GSA awards $5,823 contract for reusable shipping boxes to Connecticut Container Corp

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,823 ($5.8K)

Contractor: Connecticut Container Corp.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2026-04-15

Contract Duration: 14 days

Daily Burn Rate: $416/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX: I.A.W. ATTACHED DRAWING(S) ITEM NAME PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX OVERALL WIDTH 40.00 INCHES OVERALL LENGTH 48.00 INCHES GAUGE 0.300 INCHES LOCKING MECHANISM SLIDE LOCKING DEVICES FORKLIFT ENTRY TYPE FOUR WAY REUSABLE YES I.A.

Place of Performance

Location: NORTH HAVEN, NEW HAVEN County, CONNECTICUT, 06473

State: Connecticut Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $5,823.2 to CONNECTICUT CONTAINER CORP. for work described as: PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX: I.A.W. ATTACHED DRAWING(S) ITEM NAME PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX OVERALL WIDTH 40.00 INCHES OVERALL LENGTH 48.00 INCHES GAUGE 0.300 INCHES LOCKING MECHANISM SLIDE LOCKING DEVICES FORKLIFT ENTRY TYPE FOUR WAY REUSABLE YES I.A. Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is a BPA Call, indicating it's a call-off from an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement. 3. Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FPEPA) contract type introduces potential for cost fluctuations. 4. The contract duration is short (14 days), suggesting a specific, immediate need. 5. The product is a reusable shipping box, aligning with potential sustainability initiatives. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 326111 points to the Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $5,823.20 is relatively small, making direct comparison to larger contracts difficult. The pricing structure is Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment, which can lead to cost increases over the contract period. Without specific unit pricing or detailed cost breakdowns, a thorough value assessment is challenging. However, the use of a BPA call suggests that pricing may have been previously negotiated and benchmarked.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation implies a competitive process was utilized. This approach is generally expected to yield fair market prices and encourage innovation from multiple vendors.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically drives down costs through market forces and ensures the government receives competitive pricing.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely federal agencies requiring shipping and packaging solutions. The service delivered is the provision of reusable shipping boxes, contributing to logistics and supply chain operations. The geographic impact is centered in Connecticut, the location of the contractor. Workforce implications are likely within the manufacturing and logistics sectors at the contractor's facility.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Economic price adjustment clause could lead to increased costs beyond initial projections.
Short contract duration may indicate a need for frequent re-solicitation or potential supply chain disruptions if not managed well.

Positive Signals

Award to a single contractor suggests a potentially streamlined delivery process for this specific need.
Use of reusable containers aligns with potential environmental or cost-saving goals.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the plastics manufacturing sector, specifically related to packaging. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 326111, Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing, covers this type of product. While the dollar amount is small, it represents a segment of the broader government procurement for logistical supplies. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other contracts for similar packaging materials and containers across various federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not indicate any small business set-aside provisions (sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, Connecticut Container Corp., is not necessarily a small business. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans, so the impact on the small business ecosystem is currently unknown.

Oversight & Accountability

As a BPA Call issued by the General Services Administration (GSA), oversight is likely managed through GSA's Federal Acquisition Service. Accountability measures would be tied to the terms and conditions of the underlying BPA and the specific call order. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data, though detailed performance metrics are not publicly available.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration Procurement
Logistics and Supply Chain Services
Packaging and Container Manufacturing

Risk Flags

Economic Price Adjustment Clause
Short Contract Duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $5,823.2 to CONNECTICUT CONTAINER CORP.. PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX: I.A.W. ATTACHED DRAWING(S) ITEM NAME PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX OVERALL WIDTH 40.00 INCHES OVERALL LENGTH 48.00 INCHES GAUGE 0.300 INCHES LOCKING MECHANISM SLIDE LOCKING DEVICES FORKLIFT ENTRY TYPE FOUR WAY REUSABLE YES I.A.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CONNECTICUT CONTAINER CORP..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5,823.2.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2026-04-15.

What is the track record of Connecticut Container Corp. with federal contracts?

Information regarding Connecticut Container Corp.'s specific track record with federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. However, being awarded a contract by the General Services Administration (GSA) suggests they have met the necessary qualifications and requirements to do business with the federal government. To fully assess their track record, one would need to review historical contract awards, performance evaluations (if available), and any past performance issues or commendations associated with the company. The current award is a BPA Call, implying a pre-existing relationship or qualification under a larger GSA schedule or agreement.

How does the pricing of these reusable shipping boxes compare to market rates?

The provided data does not include specific unit pricing for the pallet base and shipping box, making a direct comparison to market rates difficult. The contract type is Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FPEPA), which allows for price changes based on economic factors, complicating a static benchmark. To assess value, one would need to compare the negotiated price per box or per set of components against similar products procured by other government agencies or available in the commercial market. The fact that this is a BPA Call suggests that pricing may have been established through a prior competitive process, potentially offering some level of market alignment.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential cost increases due to the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause, which could exceed initial budget allocations if economic factors fluctuate unfavorably. The short duration of the contract (14 days) also presents a risk of supply chain disruption or the need for rapid re-procurement if demand continues or the need is recurring. Furthermore, without detailed performance metrics, there's a risk that the quality or suitability of the reusable shipping boxes might not meet all operational requirements, although the specification of dimensions and materials suggests a defined product.

How effective is the use of reusable shipping boxes for federal agencies?

The effectiveness of reusable shipping boxes for federal agencies can be significant, offering potential cost savings over time by reducing the need for disposable packaging, and contributing to environmental sustainability goals by minimizing waste. Agencies benefit from reduced recurring expenditures on packaging materials and potentially lower disposal costs. The durability and design (e.g., forklift entry, slide locking mechanism) suggest they are intended for repeated use in logistics and supply chain operations, enhancing operational efficiency. The specific effectiveness would depend on the volume of shipments, the nature of the goods transported, and the agency's internal logistics processes.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar packaging materials by the GSA?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for similar packaging materials by the GSA. To determine this, a comprehensive analysis of past GSA contracts for shipping boxes, containers, and related packaging supplies would be necessary. This would involve querying federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) for contracts awarded under relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 326111, 326199, 339999) and PSC codes related to packaging and containers. Analyzing trends in contract volume, average award values, and contractor participation over several fiscal years would reveal historical spending patterns.

What is the significance of the 'PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX' specification?

The specification 'PALLET BASE, SHIPPING BOX' indicates that the procured item is not just a standard box, but likely a component or a system that includes a base designed to be compatible with standard pallet dimensions (40x48 inches). This suggests a need for robust, stackable, and easily transportable packaging solutions suitable for industrial or large-scale logistics operations. The inclusion of detailed dimensions (40" W x 48" L, 0.300" gauge) and features like 'FOUR WAY FORKLIFT ENTRY' and 'REUSABLE YES' points towards a requirement for durable, efficient, and potentially environmentally conscious material handling and shipping.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Plastics Product Manufacturing › Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: CONTAINERS/PACKAGING/PACKING SUPPL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

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

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 455 SACKETT POINT RD, NORTH HAVEN, CT, 06473

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,823

Exercised Options: $5,823

Current Obligation: $5,823

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSSC26A000D

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline