GSA awards $8,400 for HPLC fastener kit, raising questions about competition and value

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,400 ($8.4K)

Contractor: Tera Consulting Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-04-18

Contract Duration: 15 days

Daily Burn Rate: $560/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: RD.HP.2G.1 HPLC 2-STACK FASTENER KIT, GRAY

Place of Performance

Location: LEVITTOWN, NASSAU County, NEW YORK, 11756

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $8,400 to TERA CONSULTING INC. for work described as: RD.HP.2G.1 HPLC 2-STACK FASTENER KIT, GRAY Key points: 1. The contract for a specialized HPLC fastener kit is valued at $8,400. 2. Competition appears limited as the award was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP'. 3. Potential risks include lack of price discovery and limited market testing. 4. The sector is Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing, with a PSC code of 339940.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The award amount of $8,400 for a fastener kit is difficult to benchmark without specific product details. However, the lack of competition suggests potential overpricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a potential limitation in the competitive process. This lack of competition may have hindered price discovery and resulted in a less favorable price for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds may be impacted by the lack of competitive bidding, potentially leading to higher costs than if multiple vendors had vied for the contract.

Public Impact

Specialized equipment parts can be costly, impacting agency budgets. Lack of transparency in procurement can erode public trust. Ensuring fair competition is crucial for efficient government spending.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 100 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition
Lack of price discovery
Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

Specific product need identified
Firm fixed price contract

Sector Analysis

The procurement falls under Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing. Benchmarking spending in this niche requires detailed analysis of similar specialized component contracts, which are often not publicly detailed.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this procurement. Further investigation would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made via a Purchase Order by the General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service. Oversight would focus on the justification for not competing and the reasonableness of the price.

Related Government Programs

Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for price inflation
Limited transparency in award justification
Difficulty in benchmarking price

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $8,400 to TERA CONSULTING INC.. RD.HP.2G.1 HPLC 2-STACK FASTENER KIT, GRAY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TERA CONSULTING INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8,400.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-04-18.

What is the specific justification for not competing this contract under SAP, and what steps were taken to ensure a fair and reasonable price?

The justification for not competing under SAP is not provided in the data. Typically, agencies must document reasons such as urgency, sole-source availability, or specific statutory authority. Without this documentation, it's impossible to assess the fairness of the price discovery process. Further review of the contract file is necessary.

How does the $8,400 cost for this HPLC fastener kit compare to market rates for similar components, considering the lack of competition?

Benchmarking this specific HPLC fastener kit is challenging without detailed specifications and market research data. However, the 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' status suggests a lack of competitive bidding, which often leads to prices above market rates. A comparative analysis with similar, competitively procured items would be needed to assess value.

What is the potential impact on future procurements if limited competition becomes a pattern for specialized office supplies?

If limited competition becomes a pattern, it could lead to consistently higher prices for specialized office supplies, reducing the overall purchasing power of federal agencies. It may also discourage potential small businesses from entering the federal market if they perceive opportunities are consistently awarded without broad competition, ultimately impacting taxpayer value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing › Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: OFFICE SUPPLIES AND DEVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 29 ELVES LN, LEVITTOWN, NY, 11756

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $8,400

Exercised Options: $8,400

Current Obligation: $8,400

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline