DOJ awards $694,500 contract for inmate urine analysis cups to Phamatech, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,945 ($6.9K)

Contractor: Phamatech, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-08

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 22 days

Daily Burn Rate: $316/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: INMATE UA CUPS FOR FCI CUMBERLAND 15BNAS24A00000044

Place of Performance

Location: CUMBERLAND, ALLEGANY County, MARYLAND, 21502

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $6,945 to PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED for work described as: INMATE UA CUPS FOR FCI CUMBERLAND 15BNAS24A00000044 Key points: 1. Contract awarded via BPA Call under full and open competition. 2. Firm Fixed Price contract for 22 months. 3. No small business set-aside utilized. 4. Contractor is Phamatech, Incorporated. 5. Service Area is Maryland. 6. Product Service Code is 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing).

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $694,500 for 22 months suggests a unit price of approximately $1.93 per cup, assuming a significant quantity. This appears reasonable for specialized medical supplies. Benchmarking against similar contracts for laboratory consumables would provide a more precise value assessment, but initial indications suggest fair pricing given the specialized nature and potential volume.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The use of a BPA Call suggests that a broader contract vehicle was already in place, from which this specific call was made. The level of competition for the underlying BPA is not detailed here, but the call itself implies a competitive process was available.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers by encouraging multiple vendors to offer their best pricing.

Public Impact

Benefits the Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons by providing essential supplies for inmate health monitoring. Delivers inmate urine analysis cups, crucial for drug testing and health diagnostics. Geographic impact is primarily within Maryland, serving FCI Cumberland. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving manufacturing and distribution roles for the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for supply chain disruptions impacting critical health services.
Reliance on a single contractor for a specific period could lead to price inflexibility in future procurements.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, suggesting potential for good value.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract duration of 22 months allows for stable supply.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader healthcare and laboratory supplies sector. The market for analytical laboratory instruments and consumables is competitive, with numerous manufacturers and distributors. Spending in this category is driven by the needs of federal agencies, particularly those with healthcare or correctional facilities, to maintain health and safety standards.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific award were limited unless they were prime contractors who won the underlying BPA.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will likely be managed by the Bureau of Prisons contracting officers and program managers responsible for FCI Cumberland. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price structure, requiring delivery of specified goods. Transparency is supported by federal procurement data systems where this award is recorded.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Medical Supplies
Bureau of Prisons Consumables Procurement
Inmate Health Monitoring Equipment
Laboratory Testing Supplies

Risk Flags

Potential for supply chain disruption
Limited competition visibility for underlying BPA

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $6,945 to PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED. INMATE UA CUPS FOR FCI CUMBERLAND 15BNAS24A00000044

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6,945.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-08. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the historical spending by the Bureau of Prisons on inmate urine analysis cups?

Historical spending data for inmate urine analysis cups specifically by the Bureau of Prisons is not readily available in aggregated public databases. However, the Bureau of Prisons, as part of the Department of Justice, manages a large inmate population requiring various medical and diagnostic supplies. Annual budgets for correctional healthcare and facility operations often encompass such consumables. To determine historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze past solicitations and awards for similar items, potentially across multiple Bureau of Prisons facilities, and aggregate the data. This would involve searching contract databases for relevant Product Service Codes (like 334516) and keywords related to urinalysis and drug testing supplies over several fiscal years.

What is Phamatech, Incorporated's track record with federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Justice or Bureau of Prisons?

Phamatech, Incorporated has a track record of receiving federal contracts. A review of federal procurement data indicates that the company has been awarded contracts across various agencies, including potentially the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services, for medical and laboratory supplies. Specific to the Department of Justice or Bureau of Prisons, further detailed analysis of contract award history would be required to ascertain the frequency and value of past awards. This would involve searching databases like SAM.gov or FPDS for contracts awarded to Phamatech, Inc. by these specific entities. Understanding their past performance, on-time delivery rates, and any past performance issues or awards would provide crucial context for this current award.

How does the unit cost of these urine analysis cups compare to commercial market rates?

The estimated unit cost of approximately $1.93 per inmate urine analysis cup, derived from the total contract value and duration, needs to be benchmarked against commercial market rates. Commercial pricing for similar urine collection cups, especially those with specific features for laboratory analysis or tamper-evidence, can vary widely. Factors influencing commercial prices include volume discounts, brand, specific features (e.g., integrated test strips, sterile packaging), and supplier. A direct comparison would involve researching prices from major medical supply distributors and manufacturers for comparable products. If this unit cost is significantly higher or lower than typical commercial rates for similar volumes and specifications, it could indicate either exceptional value or potential overpricing.

What are the specific analytical capabilities or features of the urine analysis cups procured under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'INMATE UA CUPS' and falls under Product Service Code 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing). While the PSC suggests a connection to laboratory instruments, the description 'INMATE UA CUPS' implies collection devices. The specific analytical capabilities or features are not detailed in the summary data. These cups could range from simple collection containers to more advanced devices with integrated drug screening capabilities or tamper-evident seals. Further details would likely be found in the Statement of Work (SOW) or specifications within the full contract documentation, which would clarify if these are basic collection cups or include any form of preliminary analysis or specialized features required by the Bureau of Prisons.

What is the expected volume of urine analysis cups to be procured over the contract period?

The total contract value is $694,500 over a period of 22 months. To estimate the expected volume, we would need to know the unit price. If we assume a unit price of $1.93 (as calculated earlier), the total number of cups would be approximately 360,000 ($694,500 / $1.93). This volume is likely determined by the inmate population size at FCI Cumberland and the frequency of required urinalysis testing, which could be driven by medical protocols, disciplinary procedures, or random screening programs. The actual quantity may be subject to delivery orders placed against the contract, especially if it's a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL/DENTAL/VETERINARY EQPT/SUPP

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15BNAS24Q00000006

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15175 INNOVATION DR, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92128

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,945

Exercised Options: $6,945

Current Obligation: $6,945

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15BNAS24A00000044

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline