DOJ's $13M prison food contract awarded to JNS FOODS LLC for 3 months

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,996 ($13.0K)

Contractor: JNS Foods LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 90 days

Daily Burn Rate: $144/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NATIONAL MENU 3RD QTR FY26

Place of Performance

Location: CORAL SPRINGS, BROWARD County, FLORIDA, 33071

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $12,995.75 to JNS FOODS LLC for work described as: NATIONAL MENU 3RD QTR FY26 Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for a 3-month period, but lacks detailed cost breakdowns for precise value-for-money assessment. 2. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller value procurements, potentially limiting broader competition. 3. The firm fixed-price structure transfers risk to the contractor, which is typical for supply contracts. 4. Performance context is limited to a 3-month duration, making long-term impact difficult to gauge. 5. This contract falls within the food manufacturing sector, specifically serving institutional needs. 6. The contract's short duration may indicate a need for rapid fulfillment or a pilot program.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $12,995,750 for a 90-day period averages to approximately $144,400 per day. Without specific details on the quantity of meals or food items to be supplied, a direct comparison to similar contracts or market rates is challenging. However, the daily cost suggests a significant volume of food products are being procured for the Federal Prison System. The firm fixed-price nature means the government is locked into this cost, assuming the contractor can deliver within budget.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which are typically used for purchases below the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000). This suggests that while competition was sought, it may have been limited to a smaller pool of vendors capable of responding to SAP solicitations. The number of bids received is not specified, but SAP awards often involve fewer bidders than full and open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Competition under SAP generally aims for fair pricing for smaller procurements. However, the limited scope of SAP may not always yield the most competitive pricing compared to larger, more broadly advertised contracts.

Public Impact

Inmates within the Federal Prison System in Florida will receive breakfast cereal. The primary service delivered is the supply of breakfast cereal, a staple food item. The geographic impact is focused on facilities within Florida (ST/SN: FLORIDA). Workforce implications are likely minimal, primarily related to the contractor's internal operations and distribution.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed cost breakdown hinders true value assessment.
Limited competition due to SAP procedures might lead to suboptimal pricing.
Short contract duration raises questions about long-term supply chain strategy.
No mention of specific quality control or nutritional standards for the cereal.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Awarded to a specific entity (JNS FOODS LLC), indicating a clear point of contact.
Contract is for a defined period, allowing for reassessment of needs.
Procurement falls under a standard NAICS code (311230), indicating a recognized industry category.

Sector Analysis

The food manufacturing sector (NAICS 311230 - Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing) is a mature industry. Federal agencies, particularly correctional facilities, are significant consumers of food products. Spending in this category is often driven by the need for bulk purchasing of staple goods. Benchmarking would typically involve comparing per-unit costs of cereal against wholesale prices and other government contracts for similar institutional food supplies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The procurement method (SAP) might favor smaller businesses in terms of bidding accessibility, but it was not a formal set-aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons within the Department of Justice. As a purchase order under SAP, the level of formal oversight might be less intensive than for larger, more complex contracts. Accountability measures would be tied to the delivery of specified goods according to the firm fixed-price terms. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, but detailed internal oversight mechanisms are not specified.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Food Procurement
Bureau of Prisons Supply Contracts
Department of Justice Commodity Purchases
Institutional Food Service Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to SAP.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown for value assessment.
Short contract duration may indicate underlying issues or temporary needs.
Absence of specified nutritional/quality standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $12,995.75 to JNS FOODS LLC. NATIONAL MENU 3RD QTR FY26

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JNS FOODS 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 $12,995.75.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for breakfast cereal by the Federal Prison System?

Analyzing historical spending for breakfast cereal by the Federal Prison System requires accessing and aggregating data from previous contract awards. Without direct access to a comprehensive database of past procurements for this specific item, a precise historical trend cannot be determined from the provided data alone. However, federal agencies like the Bureau of Prisons typically engage in recurring procurements for staple food items to meet the needs of inmate populations. Spending patterns are influenced by factors such as inmate population size, dietary guidelines, and fluctuations in food commodity prices. It is common for such procurements to be conducted periodically, often on an annual or quarterly basis, using competitive bidding processes to secure favorable pricing. The current contract's value and duration provide a snapshot for the third quarter of FY26, but a broader historical context would reveal trends in volume, cost per unit, and the number of vendors utilized over time.

How does the per-unit cost of this breakfast cereal compare to market rates or similar government contracts?

The provided data does not include the quantity of breakfast cereal to be supplied, making a direct per-unit cost calculation impossible. Therefore, a comparison to market rates or similar government contracts cannot be performed. To assess value for money, the total contract value ($12,995,750) would need to be divided by the total quantity (e.g., pounds, cases, or individual servings) of cereal procured. Without this quantity information, any benchmarking of the per-unit cost would be speculative. Future analysis should aim to obtain quantity details to enable a meaningful cost comparison and determine if the pricing is competitive within the industry and for government procurements.

What is the track record of JNS FOODS LLC in fulfilling federal contracts, particularly for food supplies?

Information regarding the specific track record of JNS FOODS LLC in fulfilling federal contracts, especially for food supplies, is not detailed in the provided data. A thorough assessment would require searching federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for past awards and performance evaluations associated with this contractor. Key aspects to investigate would include the types of goods or services previously provided, the value and duration of those contracts, and any reported instances of performance issues, contract terminations, or positive performance feedback. Understanding their history with similar agencies or contract types (e.g., institutional food service) would offer insight into their reliability and capability to meet the requirements of this current Department of Justice contract.

What are the specific nutritional requirements or quality standards for the breakfast cereal being procured?

The provided contract data does not specify the nutritional requirements or quality standards for the breakfast cereal being procured. Typically, government contracts for food items include detailed specifications regarding ingredients, nutritional content (e.g., fortification levels, sugar content), packaging, shelf life, and quality control measures. These specifications are crucial for ensuring the health and dietary needs of the end-users are met, as well as for maintaining food safety standards. Without these details, it is difficult to assess the suitability of the procured product beyond its basic classification as 'Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing'. Further review of the contract solicitation documents or the purchase order itself would be necessary to identify these critical specifications.

What is the rationale behind awarding a $13 million contract for only a 3-month period?

The rationale behind awarding a $12,995,750 contract for a 3-month period (April 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026) is not explicitly stated in the provided data. Several factors could explain this short duration and high value. It might represent a critical need for immediate supply, potentially due to an expiring contract or an unforeseen demand increase. Alternatively, it could be a bridge contract to cover a period while a longer-term, larger contract is being solicited and awarded. Another possibility is that this represents a specific, high-volume requirement for a particular quarter, such as seasonal demand or a specific operational need within the Federal Prison System. The use of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) might also suggest a less complex, shorter-term requirement that does not warrant a lengthy procurement process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Grain and Oilseed Milling › Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: SUBSISTENCE

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1401 N UNIVERSITY DR, CORAL SPRINGS, FL, 33071

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,996

Exercised Options: $12,996

Current Obligation: $12,996

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline