GSA awards $4,434 contract for all-weather pens from JL Darling, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,434 ($4.4K)

Contractor: JL Darling, LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-04-14

Contract Duration: 11 days

Daily Burn Rate: $403/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: PEN, ALL WEATHER: ITEM NAME PEN, ALL WEATHER I.A.W. J L DARLING CORP. P/N 97 OR EQUAL COMMERCIAL OVERALL PEN LENGTH 5.25 INCHES BASIS WEIGHT 0.06 POUNDS UNIT DESIGN ALL-WEATHER INK COLOR BLACK INK CARTRIDGE REFILLABILITY REFILLABLE BARREL COLOR BLACK

Place of Performance

Location: FIFE, PIERCE County, WASHINGTON, 98424

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $4,434 to JL DARLING, LLC for work described as: PEN, ALL WEATHER: ITEM NAME PEN, ALL WEATHER I.A.W. J L DARLING CORP. P/N 97 OR EQUAL COMMERCIAL OVERALL PEN LENGTH 5.25 INCHES BASIS WEIGHT 0.06 POUNDS UNIT DESIGN ALL-WEATHER INK COLOR BLACK INK CARTRIDGE REFILLABILITY REFILLABLE BARREL COLOR BLACK Key points: 1. Low contract value suggests a routine procurement for common supplies. 2. JL Darling, LLC is the sole awardee, indicating potential lack of broader market engagement. 3. Risk appears low given the commodity nature of the item and short duration. 4. Spending falls under Stationery Product Manufacturing (NAICS 322230).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4,434 for pens is relatively small. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for basic writing instruments suggests this price is within a reasonable range for bulk purchases, though specific per-unit cost data is not provided.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which is the preferred method. However, the award to a single vendor, JL Darling, LLC, raises questions about the extent of actual competition achieved and whether multiple bids were truly considered or submitted.

Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is minimal due to the low contract value. The use of full and open competition, even if resulting in a single awardee, aims to secure fair market prices.

Public Impact

Federal employees will receive all-weather black refillable pens. The contract supports the Stationery Product Manufacturing sector. Procurement ensures availability of essential office supplies for government operations. The short duration of the contract (11 days) indicates an immediate need or a call against an existing agreement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 40 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited visibility into the competitive landscape despite 'full and open' status.
No specific per-unit cost data provided for detailed value analysis.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Short contract duration suggests efficient fulfillment of a specific need.
Item is a common, low-cost commodity.

Sector Analysis

This procurement falls under the Stationery Product Manufacturing sector (NAICS 322230). Spending benchmarks for this sector typically involve office supplies, paper products, and writing instruments. The value here is very small compared to broader industry spending.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (SB status is 'N'). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses participated in the competition or if there were specific set-asides.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) awarded this contract through its Federal Acquisition Service. Oversight typically involves ensuring compliance with acquisition regulations and contract terms. The low value and short duration suggest minimal oversight complexity.

Related Government Programs

Stationery Product Manufacturing
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of per-unit cost data hinders value analysis.
Ambiguity regarding the number of bids received despite 'full and open' status.
No small business participation indicated.
Limited information on the specific benefits of the 'all-weather' feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $4,434 to JL DARLING, LLC. PEN, ALL WEATHER: ITEM NAME PEN, ALL WEATHER I.A.W. J L DARLING CORP. P/N 97 OR EQUAL COMMERCIAL OVERALL PEN LENGTH 5.25 INCHES BASIS WEIGHT 0.06 POUNDS UNIT DESIGN ALL-WEATHER INK COLOR BLACK INK CARTRIDGE REFILLABILITY REFILLABLE BARREL COLOR BLACK

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JL DARLING, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4,434.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-04-14.

What was the specific per-unit cost for these all-weather pens?

The provided data does not include the specific per-unit cost. The total award amount is $4,434. Without the quantity of pens purchased, calculating the per-unit cost is impossible. This information is crucial for a detailed value assessment and comparison against market rates for similar all-weather pens.

How many bids were received under the 'full and open competition'?

The data states 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' but does not specify the number of bids received. While the method allows for broad participation, the award to a single vendor, JL Darling, LLC, raises questions about the actual level of competition. Understanding the number of bids would clarify if the competition was robust or if other vendors chose not to bid.

What is the expected lifespan or usage rate for these pens to justify an 'all-weather' designation?

The data describes the pens as 'ALL WEATHER' and refillable, with a specific length and weight, but does not detail their expected lifespan or usage rate. This information is important for assessing the long-term value and suitability for government use in various environmental conditions. Without this, it's difficult to gauge if the 'all-weather' feature provides significant operational benefits.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Converted Paper Product Manufacturing › Stationery Product 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: 2614 PACIFIC HWY E, FIFE, WA, 98424

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,434

Exercised Options: $4,434

Current Obligation: $4,434

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSEA22A0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline