GSA awards $13.3M contract for office supplies to The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,294 ($13.3K)

Contractor: THE Lighthouse for the Blind, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-02

End Date: 2026-04-09

Contract Duration: 7 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: G4 PANT, MC, 34 REGULAR

Place of Performance

Location: SEATTLE, KING County, WASHINGTON, 98144

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $13,294.08 to THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, INCORPORATED for work described as: G4 PANT, MC, 34 REGULAR Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single, non-profit provider of office supplies. 2. Focus on supporting individuals with significant vision impairments. 3. Contract duration is short, with a 7-day period of performance. 4. Pricing structure is fixed price with economic price adjustment. 5. No small business set-aside was utilized for this award. 6. Awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. 7. The contractor has a history of providing similar goods and services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $13.3 million for a 7-day period appears high for office supplies, suggesting a large quantity or specialized items. Benchmarking against similar GSA Schedule contracts for office supplies is difficult without specific item details. The economic price adjustment clause introduces potential for cost increases beyond the initial fixed price. However, the contractor's mission to employ individuals with visual impairments may influence pricing considerations.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the simplified acquisition procedures and was awarded as a sole-source BPA Call. This indicates that the General Services Administration (GSA) likely identified The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. as the only or preferred vendor for this specific requirement. The lack of competition means there was no opportunity for price discovery through a bidding process, potentially leading to higher costs than a fully competed contract.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the benefit of competitive pricing, as the award was made without soliciting offers from multiple vendors.

Public Impact

Individuals with significant vision impairments benefit through employment opportunities at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. The contract provides essential office supplies and stationery to federal agencies. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting federal operations across various locations. The contract supports the workforce of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., many of whom have visual impairments.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing for taxpayers.
Short performance period could indicate an urgent or specific need, requiring careful monitoring.
Economic price adjustment clause introduces uncertainty in final cost.
Absence of small business set-aside means limited direct benefit to the small business sector in this specific award.

Positive Signals

Supports the mission of employing individuals with significant vision impairments.
Provides essential office supplies to government agencies.
Awarded to an established non-profit with a track record in this area.

Sector Analysis

The office supplies and stationery sector is a mature market with numerous providers, including large corporations and specialized small businesses. Federal agencies procure these goods through various contract vehicles, including GSA Schedules and Blanket Purchase Agreements. The total addressable market for federal office supply procurement is substantial, with agencies relying on these items for daily operations. This contract, awarded under a BPA Call, represents a specific procurement action within this broader sector, potentially leveraging existing GSA Schedule pricing or negotiated terms.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned in the provided data. The awardee, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., is a non-profit organization focused on employing individuals with visual impairments. While this mission is valuable, the direct impact on the broader small business ecosystem through this specific contract is limited, as it bypasses traditional small business procurement channels.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the purview of the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. As a BPA Call, it is an established mechanism for streamlining procurement. Accountability measures would be tied to the terms and conditions of the Blanket Purchase Agreement and the specific call order, including delivery schedules and product specifications. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, though detailed justifications for sole-source awards may vary in accessibility.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Supply Schedule Contracts
Office Supplies Procurement
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Non-profit Contractor Support

Risk Flags

Potential for overpayment due to sole-source award.
Uncertainty of final cost due to Economic Price Adjustment.
Short performance period may indicate urgency or risk of non-compliance.
Lack of transparency in sole-source justification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $13,294.08 to THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, INCORPORATED. G4 PANT, MC, 34 REGULAR

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, INCORPORATED.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13,294.08.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-02. End: 2026-04-09.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis to The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and awarded as a 'BPA CALL'. While the specific justification for a sole-source award is not detailed, common reasons for sole-source procurements include unique capabilities, urgent needs, or specific government mandates to support certain organizations. Given the awardee is The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to employing individuals with significant vision impairments, the justification likely stems from a desire to support this mission or a determination that this organization possesses unique capabilities or capacity to fulfill the requirement in a manner aligned with government objectives, potentially under specific socio-economic program authorities or existing GSA Schedule agreements where they are the only listed provider for certain specialized items or services.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to market rates for similar office supplies?

Direct comparison of pricing is challenging without a detailed breakdown of the specific office supplies included in the $13.3 million award and the 7-day performance period. However, the contract utilizes a 'FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT' structure. This means the base price is fixed, but it can be adjusted based on economic factors, typically inflation or changes in raw material costs. The absence of competition for this sole-source award suggests that a direct market benchmark against multiple competitive bids is not available. To assess value, one would need to compare the unit prices of the specific items procured against GSA Schedule pricing for comparable items or against commercial catalog prices, while also considering the contractor's mission-driven operational costs.

What are the potential risks associated with the 'ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT' clause in this contract?

The 'ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT' (EPA) clause introduces a degree of financial risk for the government. It allows the contractor to increase prices based on specified economic factors, such as inflation indices or changes in the cost of raw materials. The primary risk is that the final cost of the contract could exceed the initial fixed price estimate, potentially leading to budget overruns. The extent of this risk depends on the specific economic indicators tied to the EPA clause, the volatility of those indicators during the contract period, and the frequency and magnitude of adjustments allowed. Careful monitoring of these indices and the contractor's justification for any price adjustments is crucial for mitigating this risk.

What is the historical spending pattern with The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. for office supplies?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns with The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. To determine this, one would need to access federal procurement databases (like FPDS) and search for previous awards to this contractor for similar goods and services. Analyzing past contract values, durations, and types (e.g., competitive vs. sole-source) would provide context on the government's previous reliance on this vendor and the typical scale of their engagements. Understanding historical spending can help identify trends, assess consistency, and inform future procurement strategies, including whether competitive opportunities have been previously missed or if sole-source awards have been a recurring practice.

How does the short 7-day performance period impact the contract's overall value and risk?

A 7-day performance period is exceptionally short for a contract valued at $13.3 million, suggesting either an extremely high volume of goods needed within a very narrow timeframe or a highly specialized, time-sensitive requirement. This short duration increases the risk of delivery delays or quality issues if the contractor cannot meet the demand within the allotted time. It also limits the opportunity for the government to thoroughly evaluate performance before the contract concludes. From a value perspective, it implies a very high per-diem or per-unit cost if the $13.3 million is spread over just seven days, necessitating a strong justification for the urgency and scale of the requirement.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Retail Trade › Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores › Office Supplies and Stationery Stores

Product/Service Code: OFFICE SUPPLIES AND DEVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT (K)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2501 S PLUM ST, SEATTLE, WA, 98144

Business Categories: AbilityOne Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $13,294

Exercised Options: $13,294

Current Obligation: $13,294

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS23FGA014

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline