GSA awards $15K for specialized insulation sleeving to R.M. Waite Co., LLC, with no competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,999 ($15.0K)

Contractor: R.M. Waite CO., LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-03-24

End Date: 2026-04-15

Contract Duration: 22 days

Daily Burn Rate: $682/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: INSULATION SLEEVING, THERMAL, MIL-P-15280J, TUBEFORM, ID 8.625 INCHES, OD 10.125 INCHES, 0.75 INCH THICK, 72 INCHES LONG

Place of Performance

Location: WALNUT CREEK, CONTRA COSTA County, CALIFORNIA, 94596

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $14,999.1 to R.M. WAITE CO., LLC for work described as: INSULATION SLEEVING, THERMAL, MIL-P-15280J, TUBEFORM, ID 8.625 INCHES, OD 10.125 INCHES, 0.75 INCH THICK, 72 INCHES LONG Key points: 1. Specialized thermal insulation sleeving required for specific applications. 2. Sole-source procurement limits price discovery and potential savings. 3. Risk of overpayment due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. Hardware wholesale sector, but specific product is niche.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The price of $14,999.10 for a single unit of specialized insulation sleeving appears high without competitive benchmarking. The lack of competition makes it difficult to assess if this price is reasonable compared to market alternatives or similar government contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and was awarded via a purchase order. The sole-source nature means there was no opportunity for multiple vendors to bid, potentially leading to a higher price than if competition had been solicited.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds may be used inefficiently due to the absence of competitive pressure to secure the best possible price for this specialized item.

Public Impact

Government agencies may face higher costs for essential materials when sole-source procurements are used. Lack of transparency in pricing for specialized industrial supplies can obscure potential waste. Limited availability of such niche products could necessitate sole-source awards, but requires careful justification.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 68 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source procurement
Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

Specific product requirement met
Purchase order issued

Sector Analysis

The procurement falls under the Hardware Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 423710) sector. However, the specific item, MIL-P-15280J insulation sleeving, is highly specialized, suggesting it may be a niche product with limited suppliers, potentially justifying a sole-source approach if properly documented.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this was a purchase order awarded to R.M. WAITE CO., LLC. There is no explicit information provided regarding whether this company is a small business or if small business set-asides were considered or utilized in this sole-source procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made by the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service. Oversight would typically involve ensuring the necessity of the sole-source justification and the reasonableness of the price, though the lack of competition limits the effectiveness of price oversight.

Related Government Programs

Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
Potential for overpayment due to no price discovery.
Limited transparency on product availability from other sources.
No indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $14,999.1 to R.M. WAITE CO., LLC. INSULATION SLEEVING, THERMAL, MIL-P-15280J, TUBEFORM, ID 8.625 INCHES, OD 10.125 INCHES, 0.75 INCH THICK, 72 INCHES LONG

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is R.M. WAITE CO., LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14,999.1.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-03-24. End: 2026-04-15.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, given the potential for cost savings through competition?

The justification for a sole-source award typically rests on factors such as the unique capabilities of a specific contractor, the unavailability of the item from other sources, or urgent and compelling needs. Without further documentation, it's unclear if these criteria were met, raising concerns about whether a competitive process was feasible or overlooked.

How does the unit cost compare to similar insulation materials or previous government purchases of this specific item?

Benchmarking the unit cost is challenging due to the sole-source nature of this award and the specialized product. A thorough review would require accessing historical contract data for identical or comparable insulation sleeving, considering quantity, specifications, and any applicable economic price adjustments to determine if $14,999.10 represents fair market value.

What is the potential impact on future procurements if sole-source awards become a pattern for specialized hardware?

If sole-source awards become a pattern for specialized hardware without rigorous justification, it could lead to consistently higher prices for the government and taxpayers. It also discourages market competition, potentially stifling innovation and reducing the availability of cost-effective solutions in the long run.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Wholesale Trade › Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers › Hardware Merchant Wholesalers

Product/Service Code: HAND TOOLS

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: 1415 OAKLAND BLVD STE 106, WALNUT CREEK, CA, 94596

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,999

Exercised Options: $14,999

Current Obligation: $14,999

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline