Department of Veterans Affairs Awarded a Contract to POLYGUARD LLC for $10,360,028.00

Summary of Award

The contract represented in the JSON data is a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) established between the U.S. federal government, specifically the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the contractor Polyguard LLC. This agreement, identified by the unique ID “CONT_IDV_36C78623A0002_3600” and contract identifier “36C78623A0002,” is set to cover the provision of poly liners specifically utilized in burial services both within and outside the Continental United States (CONUS and OCONIS). The BPA, a type of Indefinite Delivery Vehicle (IDV), is characterized by its potential to streamline the acquisition of goods and services by establishing terms and conditions before any actual orders are placed.

**Description of the Award and Contract Details:**

The contract description indicates a focus on products linked to memorials, cemetery equipment, and mortuary supplies, with a specific Product Service Code (PSC) of 9930. The relevant NAICS code here is 326121, which refers to "Unlaminated Plastics Profile Shape Manufacturing," aligning with the nature of the poly liners being provided under this agreement. The contract's formal signing date is listed as July 1, 2023, and spans a projected period of performance from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. It is notable that despite the significant coverage period, there have yet to be any transactions reported against this BPA at the time of this report. **Financial and Contractual Specifics:** From a financial perspective, the contract holds a "Firm Fixed Price" value structure with a total potential agreement value of $10,360,028, indicating the maximum ceiling that could be obligated under this agreement if all options are exercised. However, there is presently a total obligation of zero against this award. This highlights either a nascent stage in the contract's lifecycle or a delay in transactional activity for reasons not detailed within the dataset. The award is a single-award BPA, implying exclusive provisions through Polyguard LLC for the specified products under the current contract terms. The funding and awarding agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, is known for its critical role in supporting veterans' needs, further underscored by the involvement of the National Cemetery Administration as the specific office agency. This agency's role in managing the U.S. national cemeteries ties directly to the nature of the services required — the burial services and management thereof. **Contractor Information:** Polyguard LLC, the recipient company, is described under several business categories including a U.S.-Owned Business, Small Business, Limited Liability Corporation, and Manufacturer of Goods. The company's categorization amplifies the critical support for small businesses that federal contracts often seek to provide. Located in Afton, Wyoming, within Lincoln County, Polyguard LLC is registered with a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) RKU8Y5W85HQ5. This indicates its recognized status in federal contracting with pertinent business designations ensuring compliance and competitive eligibility. The company's geographic location in Wyoming, which is substantial for its economic attributes and contributions to local economic development, brings additional focus to rural business development through federal engagements. Polyguard LLC's role as a manufacturer within the specified NAICS impacts not only their local community through job creation and economic contributions but also serves federal needs by manufacturing crucially demanded memorial and cemetery supplies. **Analysis of Non-Financial Aspects:** Several non-financial contract elements are noteworthy, reflecting the broader policy landscape and regulatory environment in which this award operates. Particularly of interest is the absence of certain contract-related stipulations like small business competitive status and set-aside types, potentially indicative of sole-source capabilities or specialized qualifications by the contractor to meet unique government demands. No subcontracting plan and a determination of non-consolidated contracts further suggest that this contract emphasizes direct engagement and potentially streamlined production and supply chain processes. This is particularly advantageous when addressing urgent or high-need government requirements, such as those often encountered with memorial and burial services management provided by veterans' affairs. **Conclusion:** Ultimately, this BPA’s detailed examination reveals its strategic positioning within federal procurement, emphasizing the provision of specialized products catering to national memorial services. The contract underscores the VA's continuous efforts to meet its responsibilities towards veterans’ memorial services while supporting U.S. small businesses through targeted contracting strategies. While transactional activities are yet to manifest, the groundwork laid by this contract is undoubtedly designed to streamline services aligning with broader federal objectives of efficiency, responsibility, and support for dedicated service suppliers like Polyguard LLC.