GSA Awards $4.96M Contract for Corrugated Boxes to Alphabets, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,959 ($5.0K)

Contractor: Alphavets, Inc

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-09

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 21 days

Daily Burn Rate: $236/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: WRAP,BUBBLECHED DOCUMENT FOR DETAIL..............

Place of Performance

Location: GARLAND, DALLAS County, TEXAS, 75049

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $4,958.8 to ALPHAVETS, INC for work described as: WRAP,BUBBLECHED DOCUMENT FOR DETAIL.............. Key points: 1. Contract value of $4.96 million for corrugated and solid fiber boxes. 2. Alphabets, Inc. is the awarded contractor. 3. The contract is for a 21-day period. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 322211. 5. The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4.96 million for a 21-day delivery order seems high for standard corrugated boxes. Benchmarking against similar contracts for bulk box procurement is necessary to assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating a competitive bidding process. However, the specific reason for excluding sources needs further investigation to ensure true price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this procurement. The value assessment will determine the overall impact on taxpayers.

Public Impact

Ensures supply of essential packaging materials for federal agencies. Supports a business in the manufacturing sector. The short duration suggests an urgent or specific need for these boxes.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High per-unit cost potential given the contract value and short duration.
Lack of clarity on 'exclusion of sources' could mask limited competition.
Short contract duration may indicate a reactive procurement rather than strategic planning.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Contract supports a US-based manufacturer.
Clear end date for the contract.

Sector Analysis

The corrugated and solid fiber box manufacturing sector is a mature industry. Spending benchmarks for this sector typically focus on volume and material costs. This contract appears to be for a specific, potentially urgent, need.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate if small businesses were involved in this procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis is needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for this contract. Oversight should focus on the justification for the contract value and the 'exclusion of sources' clause.

Related Government Programs

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for inflated pricing due to 'exclusion of sources'.
High contract value for a short duration requires justification.
Lack of detail on box specifications hinders value assessment.
Unclear impact on small businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $4,958.8 to ALPHAVETS, INC. WRAP,BUBBLECHED DOCUMENT FOR DETAIL..............

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALPHAVETS, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4,958.8.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-09. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the typical per-unit cost for corrugated boxes of this type and volume to assess if $4.96 million for 21 days is reasonable?

Determining the typical per-unit cost requires detailed specifications of the boxes (size, strength, material) and the total quantity. Without this, a precise benchmark is impossible. However, for standard industrial boxes, a $4.96 million contract for a 21-day delivery period would imply an exceptionally high volume or highly specialized boxes, warranting scrutiny of the unit pricing against industry averages.

What specific reasons led to the 'exclusion of sources' in this full and open competition, and did this exclusion impact the final price?

The 'exclusion of sources' clause in a 'full and open competition' context is unusual and requires clarification. It typically means that while the competition was open, certain potential sources were deliberately not considered for specific, documented reasons (e.g., security, past performance, specialized capability). Understanding these reasons is crucial to assess if the exclusion limited competition and potentially inflated the price paid by taxpayers.

How effectively does this contract meet the agency's needs, considering its short duration and the potential for high unit costs?

The short 21-day duration suggests this contract addresses an immediate or temporary need. Its effectiveness hinges on whether the boxes delivered meet the agency's specifications and arrive on time. If the high potential unit cost is justified by urgency or unique requirements, the contract could be effective. However, if it represents an inefficient use of funds for standard supplies, its effectiveness is questionable.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Converted Paper Product Manufacturing › Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: CONTAINERS/PACKAGING/PACKING SUPPL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15 LIBERTY ST E STE A, YORK, SC, 29745

Business Categories: Category Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,959

Exercised Options: $4,959

Current Obligation: $4,959

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSEA23D005E

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline