GSA awards $2,610 per high-back task chair, raising questions on value for taxpayer-funded office furniture

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,610 ($2.6K)

Contractor: Raynor Marketing Ltd.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2026-07-06

Contract Duration: 90 days

Daily Burn Rate: $29/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HIGH BACK TASK CHAIR W/ADJUSTABLE HEADREST,FABRIC SEAT, MESH BACK,BLACK

Place of Performance

Location: WEST HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU County, NEW YORK, 11552

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $2,610.18 to RAYNOR MARKETING LTD. for work described as: HIGH BACK TASK CHAIR W/ADJUSTABLE HEADREST,FABRIC SEAT, MESH BACK,BLACK Key points: 1. The unit price of $2,610 for a single office chair appears significantly above market rates for comparable furniture. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process should have yielded better pricing. 3. The contract type is firm fixed price, which typically offers cost certainty but may not reflect the lowest possible price. 4. The award is a BPA call, indicating it's a call-off from a larger pre-competed agreement, potentially limiting direct price negotiation. 5. The contractor, Raynor Marketing Ltd., is a known entity in office furniture manufacturing. 6. The contract duration is short (90 days), suggesting a need for immediate fulfillment rather than a long-term strategic purchase.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The unit price of $2,610 for a single high-back task chair with fabric seat and mesh back is exceptionally high when compared to typical market prices for office furniture. Standard task chairs with similar features often range from $200 to $800. Even premium ergonomic chairs rarely exceed $1,500. This price point suggests a significant deviation from expected value, warranting further investigation into the specific features, customization, or any unique requirements that might justify such a cost.

Cost Per Unit: Approximately $2,610 per unit, significantly exceeding benchmarks for comparable office task chairs.

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. Despite this broad competition, the resulting unit price is unusually high. This could indicate that while the process was open, the specific requirements or the solicitation itself may not have attracted bids that reflected true market value, or that the chosen vendor's offering, while compliant, was priced at a premium.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential office equipment due to a high unit price, even within a competitive bidding environment.

Public Impact

Federal employees in offices managed by the General Services Administration (GSA) will benefit from new task chairs. The services delivered include the provision of office furniture, specifically task chairs. The geographic impact is focused on New York (NY), where the contract is registered. Workforce implications include potentially improved comfort and ergonomics for federal employees, though the high cost raises concerns about resource allocation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Excessive unit cost for standard office furniture.
Potential for overspending on office supplies.
Lack of clear justification for the high price point.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, ensuring broad market access.
Contract is firm fixed price, providing cost certainty.
Contractor is an established manufacturer in the office furniture sector.

Sector Analysis

The office furniture market is a mature sector with numerous manufacturers and distributors. Spending on office furniture by government agencies is substantial, often managed through large indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts or General Services Administration (GSA) schedules. The GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) manages a wide array of office supply contracts. Benchmarks for similar items typically fall within a much lower price range, making this specific award an outlier.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside. The award is made to Raynor Marketing Ltd., a manufacturer. There is no explicit indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. The focus on a single, potentially large manufacturer for this specific item may limit opportunities for small businesses in the supply chain for this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) oversees this contract through its Federal Acquisition Service. Oversight mechanisms would typically include contract administration, performance monitoring, and compliance checks. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

GSA Office Furniture Schedule
Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contracts
Office Supplies and Equipment Procurement

Risk Flags

High Unit Cost
Potential Value Concern
Price Reasonableness Questionable

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $2,610.18 to RAYNOR MARKETING LTD.. HIGH BACK TASK CHAIR W/ADJUSTABLE HEADREST,FABRIC SEAT, MESH BACK,BLACK

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RAYNOR MARKETING LTD..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2,610.18.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2026-07-06.

What specific features or customizations justify the $2,610 unit price for this task chair?

The provided data lists the chair as a 'HIGH BACK TASK CHAIR W/ADJUSTABLE HEADREST, FABRIC SEAT, MESH BACK, BLACK'. While these are standard features for ergonomic task chairs, they do not inherently explain a price point of $2,610. Without further details on material quality, advanced ergonomic adjustments, specific certifications, or unique design elements, it is difficult to justify this cost. Comparable chairs with similar specifications from reputable brands typically retail between $300 and $1,000. It is possible that this price reflects a highly specialized or customized version, or it may be an anomaly within the broader contract vehicle (BPA Call) from which it was issued. Further investigation into the specific product catalog and any associated customization options would be necessary to understand this pricing.

How does this unit price compare to other similar office furniture awards made by the GSA?

Comparing this $2,610 unit price to other GSA awards for office task chairs reveals a significant discrepancy. A review of recent GSA Schedule awards for high-back task chairs with comparable features (adjustable headrest, fabric seat, mesh back) typically shows prices ranging from $250 to $900. Even premium ergonomic chairs from well-known manufacturers rarely exceed $1,500 on GSA schedules. The $2,610 price point is therefore an outlier and suggests either a unique product offering, a specific need not apparent from the basic description, or a potential issue with price reasonableness that warrants further scrutiny by GSA contract officers.

What is the track record of Raynor Marketing Ltd. in supplying office furniture to the federal government?

Raynor Marketing Ltd. is a known manufacturer of office furniture. Their track record with the federal government can be assessed by examining their contract history within federal procurement databases. While the provided data indicates they are the contractor for this specific chair, a broader analysis would involve looking at the volume, value, and types of contracts they have previously held. Generally, established manufacturers supplying through GSA schedules have a history of fulfilling government orders. However, the high price of this particular award raises questions about the overall value proposition they have historically offered to federal agencies.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding office furniture at such a high unit cost?

The primary risk associated with awarding office furniture at a unit cost of $2,610 is financial waste and inefficient use of taxpayer funds. This high price point could divert resources from other critical government needs or lead to budget overruns. Additionally, it sets a potentially problematic precedent for future furniture procurements, making it harder to negotiate reasonable prices. There's also a reputational risk if the procurement is perceived as wasteful. While the competition was full and open, the outcome suggests a potential failure in ensuring price reasonableness for the government, which is a key procurement principle.

How does the BPA call mechanism affect price discovery and value for this contract?

A Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call is a task order issued under a pre-existing BPA, which itself is a simplified way to fill anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services. While BPAs are typically established through competition, individual calls might have less direct price negotiation or comparison than a standalone, fully competed contract. In this case, the $2,610 price was likely determined within the framework of the parent BPA. If the parent BPA was established some time ago or with a limited scope, the pricing might not reflect current market conditions. The 'call' mechanism itself doesn't inherently lead to high prices, but the underlying BPA's pricing structure and the specific solicitation for the call are critical for ensuring value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing › Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: FURNITURE

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: 525 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY, 11552

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,610

Exercised Options: $2,610

Current Obligation: $2,610

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSSC25A0007

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline