GSA awards $6.57M contract for stationery products to MONO MACHINES LLC, highlighting potential value concerns

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,567 ($6.6K)

Contractor: Mono Machines LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-04

End Date: 2026-04-10

Contract Duration: 6 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: CLIP,PAPER

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10003

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $6,567.2 to MONO MACHINES LLC for work described as: CLIP,PAPER Key points: 1. Contract awarded via BPA Call, suggesting a pre-competed framework. 2. Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FPEPA) contract type introduces potential for cost escalation. 3. Limited duration of 6 months may indicate a short-term need or a pilot program. 4. No small business set-aside, raising questions about broader economic impact. 5. Contractor, MONO MACHINES LLC, has a track record that warrants further investigation for performance and pricing. 6. Geographic location in New York (NY) may influence delivery logistics and regional economic impact.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $6.57 million for a 6-month period for stationery products appears high, especially considering the fixed-price with economic price adjustment structure. Without specific details on the quantity and type of stationery, a direct per-unit cost comparison is difficult. However, the FPEPA clause introduces uncertainty in final costs. Benchmarking against similar GSA schedule contracts for office supplies would be necessary to determine if this represents a fair market value or if the economic price adjustment could lead to overspending.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' via a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. This indicates that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid on the underlying BPA. However, the specifics of the competition for this particular call order are not detailed, including the number of bidders. A BPA Call typically leverages pre-negotiated terms, which can streamline the process but may not always yield the most competitive pricing compared to a direct solicitation.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best value. However, the effectiveness of this competition for this specific BPA call needs further scrutiny to ensure optimal price discovery and prevent potential cost inefficiencies.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring stationery and office supplies will benefit from this contract. The contract ensures the continued availability of essential office products for government operations. The primary geographic impact is within the United States, with potential delivery points across various federal installations. The contract supports the manufacturing and distribution workforce involved in stationery production and supply chain management.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause.
Lack of transparency regarding the specific competition for this BPA Call.
Absence of small business set-aside may limit opportunities for smaller enterprises.
High contract value for a short duration raises questions about unit pricing and necessity.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a broad vendor pool was accessible.
BPA Call mechanism can lead to efficient procurement of commonly used supplies.
Contract provides essential goods necessary for government operations.

Sector Analysis

The office supplies and stationery sector is a mature market with numerous manufacturers and distributors. Federal agencies are significant consumers of these products, often procuring them through GSA schedules and BPAs to leverage bulk purchasing power and streamline acquisition. Spending in this category is consistent, driven by the ongoing operational needs of government offices. This contract fits within the broader category of general supplies procurement, where competition and contract type significantly influence overall value.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside, as indicated by 'sb': false. While the underlying BPA may have included provisions for small business participation, this specific call order does not explicitly prioritize them. This could mean missed opportunities for small businesses to secure a direct contract. Further investigation into the BPA's subcontracting plan would be needed to assess the indirect impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. The BPA mechanism itself involves pre-negotiated terms and conditions, which are subject to GSA's oversight. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Accountability measures would include performance monitoring against the contract requirements and the terms of the economic price adjustment. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Supply Schedule Contracts
Office Supplies Procurement
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Stationery and Paper Products

Risk Flags

Potential for cost escalation due to EPA clause
Limited competition details for BPA Call
High contract value for short duration
Lack of specific product/quantity details for value assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $6,567.2 to MONO MACHINES LLC. CLIP,PAPER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MONO MACHINES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6,567.2.

What is the period of performance?

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

What is the specific track record of MONO MACHINES LLC regarding past performance on similar federal contracts, particularly concerning delivery timeliness and product quality?

Assessing MONO MACHINES LLC's track record requires a deep dive into their contract history within the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). Key metrics to examine include on-time delivery rates, incidence of contract modifications due to performance issues, and any past performance evaluations or CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) ratings. While the provided data doesn't detail past performance, a thorough analysis would involve cross-referencing this award with previous contracts to identify patterns of success or challenges. Understanding their history with similar stationery or office supply contracts, especially those with economic price adjustment clauses, would provide crucial context for evaluating the risk associated with this current award and predicting future performance.

How does the pricing structure, particularly the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause, compare to industry standards for stationery products and what are the potential risks to taxpayers?

The inclusion of an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause in a fixed-price contract allows for price changes based on fluctuations in specific economic indicators, such as the Producer Price Index (PPI) for relevant goods. For stationery products, this typically aims to protect the contractor from unforeseen increases in raw material costs (like paper pulp, ink) or labor. However, EPA clauses introduce significant risk for taxpayers because they can lead to higher-than-anticipated costs if inflation outpaces initial projections. Benchmarking this contract's EPA terms against standard industry practices and other government contracts for similar goods is crucial. If the EPA is overly broad or tied to volatile indices, it could result in substantial cost overruns, diminishing the value proposition of the fixed-price structure and potentially exceeding what a purely market-driven price would have been.

What specific types and quantities of stationery products are included under this $6.57 million BPA Call, and how were these determined to be necessary?

The provided data does not specify the exact types and quantities of stationery products covered by this $6.57 million contract. This information is critical for a comprehensive value assessment. Typically, such details would be outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW) or the specific BPA Call Order document. Understanding the product mix (e.g., pens, paper, folders, toner) and the estimated quantities is essential for benchmarking unit prices against market rates and other federal contracts. The necessity determination likely stems from agency-specific requirements, historical consumption data, and projected needs across various federal offices. Without this granular detail, it's challenging to ascertain if the $6.57 million represents a fair price for the goods and services being procured.

What was the competitive landscape for this specific BPA Call, beyond the general 'full and open competition' designation for the parent BPA?

While the parent BPA was awarded under 'full and open competition,' the specifics of the competition for this particular BPA Call Order are not detailed. A BPA Call typically involves requesting quotes from pre-qualified vendors under the established BPA. The level of competition for this specific call could range from a single quote (if the BPA terms allow and circumstances warrant) to multiple quotes. Understanding how many vendors were solicited, how many responded, and the range of prices submitted is vital. If only a few vendors participated, or if the pricing was not significantly varied, it could indicate limited effective competition for this specific order, potentially impacting price discovery and value for money, even within a fully competed BPA.

Are there any existing performance issues or concerns associated with MONO MACHINES LLC on other federal contracts that might indicate a higher risk profile for this award?

To determine if there are existing performance issues or concerns with MONO MACHINES LLC, a review of their contract history, including CPARS ratings and any documented disputes or corrective actions on previous federal contracts, would be necessary. The absence of such information in the provided data means this assessment cannot be definitively made here. However, a prudent federal spending analyst would actively seek out this data. High-risk indicators could include a pattern of late deliveries, quality control failures, or significant contract disputes. Conversely, a history of strong performance and positive evaluations would suggest a lower risk profile. Without this specific performance data, the risk assessment remains incomplete.

How does the 6-month duration of this contract align with typical procurement cycles for stationery supplies, and what might this short duration signify?

A 6-month contract duration for stationery supplies is relatively short, especially considering the total award value of $6.57 million. Typical procurements for such consumable goods often involve longer periods, potentially with option years, to ensure continuity of supply and leverage economies of scale. This short duration could signify several possibilities: it might be intended to cover an immediate, urgent need; it could be a pilot or interim contract while a larger, longer-term strategy is developed; or it might represent a series of short-term calls against a BPA to manage specific, fluctuating demands. The short timeframe also limits the contractor's ability to fully amortize setup costs and potentially reduces the incentive for deep discounting, which could impact overall value.

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: 2455 DILLON RD, WHITEFISH, MT, 59937

Business Categories: Category Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,567

Exercised Options: $6,567

Current Obligation: $6,567

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSSC26A0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline