Department of Defense Spent Over $15 Million on Miscellaneous Durable Goods in FY2011 via GPC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,920,965 ($16.9M)

Contractor: GPC Consolidated Reporting

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2010-12-31

End Date: 2010-12-31

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: MISCELLANEOUS GPC PURCHASES OCT10 - ACT 170/$01,378,776.00 NOV10 - ACT 071/$00,915,422.00 DEC10 - ACT 066/$00,715,131.00 JAN11 - ACT 080/$01,016,012.00 FEB11 - ACT 054/$00,518,215.00 MAR11 - ACT 085/$01,373,043.00 APR11 - ACT 069/$00,735,626.00 MAY11 - ACT 072/$01,035,828.00 JUN11 - ACT 067/$00,691,740.00 JUL11 - ACT 132/$01,435,071.00 AUG11 - ACT 227/$02,265,082.00 SEP11 - ACT 405/$04,841,022.00

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $16.9 million to GPC CONSOLIDATED REPORTING for work described as: MISCELLANEOUS GPC PURCHASES OCT10 - ACT 170/$01,378,776.00 NOV10 - ACT 071/$00,915,422.00 DEC10 - ACT 066/$00,715,131.00 JAN11 - ACT 080/$01,016,012.00 FEB11 - ACT 054/$00,518,215.00 MAR11 - ACT 085/$01,373,043.00 APR11 - ACT 069/$00,735,626.00 MAY11 - ACT 072/$01… Key points: 1. Spending peaked in September 2011 with $4.8 million in purchases. 2. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs. 3. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The data covers a broad category of 'Other Miscellaneous Durable Goods', lacking specific itemization.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Without specific item details, it's difficult to benchmark pricing against similar contracts. The aggregate nature of the data limits a precise value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the 'miscellaneous' nature of the goods means specific price discovery for individual items is not evident.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were utilized through a competitive process, but the lack of granular data makes it hard to confirm optimal value for money.

Public Impact

Citizens can see significant government spending on a wide array of goods. The use of GPC suggests decentralized purchasing, potentially increasing efficiency but requiring robust oversight. Transparency is limited due to the broad categorization of purchased items.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific item details hinders value analysis.
Broad 'miscellaneous' category may obscure potential cost savings.
Aggregate reporting limits granular oversight.

Positive Signals

Utilized full and open competition.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.
Monthly spending data is available.

Sector Analysis

This spending falls under 'Other Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers'. Without more specific product information, it's hard to benchmark against sector-specific spending trends. The broad category suggests general operational or administrative supplies.

Small Business Impact

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

Oversight & Accountability

The use of a Government Purchase Card (GPC) implies a decentralized procurement system. Oversight would focus on ensuring compliance with GPC regulations and preventing misuse, especially given the aggregate reporting.

Related Government Programs

Other Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of item specificity
Potential for unoptimized pricing due to broad category
Limited visibility into specific vendor performance
Difficulty in tracking high-value or recurring purchases

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $16.9 million to GPC CONSOLIDATED REPORTING. MISCELLANEOUS GPC PURCHASES OCT10 - ACT 170/$01,378,776.00 NOV10 - ACT 071/$00,915,422.00 DEC10 - ACT 066/$00,715,131.00 JAN11 - ACT 080/$01,016,012.00 FEB11 - ACT 054/$00,518,215.00 MAR11 - ACT 085/$01,373,043.00 APR11 - ACT 069/$00,735,626.00 MAY11 - ACT 072/$01,035,828.00 JUN11 - ACT 067/$00,691,740.00 JUL11 - ACT 132/$01,435,071.00 AUG11 - ACT 227/$02,265,082.00 SEP11 - ACT 405/$04,841,022.00

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GPC CONSOLIDATED REPORTING.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-12-31. End: 2010-12-31.

What specific types of 'miscellaneous durable goods' were purchased, and how do their prices compare to market rates?

The provided data lacks the specificity to identify the exact 'miscellaneous durable goods' procured. This prevents a direct comparison to market rates or similar government contracts. Further investigation into the underlying transaction details would be necessary to assess the value for money and identify any potential overspending on specific items.

What are the risks associated with aggregating diverse purchases under a single 'miscellaneous' category?

Aggregating diverse purchases under a 'miscellaneous' category poses risks of obscuring potential cost savings, making it difficult to identify bulk discounts, or track spending on specific high-value items. It can also hinder effective inventory management and potentially mask non-compliance with procurement regulations for specific types of goods.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' method for such a broad category of goods?

While 'full and open competition' is generally effective for price discovery, its effectiveness for a broad 'miscellaneous' category is limited. It ensures multiple vendors can bid, but without defining specific needs, the competition might be less focused, potentially leading to a wider range of quality and price points without clear benchmarks for optimal value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Wholesale Trade › Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers › Other Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers

Product/Service Code: OFFICE SUPPLIES AND DEVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2011 CRYSTAL DRIVE STE 911, ARLINGTON, VA, 22202

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,920,965

Exercised Options: $16,920,965

Current Obligation: $16,920,965

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA711511D9002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline