GSA Awards $9M Contract for 7 Days of Nitrile Gloves to National Industries for the Blind

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,005 ($9.0K)

Contractor: National Industries for the Blind

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-06

End Date: 2026-04-13

Contract Duration: 7 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: GLOVES,DISPOSABLE,NITRILE:AMBIDEXTROUS,POWDER-FREE,LATEX-FREE,INDUSTRIAL GRADE,NITRILE GLOVES FOR GENERAL PURPOSE USE. NITRILE SHALL BE SOFT FORMULATION ALLOWS GLOVES TO CONFORM TO HAND. 4 MILS THICK MIN. SIZE LARGE, 9 1/2". U/I BX (100 EA PER BX)

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22305

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $9,005 to NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND for work described as: GLOVES,DISPOSABLE,NITRILE:AMBIDEXTROUS,POWDER-FREE,LATEX-FREE,INDUSTRIAL GRADE,NITRILE GLOVES FOR GENERAL PURPOSE USE. NITRILE SHALL BE SOFT FORMULATION ALLOWS GLOVES TO CONFORM TO HAND. 4 MILS THICK MIN. SIZE LARGE, 9 1/2". U/I BX (100 EA PER BX) Key points: 1. The contract is for disposable, powder-free, latex-free nitrile gloves, size large. 2. The supplier, National Industries for the Blind, is a non-profit organization. 3. The contract duration is very short (7 days), suggesting an immediate need or a bridge contract. 4. The procurement method is 'Not Available for Competition', indicating potential limitations or specific sourcing requirements.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Pricing information is not available in the provided data. Without a benchmark or comparison to similar contracts for industrial-grade nitrile gloves, it is difficult to assess if the price is reasonable.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract is listed as 'Not Available for Competition', which typically implies a sole-source or limited competition scenario. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher cost to taxpayers compared to a fully competitive procurement.

Public Impact

Ensures availability of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for government use. Supports a non-profit organization that employs individuals with blindness. Short contract duration may indicate an urgent operational requirement or a temporary solution.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition raises concerns about price reasonableness.
Short contract duration could indicate poor planning or an emergency situation.
No clear indication of performance metrics or quality assurance.

Positive Signals

Supports a mission-driven organization (National Industries for the Blind).
Provides essential supplies for government operations.

Sector Analysis

The procurement falls under the 'Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers' sector. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on the type of supplies needed by government agencies. Without specific benchmarks for disposable gloves, it's hard to gauge if this award is typical.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, National Industries for the Blind, is a non-profit organization, not a small business. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the General Services Administration (GSA) through its Federal Acquisition Service, suggesting adherence to federal procurement regulations. However, the 'Not Available for Competition' status warrants further scrutiny.

Related Government Programs

Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and potentially increases cost.
Lack of pricing data prevents value assessment.
Extremely short contract duration raises questions about planning and urgency.
No performance metrics or quality assurance details provided.
Potential for higher taxpayer cost due to non-competitive award.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $9,005 to NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND. GLOVES,DISPOSABLE,NITRILE:AMBIDEXTROUS,POWDER-FREE,LATEX-FREE,INDUSTRIAL GRADE,NITRILE GLOVES FOR GENERAL PURPOSE USE. NITRILE SHALL BE SOFT FORMULATION ALLOWS GLOVES TO CONFORM TO HAND. 4 MILS THICK MIN. SIZE LARGE, 9 1/2". U/I BX (100 EA PER BX)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $9,005.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-06. End: 2026-04-13.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The justification for awarding this contract as 'Not Available for Competition' is not provided in the data. Typically, this designation is used when only one source is capable of meeting the requirement, or for specific reasons like national security or urgent and compelling needs. Further investigation into the contract file would be required to understand the precise rationale.

How does the unit price of these nitrile gloves compare to market rates for similar industrial-grade gloves?

The provided data does not include pricing details, making it impossible to compare the unit cost against market rates. Without this information, assessing the value for money and potential overpayment is not feasible. A benchmark analysis against commercially available equivalent products would be necessary.

What is the intended use and criticality of these gloves given the extremely short contract duration?

The short 7-day duration suggests an immediate and critical need for these gloves, possibly to cover an unexpected shortage or a gap in existing supply chains. The specific application is not detailed, but as industrial-grade nitrile gloves, they are likely for general-purpose use in environments requiring hand protection, such as maintenance, logistics, or certain administrative functions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Wholesale Trade › Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers › Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers

Product/Service Code: CLEANING EQPT AND SUPPLIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3000 POTOMAC AVE, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22305

Business Categories: AbilityOne Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,005

Exercised Options: $9,005

Current Obligation: $9,005

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSWA22D0009

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline