GSA awards $6.7M for filing cabinets, with 3 bidders competing under simplified acquisition procedures

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,713 ($6.7K)

Contractor: THE Will-Burt Company

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-05-12

Contract Duration: 39 days

Daily Burn Rate: $172/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FILING CABINET

Place of Performance

Location: ORRVILLE, WAYNE County, OHIO, 44667

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $6,713.36 to THE WILL-BURT COMPANY for work described as: FILING CABINET Key points: 1. The contract value of $6.7 million for filing cabinets appears high for the specified duration, warranting further value assessment. 2. Competition was present with three bidders, suggesting some level of market engagement for this requirement. 3. The short performance period (39 days) for a significant dollar value raises questions about the urgency and potential for expedited procurement strategies. 4. The contract falls under Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, a broad category that may include more complex items than standard filing cabinets. 5. The use of a BPA Call indicates a pre-negotiated agreement, which can offer efficiency but may limit direct price negotiation for this specific call. 6. The fixed price contract type shifts risk to the contractor, which is generally favorable for the government in stable market conditions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $6.7 million for a 39-day period for filing cabinets seems disproportionately high. While the specific type and quantity of cabinets are not detailed, typical government contracts for office furniture, even in bulk, rarely reach such figures for such a short duration. Benchmarking against similar GSA Schedule purchases for office furniture or fabricated metal products would be crucial to determine if this represents fair value. The absence of detailed specifications makes a precise comparison difficult, but the cost per day is exceptionally high.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for streamlined procurement for purchases below the simplified acquisition threshold. The solicitation resulted in three bids, indicating a degree of competition. While SAP is designed for efficiency, it may not always achieve the same level of price discovery as full and open competition for larger contracts. The number of bidders suggests that the market for this specific requirement is not overly constrained.

Taxpayer Impact: The competition level, while present, may not have driven the absolute lowest price possible due to the nature of SAP. Taxpayers may have paid a premium for the speed and convenience of the BPA Call mechanism.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring office storage solutions, specifically filing cabinets, will benefit from this contract. The services delivered include the provision of fabricated metal products, likely filing cabinets, to support federal office operations. The geographic impact is primarily within Ohio, where the contractor is located, but the delivered goods will serve federal offices nationwide. The contract supports manufacturing jobs within the fabricated metal products sector in Ohio.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High contract value for a short duration raises concerns about potential overpricing or an urgent, possibly unplanned, need.
The broad NAICS code 'All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing' could obscure the actual product, making precise value assessment challenging.
Reliance on a BPA Call, while efficient, might limit the government's ability to negotiate the best possible price for this specific requirement compared to a direct solicitation.

Positive Signals

The contract was competed, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid.
The use of a firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contractor, THE WILL-BURT COMPANY, has a contract award, suggesting they met the government's requirements.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls under the 'Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing' sector (NAICS 332999). This is a broad category encompassing a wide range of metal products. The market for office furniture, including filing cabinets, is competitive, with numerous manufacturers and suppliers. Government procurement often leverages GSA Schedules and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) to streamline the acquisition of common office supplies and equipment. Spending benchmarks for fabricated metal products vary widely based on complexity and quantity; however, $6.7 million for a short-term supply of what are likely standard filing cabinets appears to be on the higher end.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a specific requirement for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). There is no explicit mention of small business set-asides or subcontracting goals. Therefore, this contract does not appear to directly benefit small businesses through set-aside provisions. The primary contractor is likely a larger entity, and the impact on the broader small business ecosystem is minimal unless they are part of the contractor's supply chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. As a BPA Call, it is an order against a pre-existing BPA, which itself would have undergone some level of review. The firm-fixed-price nature simplifies some aspects of financial oversight. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, but detailed justifications for the specific value and urgency might not be readily available without a formal request. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Supply Schedule Contracts
Office Furniture Procurement
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing Contracts
Simplified Acquisition Procedures
Blanket Purchase Agreements

Risk Flags

High Value for Short Duration
Broad NAICS Code
Potential Lack of Robust Competition under SAP
Limited Transparency on Specifics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $6,713.36 to THE WILL-BURT COMPANY. FILING CABINET

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE WILL-BURT COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6,713.36.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-05-12.

What specific type and quantity of filing cabinets were procured under this $6.7 million contract, and what is the justification for the high unit cost?

The provided data does not specify the exact type or quantity of filing cabinets procured, nor does it offer a justification for the unit cost. The NAICS code 332999, 'All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing,' is very broad. To assess the value, a detailed breakdown of the items ordered, including dimensions, materials, security features (e.g., fireproofing, locking mechanisms), and quantity, would be necessary. Without this, it is impossible to determine if the $6.7 million represents a fair price for the goods received. It is possible the contract includes specialized or high-security cabinets, or that the quantity is exceptionally large, but this information is missing.

How does the $6.7 million contract value for a 39-day performance period compare to typical government spending on office furniture or fabricated metal products?

A contract value of $6.7 million for a mere 39-day performance period is exceptionally high when compared to typical government spending on standard office furniture like filing cabinets. Most government agencies procure such items through GSA Schedules or other competitive processes where unit prices are well-established and generally much lower. For instance, a high-quality, large-capacity filing cabinet might cost a few hundred dollars. Even acquiring thousands of such cabinets would struggle to reach $6.7 million within such a short timeframe unless they are highly specialized, custom-manufactured, or involve significant logistical support. This duration suggests an urgent, potentially emergency, need, or a misunderstanding of the typical procurement cycle for such goods.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a $6.7 million contract for filing cabinets under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP)?

Awarding a contract of this magnitude under SAP carries several risks. Firstly, SAP is intended for smaller purchases, and while the threshold can be adjusted, using it for $6.7 million might bypass more rigorous review processes typically applied to larger contracts, potentially increasing the risk of overpayment or inadequate specifications. Secondly, with only three bidders, the competition might not have been robust enough to ensure the best possible price for taxpayers. There's a risk that the government did not receive the full benefit of market competition. Lastly, the short performance period combined with the high value could indicate an urgent, unplanned requirement, which often leads to rushed decisions and potentially higher costs or less favorable terms.

What is the track record of THE WILL-BURT COMPANY in fulfilling federal contracts, particularly for fabricated metal products or office equipment?

Information regarding THE WILL-BURT COMPANY's specific track record for fulfilling federal contracts for filing cabinets or similar office equipment is not detailed in the provided data. The award itself indicates they met the requirements for this specific BPA Call. However, a comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their past performance history on federal contracts, including ratings, any past disputes, delivery timeliness, and overall customer satisfaction. Without access to the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) or similar databases, it's difficult to provide a detailed analysis of their broader performance history beyond this single award.

How does the use of a BPA Call under GSA's Federal Acquisition Service impact the overall cost and efficiency for this filing cabinet procurement?

Using a BPA Call streamlines the procurement process significantly. A Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is essentially a charge account arrangement with pre-negotiated terms and pricing, often established under GSA Schedules. A 'BPA Call' is an individual order placed against that BPA. This method reduces administrative burden, shortens lead times, and can offer volume discounts if the BPA was negotiated with that in mind. However, the efficiency gains might come at the cost of potentially higher unit prices compared to a fully competitive, open-market solicitation specifically for this requirement, as the pricing was established earlier and may not reflect current market fluctuations or the specific needs of this particular order. The $6.7M value for a short duration suggests the efficiency of the BPA Call was prioritized.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing › All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: FURNITURE

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 47QSSC25Q1705

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 401 COLLINS BLVD, ORRVILLE, OH, 44667

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,713

Exercised Options: $6,713

Current Obligation: $6,713

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSSC25T000H

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline