard toner, suggesting potential overpayment or a specialized product.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific mechanism used was a BPA Call, which suggests it was likely competed among pre-qualified vendors on an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). The level of competition for the BPA itself would influence price discovery, but for this specific call, the details of how many bids were received are not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down prices and encourage innovation. However, the effectiveness of this benefit depends on the actual number of bids received and the terms of the underlying BPA.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring specific Xerox toner cartridges (P/N 106R03501) will benefit from this award. The service delivered is the provision of essential office supplies. The geographic impact is limited to Florida, as indicated by the 'st' and 'sn' fields. Workforce implications are minimal, primarily related to the logistics of toner delivery and installation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for price increases due to economic price adjustment clauses.
High apparent unit cost suggests a need for further investigation into product specifics or pricing.
Short duration of the call may indicate urgent or specific needs, potentially at a premium.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Utilizes an existing BPA, which can streamline procurement for recurring needs.
Contractor 'SUPPLIES NOW INC' is providing a necessary office supply.

Sector Analysis

The office supplies sector is a mature and highly competitive market. Federal spending in this category is substantial, often managed through large IDIQs and BPAs to leverage economies of scale. While this specific award is small, it falls within a broader category of goods that agencies consistently procure. Benchmarking against similar office supply contracts would be necessary to fully assess value, but the general market is characterized by numerous suppliers and a wide range of product pricing.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside for this BPA Call. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The primary contractor is not identified as a small business.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service, which manages many BPAs. Accountability is maintained through contract terms and performance monitoring. Transparency is facilitated by contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics for such a short-term call may not be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service BPAs
Office Supplies Procurement
Toner Cartridge Contracts

Risk Flags

High Apparent Unit Cost
Economic Price Adjustment Clause
Short Contract Duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $8,819.04 to SUPPLIES NOW INC. CARTRIDGE, TONER I.A.W. XEROX P/N 106R03501

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SUPPLIES NOW INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8,819.04.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-04-09.

What is the specific quantity of toner cartridges being procured under this BPA Call, and what is the rationale for the high apparent unit cost?

The provided data does not explicitly state the quantity of toner cartridges. However, the total award amount is $8,819.04. The 'br' field, listed as 1470, is likely a benchmark or reference price, but its exact meaning in relation to the awarded price is unclear without further context. If we assume 'br' represents a unit price, then $1470 per cartridge seems exceptionally high for standard office toner. It's possible this is for a specialized, high-yield, or large-format printer cartridge, or that the 'br' value is not a direct unit price comparison. Without the quantity, calculating the actual unit price paid is impossible. Further investigation into the specific Xerox P/N 106R03501 and its market price is needed to determine if the $8,819.04 total represents good value for the quantity received.

How does the 'Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment' (FP-EPA) clause typically affect the final cost of toner cartridges compared to a firm fixed price?

A Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FP-EPA) contract allows for adjustments to the contract price based on specified economic factors, such as changes in the cost of raw materials, labor, or other economic indices. For toner cartridges, this could mean the price could increase if the cost of components or manufacturing rises. Unlike a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract, where the price is set and does not change regardless of market fluctuations, FP-EPA introduces price volatility. This can be beneficial for contractors by protecting them from unforeseen cost increases, but it introduces risk for the government, as the final price paid could be higher than initially anticipated. The specific economic factors and adjustment formulas outlined in the contract are crucial for understanding the potential impact on the final cost.

What is the typical track record of 'SUPPLIES NOW INC' in fulfilling federal contracts, particularly for office supplies?

Information regarding the specific track record of 'SUPPLIES NOW INC' in fulfilling federal contracts is not provided in the given data snippet. To assess their reliability and past performance, one would typically need to consult federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for contract history, past performance evaluations (if available), and any reported issues or disputes. Without this external data, it's impossible to comment on their track record. However, their ability to secure a BPA Call through GSA suggests they are at least registered and potentially have some established presence within the federal supply chain.

How does the $8,819.04 award compare to historical federal spending on similar toner cartridges (Xerox P/N 106R03501) by the GSA or other agencies?

The provided data does not include historical spending information for this specific toner cartridge (Xerox P/N 106R03501) or comparable items. To make such a comparison, one would need to query federal procurement databases for past awards of the same or similar part numbers, ideally from the same or similar agencies (like GSA). Analyzing the quantities, prices paid, contract types, and competition levels of previous awards would establish a benchmark. Given the apparent high unit cost suggested by the 'br' field, a historical comparison is essential to determine if this award represents a fair and reasonable price or if it indicates an anomaly requiring further scrutiny.

What are the potential risks associated with the short duration (6 days) of this BPA Call?

The short duration of this BPA Call (April 3, 2026, to April 9, 2026) suggests it might be intended to fulfill an immediate or urgent need, or perhaps a very specific, limited requirement. Potential risks include a lack of sufficient time for thorough market research or competitive bidding if this were a new requirement rather than a call against an existing BPA. It could also indicate a need for expedited delivery, which might come at a premium price. Furthermore, if this call represents a recurring need, its short duration might imply a fragmented procurement strategy, potentially missing opportunities for volume discounts achievable through longer-term contracts or larger orders.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing › Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: OFFICE SUPPLIES AND DEVICES

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: 3900 WOODLAKE BLVD, GREENACRES, FL, 33463

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $8,819

Exercised Options: $8,819

Current Obligation: $8,819

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSSC26A0005

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline