GSA awards $3,878 for HP CE342A toner cartridge to Premier & Companies, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,878 ($3.9K)

Contractor: Premier & Companies, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-04-08

Contract Duration: 5 days

Daily Burn Rate: $776/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CARTRIDGE, TONER: ITEM NAME CARTRIDGE, TONER I.A.W. HEWLETT PACKARD P/N CE342A CARTRIDGE TYPE NEW (OEM GENUINE) SPECIAL FEATURES STANDARD YIELD CARTRIDGE FOR USE WITH COLOR LASERJET ENTERPRISE 700 COLOR MFP M775 SERIES PRINTERS AND ALL OTHERS THAT US

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10001

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $3,878.16 to PREMIER & COMPANIES, INC. for work described as: CARTRIDGE, TONER: ITEM NAME CARTRIDGE, TONER I.A.W. HEWLETT PACKARD P/N CE342A CARTRIDGE TYPE NEW (OEM GENUINE) SPECIAL FEATURES STANDARD YIELD CARTRIDGE FOR USE WITH COLOR LASERJET ENTERPRISE 700 COLOR MFP M775 SERIES PRINTERS AND ALL OTHERS THAT US Key points: 1. The contract is for a standard yield, new OEM genuine Hewlett Packard toner cartridge (P/N CE342A). 2. The cartridge is compatible with the Color LaserJet Enterprise 700 Color MFP M775 series printers. 3. This purchase order is a firm-fixed-price contract with a duration of 5 days. 4. The award was made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The price of $3,878.16 for 2 units appears high when compared to typical market prices for this specific OEM toner cartridge, suggesting potential overpayment.

Cost Per Unit: $1,939.08

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract was competed under SAP, but the specific competition method and the number of offers received are not detailed. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess if effective price discovery was achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: The high per-unit cost raises concerns about taxpayer value, as funds may not have been optimally utilized for this essential office supply.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation of essential printing equipment for government agencies. Supports the supply chain for a widely used printer model. Potential for increased costs to taxpayers due to the high per-unit price.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High per-unit cost
Limited competition transparency

Positive Signals

Genuine OEM product
Supports specific enterprise printers

Sector Analysis

Office supply procurement, specifically toner cartridges, falls under general office equipment and supplies. Spending benchmarks for such items can vary widely based on volume, brand, and specific model requirements.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business participation is not available for this specific award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were considered or had an opportunity to compete.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was processed through the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service, indicating adherence to established procurement regulations. However, the transparency of the competition process warrants further review.

Related Government Programs

Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

High per-unit cost compared to market benchmarks.
Lack of transparency in the competition process under SAP.
Potential for taxpayer funds to be used inefficiently.
Need for further investigation into price justification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $3,878.16 to PREMIER & COMPANIES, INC.. CARTRIDGE, TONER: ITEM NAME CARTRIDGE, TONER I.A.W. HEWLETT PACKARD P/N CE342A CARTRIDGE TYPE NEW (OEM GENUINE) SPECIAL FEATURES STANDARD YIELD CARTRIDGE FOR USE WITH COLOR LASERJET ENTERPRISE 700 COLOR MFP M775 SERIES PRINTERS AND ALL OTHERS THAT US

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PREMIER & COMPANIES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3,878.16.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-04-08.

What is the typical market price for the HP CE342A toner cartridge to establish a fair benchmark?

A typical market price for the HP CE342A (yellow) OEM toner cartridge generally ranges from $150 to $250, depending on the vendor and any available discounts. The awarded price of $1,939.08 per unit is significantly higher than this benchmark, indicating a substantial discrepancy and potential overpayment.

What specific factors contributed to the high per-unit cost of this toner cartridge purchase?

The high per-unit cost could be attributed to several factors, including a lack of competitive bidding, an urgent need that bypassed standard price negotiation, or an error in the procurement process. Without more details on the competition under SAP, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, but it deviates significantly from standard market pricing.

How can the government ensure better value and price discovery for future toner cartridge procurements?

To ensure better value, agencies should leverage government-wide contracts with pre-negotiated pricing, conduct thorough market research to establish price benchmarks, and encourage broader competition, even under SAP. Utilizing e-procurement platforms that facilitate price comparisons and track historical pricing can also improve oversight and accountability.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing › Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: HAND TOOLS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 525 WINDSOR DR, SECAUCUS, NJ, 07094

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,878

Exercised Options: $3,878

Current Obligation: $3,878

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline