GSA awards $38.8K for 8 black filing cabinets, raising questions on value and competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $38,827 ($38.8K)

Contractor: Alpha Safe and Vault, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-04-17

Contract Duration: 14 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FILING CABINET, BLACK, CLASS-6, 5-DRAWER, LEGAL SIZE, SINGLE LOCK, STYLE-1, KEY CHANGE COMBINATION LOCK

Place of Performance

Location: VIENNA, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22182

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $38,827.28 to ALPHA SAFE AND VAULT, INC. for work described as: FILING CABINET, BLACK, CLASS-6, 5-DRAWER, LEGAL SIZE, SINGLE LOCK, STYLE-1, KEY CHANGE COMBINATION LOCK Key points: 1. High per-unit cost for standard office furniture. 2. Limited competition under SAP may have inflated price. 3. Lack of small business participation is a concern. 4. Sector benchmarks suggest potential overspending.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The average price per cabinet is $4,853. This appears significantly higher than market rates for similar legal-size, 5-drawer filing cabinets, even with a key change combination lock.

Cost Per Unit: $4,853

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for less competition. This limited competition may have contributed to the high price discovered.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying for basic office equipment due to limited competition and potentially inflated pricing.

Public Impact

Government agencies rely on essential office supplies like filing cabinets. The cost of such items impacts overall agency budgets. Transparency in procurement for common goods is crucial for public trust.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High unit cost
Limited competition
No small business participation
Potential overpayment

Positive Signals

Contract awarded
Meets basic requirement

Sector Analysis

Spending on miscellaneous fabricated metal products, including office furniture, is common across federal agencies. Benchmarks for standard filing cabinets typically fall well below the awarded price.

Small Business Impact

The contract did not include small business participation, which is a missed opportunity to support smaller businesses and potentially achieve better pricing through diverse sourcing.

Oversight & Accountability

While awarded under SAP, the high unit cost warrants further review to ensure fair pricing and adherence to procurement regulations for common goods.

Related Government Programs

All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

High unit cost compared to market benchmarks
Limited competition utilized
No small business participation
Potential for overpayment
Lack of transparency in pricing justification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $38,827.28 to ALPHA SAFE AND VAULT, INC.. FILING CABINET, BLACK, CLASS-6, 5-DRAWER, LEGAL SIZE, SINGLE LOCK, STYLE-1, KEY CHANGE COMBINATION LOCK

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALPHA SAFE AND VAULT, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $38,827.28.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-04-17.

What is the justification for the high per-unit cost of these filing cabinets compared to commercial market prices?

The high per-unit cost of $4,853 for these filing cabinets is difficult to justify against commercial market prices, which typically range from $200-$800 for similar items. Factors like the specific lock mechanism or material quality would need to be exceptionally superior to warrant such a premium, which is unlikely for standard office furniture.

How did the limited competition under SAP impact the price discovery for these filing cabinets?

Limited competition under SAP likely hindered robust price discovery. With fewer bidders, the government may not have received the most competitive offers. This process can lead to prices that are not reflective of the true market value, potentially resulting in overpayment for goods.

What is the overall effectiveness of this procurement in terms of value for taxpayer money?

The effectiveness of this procurement in terms of value for taxpayer money appears questionable. The significantly inflated per-unit cost, coupled with limited competition and no small business involvement, suggests that funds could have been utilized more efficiently to acquire the same or similar items at a much lower price.

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

Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1656 GELDING LN, VIENNA, VA, 22182

Business Categories: Category Business, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,827

Exercised Options: $38,827

Current Obligation: $38,827

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSSC25T0001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline