53--GASKET

The Defense Logistics Agency awarded HC MERCHANDISERS, INC. (CAGE 53037) a firm fixed-price contract valued at $180,157.67 for the supply of a single line item: a gasket identified by NSN 5330-01-254-5319, with no variance allowed in quantity. The contract was awarded on July 16, 2026, under solicitation SPE7L3-26-Q-0875, and performance requires delivery 230 days after award, with the delivery due date falling on March 3, 2027. Delivery is FOB ORIGIN, meaning risk transfers to the government upon shipment from the contractor’s facility, though the physical destination is specified in the schedule and must be adhered to. The contract mandates strict compliance with military packaging and marking standards including MIL-STD-2073-1E, MIL-STD-129, and MIL-DTL-117 Type II, Class C, Style 1 for UV-sensitive items, with specialized labeling for Product Verification Test samples. The gasket must be free of asbestos and mercury except for approved functional exceptions, and all shipments must include a DD Form 250 alongside barcoded labeling compliant with MIL-STD-129. Invoicing is exclusively through the Wide Area WorkFlow system, with payment directed to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Columbus, Ohio, under funding code 97X4930 5CBX 001 2620 S33189. The contractor, certified as a small business at time of award, must comply with FAR and DFARS clauses including employment reporting on veterans, sustainable products, subcontracting for commercial services, safeguarding covered defense information with NIST SP 800-171 requirements, and cyber incident reporting within 72 hours via DIBNet. All subcontractors must flow down cybersecurity obligations, and media related to cyber incidents must be preserved. No other socioeconomic certifications were claimed, and no evaluation factors or formal section M were provided, suggesting award was likely based on lowest price technically acceptable. Contract administration oversight is provided via [email hidden], though no COR or COTR details are included in the available documentation.