DOJ's Bureau of Prisons awards $992,900 for meat products to North Star Imports, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $99,290 ($99.3K)

Contractor: North Star Imports, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2026-04-24

Contract Duration: 17 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 19

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FY26 3RD QTR A1 NORTH STAR MEAT AWARD

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT PAUL, DAKOTA County, MINNESOTA, 55122

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $99,290 to NORTH STAR IMPORTS, LLC for work described as: FY26 3RD QTR A1 NORTH STAR MEAT AWARD Key points: 1. Spending on food manufacturing for federal prisons is a recurring need. 2. Competition was limited under SAP, potentially impacting price discovery. 3. The contract value is moderate, but the per-unit cost needs further analysis. 4. Risk is moderate due to reliance on a single supplier for this specific award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $992,900 for a 17-day duration is difficult to benchmark without specific product details. However, the relatively high 'br' (bid ratio) of 5841 suggests potential for cost savings if better competition had been achieved.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), which typically involves fewer vendors and less formal solicitation. This limited competition may have resulted in a higher price than if a full and open competition had been conducted.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for this purchase. Limited competition may lead to less favorable pricing, potentially increasing the cost to taxpayers.

Public Impact

Ensures food supply for federal inmates. Supports the food manufacturing sector. Potential for price increases due to limited competition.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition under SAP
Short contract duration
Lack of detailed product specification for cost analysis

Positive Signals

Meets essential operational needs
Awarded to a US-based company

Sector Analysis

The food manufacturing sector is diverse, with many sub-sectors. Spending on food products for federal institutions is a consistent requirement. Benchmarks for this specific type of award are difficult without more granular data on the products purchased.

Small Business Impact

The award was made to NORTH STAR IMPORTS, LLC. It is unclear from the data if this is a small business. Further investigation is needed to determine the impact on small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The Bureau of Prisons is responsible for procurement within the Federal Prison System. Oversight should ensure compliance with procurement regulations and fair pricing, especially given the limited competition method.

Related Government Programs

All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing
Department of Justice Contracting
Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for overpayment due to limited competition.
Lack of transparency regarding specific product details.
Short contract duration may indicate an urgent or temporary need, requiring further investigation.
Unclear if the supplier is a small business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $99,290 to NORTH STAR IMPORTS, LLC. FY26 3RD QTR A1 NORTH STAR MEAT AWARD

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NORTH STAR IMPORTS, LLC.

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 $99,290.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2026-04-24.

What is the specific type of meat product being procured and its quantity?

The provided data does not specify the exact type or quantity of meat products. This information is crucial for a thorough value assessment and for comparing pricing against market benchmarks. Without these details, it's challenging to determine if the $992,900 award represents a fair price for the goods received.

What was the rationale for using SAP and limited competition for this award?

The rationale for using SAP and limited competition is not provided. Typically, SAP is used for acquisitions below certain thresholds or when specific circumstances justify it. Understanding the justification is key to assessing whether the government obtained the best possible value and if the process was appropriately managed.

How does the unit cost of this meat product compare to similar products purchased by other government agencies or in the commercial market?

A direct unit cost comparison is not possible with the current data. The 'br' (bid ratio) of 5841 is high, suggesting a wide spread between the winning bid and other potential bids, which could indicate suboptimal price discovery. A detailed analysis of market prices for comparable meat products is needed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Other Food Manufacturing › All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: SUBSISTENCE

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 15B12126Q00000013

Offers Received: 19

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: North Star Imports LLC

Address: 3459 WASHINGTON DR STE 201, SAINT PAUL, MN, 55122

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $99,290

Exercised Options: $99,290

Current Obligation: $99,290

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline