GSA awards $3.3M contract for bomber jackets, highlighting potential for price adjustments

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,288 ($3.3K)

Contractor: United Office Solutions Inc

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2026-04-12

Contract Duration: 5 days

Daily Burn Rate: $658/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 999

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: JLJ6NV RG XXL BULWARK FR LINED BOMBER JACKET

Place of Performance

Location: MINNETONKA, HENNEPIN County, MINNESOTA, 55345

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $3,288.45 to UNITED OFFICE SOLUTIONS INC for work described as: JLJ6NV RG XXL BULWARK FR LINED BOMBER JACKET Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for specialized apparel, but economic price adjustment clause warrants scrutiny. 2. Full and open competition suggests a healthy market for this type of government procurement. 3. Short contract duration (5 days) may indicate an urgent or specific need. 4. The contract is for office supplies, which is an unusual category for bomber jackets. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 339940 is for 'Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing', which seems misaligned with the product description. 6. The contract was awarded as a Delivery Order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3,288.45 for 999 bomber jackets results in a per-unit cost of approximately $3.30. This price seems exceptionally low for a lined bomber jacket, even without considering potential economic price adjustments. It is possible this represents a base price or a specific component of a larger order. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for apparel would be necessary to confirm value, but the initial per-unit cost raises questions about the quality or completeness of the offering.

Cost Per Unit: $3.30 per jacket (estimated)

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. This suggests a competitive marketplace for the goods. However, the specific details regarding the number of bids received and the evaluation process are not provided. A competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically drives down prices through market forces, leading to more cost-effective government spending.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely federal employees or contractors requiring specialized outerwear, potentially for specific work environments or official duties. The service delivered is the provision of 999 lined bomber jackets. The geographic impact is limited to the delivery location in Minnesota. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving manufacturing and logistics for the jackets.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential misalignment between the product (bomber jackets) and the assigned NAICS code (Office Supplies Manufacturing).
The economic price adjustment clause could lead to increased costs beyond the initial award amount.
The extremely low estimated per-unit cost raises concerns about product quality or contract completeness.
Short contract duration (5 days) might indicate rushed procurement or an incomplete picture of the overall requirement.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust market.
The contract is for a specific, tangible product (bomber jackets).
The General Services Administration (GSA) is a reputable agency for managing federal procurement.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the broader category of government procurement for apparel and potentially office supplies, though the latter seems miscategorized. The apparel market for government agencies is diverse, encompassing uniforms, protective gear, and general outerwear. The General Services Administration (GSA) often facilitates these procurements through various contract vehicles. Benchmarking spending in this area would require comparing it to other GSA schedule awards or similar agency procurements for outerwear.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside (ss: false) nor was there a subcontracting plan requirement (sb: false). This suggests that the prime contractor, UNITED OFFICE SOLUTIONS INC, is not obligated to prioritize small businesses for subcontracting opportunities on this particular award. The impact on the small business ecosystem is therefore neutral to potentially negative, as opportunities that might have been directed towards small businesses were not mandated.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. As a delivery order, it is likely governed by the terms of a parent IDIQ contract. Accountability measures would include adherence to the contract terms, delivery schedules, and product specifications. Transparency is facilitated through public contract databases, though detailed performance reviews are not always readily available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

GSA Schedule Contracts
Federal Apparel Procurement
Office Supplies Procurement
Uniforms and Protective Gear Contracts

Risk Flags

NAICS Code Misalignment
Potentially Underpriced Item
Economic Price Adjustment Clause
Very Short Contract Duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $3,288.45 to UNITED OFFICE SOLUTIONS INC. JLJ6NV RG XXL BULWARK FR LINED BOMBER JACKET

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNITED OFFICE SOLUTIONS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3,288.45.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2026-04-12.

What is the typical cost for a lined bomber jacket procured by the federal government?

The average cost for a lined bomber jacket procured by the federal government can vary significantly based on material, features, quantity, and the specific contract vehicle used. However, the estimated per-unit cost of approximately $3.30 in this award appears exceptionally low compared to market rates and typical government procurement prices for such items. For context, similar government contracts for durable outerwear often see per-unit costs ranging from $30 to $100 or more, depending on specifications. This low figure might represent a base price, a component of a larger order, or potentially indicate a lower-quality item. Further investigation into the specific product specifications and the parent IDIQ contract (if applicable) would be needed for a precise comparison.

How does the NAICS code 'Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing' align with the product 'JLJ6NV RG XXL BULWARK FR LINED BOMBER JACKET'?

There appears to be a significant misalignment between the product description and the assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. The NAICS code 339940, 'Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing,' typically covers items like pens, pencils, binders, staplers, and other stationery products. A 'JLJ6NV RG XXL BULWARK FR LINED BOMBER JACKET' is clearly an article of clothing, specifically outerwear. This discrepancy suggests a potential error in the contract data entry or classification. It could imply that the jacket is being procured as part of a larger office supply order, or that the classification system used for this specific award was incorrect. This misalignment warrants further review to ensure accurate government spending categorization and reporting.

What are the implications of the 'FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT' (FPEPA) contract type for this bomber jacket award?

A 'Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment' (FPEPA) contract type means the base price is fixed, but it allows for adjustments based on specified economic factors, typically related to inflation or changes in the cost of raw materials. For this bomber jacket contract, the FPEPA clause introduces a degree of uncertainty regarding the final cost to the government. While the initial award is for $3,288.45, the final amount paid could be higher if the economic indicators trigger an upward adjustment. This clause is often included to protect contractors from unforeseen cost increases, especially in longer-term contracts or those involving volatile commodity prices. However, for taxpayers, it means the total expenditure is not definitively capped at the initial award amount, requiring monitoring of the price adjustment mechanism.

What does the short contract duration of 5 days suggest about this procurement?

The extremely short contract duration of 5 days (from April 7, 2026, to April 12, 2026) for the delivery of 999 bomber jackets suggests an urgent need or a very specific, time-sensitive requirement. This could indicate a need for immediate deployment, a response to an unexpected event, or that this delivery order is fulfilling a critical gap in inventory. Alternatively, it might represent a small portion of a larger, ongoing requirement, with this specific order needing rapid fulfillment. Such short durations can sometimes lead to higher per-unit costs due to expedited processes or limited competition, although this contract was awarded under full and open competition.

What is the significance of this contract being a 'DELIVERY ORDER'?

The designation of this award as a 'DELIVERY ORDER' (aw: DELIVERY ORDER) is significant because it implies that this is not a standalone contract but rather an order placed against a pre-existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar type of basic ordering agreement. IDIQ contracts allow agencies to procure supplies or services over a period of time up to a specified maximum amount, with individual orders placed as needed. This means the $3.3 million figure is likely just one order under a potentially much larger contract vehicle. The terms and conditions of the parent IDIQ contract would govern the overall relationship, while this delivery order specifies the quantity, price, and delivery details for this particular instance.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing › Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: TOILETRIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 47QSMD20R0001

Offers Received: 999

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

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1007 W BROADWAY AVE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 55411

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,288

Exercised Options: $3,288

Current Obligation: $3,288

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSMS24D000M

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline