GSA Awards $10.6M for Tactical Field Kits to JL Darling, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,566 ($10.6K)

Contractor: JL Darling, LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-10

End Date: 2026-04-21

Contract Duration: 11 days

Daily Burn Rate: $961/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: FIELD KIT,TACTICAL

Place of Performance

Location: FIFE, PIERCE County, WASHINGTON, 98424

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $10,566.03 to JL DARLING, LLC for work described as: FIELD KIT,TACTICAL Key points: 1. Contract awarded via BPA Call, indicating a pre-competed framework. 2. Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FPEPA) contract type. 3. Short duration (11 days) suggests a specific, immediate need. 4. No small business participation noted. 5. High contract value for stationery products.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $10.6M for tactical field kits is substantial. Benchmarking against similar stationery or tactical gear contracts is difficult without more specific product details. The FPEPA clause introduces potential for cost increases.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under a BPA Call, which implies prior full and open competition for the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement. This method can lead to competitive pricing if the BPA itself was well-competed.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for the procurement of essential field equipment. The FPEPA clause warrants monitoring to ensure costs remain reasonable.

Public Impact

Ensures availability of essential tactical field kits for government use. Potential for price fluctuations due to economic price adjustment. Lack of small business involvement may limit broader economic impact.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Economic Price Adjustment clause could increase final cost.
No small business participation.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive BPA Call.
Ensures critical equipment availability.

Sector Analysis

The procurement falls under the Stationery Product Manufacturing sector, specifically for tactical field kits. The value of $10.6M is high for this category, suggesting a large quantity or specialized components.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates no small business participation in this specific award. Further investigation into the underlying BPA competition would be needed to determine if small businesses had an opportunity at that stage.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made by the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service, a common channel for office supplies and equipment. Oversight would focus on the administration of the BPA and the justification for the FPEPA.

Related Government Programs

Stationery Product Manufacturing
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

High contract value for stationery.
Economic Price Adjustment clause.
No small business participation noted.
Short contract duration (potential for urgency pricing).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $10,566.03 to JL DARLING, LLC. FIELD KIT,TACTICAL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JL DARLING, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10,566.03.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-10. End: 2026-04-21.

What specific items constitute the 'FIELD KIT, TACTICAL' and what is the unit cost?

The specific items within the 'FIELD KIT, TACTICAL' are not detailed in the provided data. To assess value, a breakdown of kit contents and their individual costs is necessary. Without this, a precise per-unit cost benchmark against similar kits is impossible, making it difficult to determine if the $10.6M represents a fair price for the goods received.

What is the risk associated with the 'FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT' contract type?

The primary risk with an FPEPA contract is that the final price paid by the government could exceed the initial fixed price due to fluctuations in economic factors like labor, materials, or transportation costs. This requires diligent monitoring by the contracting officer to ensure the adjustments are justified and do not lead to excessive spending.

How effective is the competition method (BPA CALL) in ensuring optimal pricing for tactical field kits?

A BPA Call leverages a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement, which should have undergone full and open competition. If the original BPA competition was robust and JL Darling, LLC was selected competitively, this call-off method can be efficient. However, the effectiveness hinges on the quality of the initial BPA competition and whether other BPA holders were solicited.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Converted Paper Product Manufacturing › Stationery Product Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: OFFICE SUPPLIES AND DEVICES

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: 2614 PACIFIC HWY E, FIFE, WA, 98424

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,566

Exercised Options: $10,566

Current Obligation: $10,566

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QSEA22A0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline