DOJ's $13.3M UNICOR contract for inmate lockers awarded via competition, with potential for value concerns
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,278 ($13.3K)
Contractor: Federal Prison Industries, Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2026-09-30
End Date: 2026-09-30
Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: FY26 C1 UNICOR LOCKERS/LOCKS - FOR INMATES HOUSED AT FCC POLLOCK
Place of Performance
Location: ALEXANDRIA, RAPIDES County, LOUISIANA, 71303
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $13,278.47 to FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC for work described as: FY26 C1 UNICOR LOCKERS/LOCKS - FOR INMATES HOUSED AT FCC POLLOCK Key points: 1. Contract awarded to UNICOR, a government-owned entity, raising questions about true market competition. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price purchase order, providing cost certainty for the government. 3. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on efficiency for smaller procurements. 4. The contract duration is one year, allowing for regular reassessment of needs and performance. 5. The geographic location of the facility (Louisiana) may influence logistics and delivery costs. 6. UNICOR's role as a federal prison industries program means the workforce is comprised of incarcerated individuals.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking UNICOR's pricing against commercial locker manufacturers is challenging due to its unique operational model and mission. As a government-owned entity, UNICOR's cost structure may differ significantly from private sector competitors. The firm-fixed-price nature of the award provides budget certainty, but the absence of direct market price comparison makes a definitive value-for-money assessment difficult without further cost data. The $13.3 million total value for a one-year contract for inmate lockers suggests a substantial quantity, and the pricing needs to be scrutinized against comparable government or large-scale commercial procurements if available.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a broader solicitation than micro-purchases but is less formal than full and open competition. The data indicates 5 bidders participated in this competition. While competition exists, the specific details of the SAP process and the nature of the bidders (e.g., if other government-affiliated entities or specialized manufacturers were involved) are crucial for understanding the depth of price discovery. The presence of multiple bidders suggests an effort to obtain competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The competition under SAP, with 5 bidders, aims to secure a reasonable price for taxpayers. However, the full extent of savings compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario is not explicitly detailed.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are inmates housed at FCC Pollock, who will receive secure storage solutions. The contract delivers essential infrastructure items (lockers and locks) to a federal correctional facility. The geographic impact is localized to FCC Pollock in Louisiana. The workforce for manufacturing these lockers is provided by incarcerated individuals through UNICOR, supporting vocational training and work programs within the correctional system.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for higher costs compared to open market due to UNICOR's unique operational structure.
- Limited transparency into UNICOR's cost build-up and profit margins.
- Reliance on a single-year contract may not reflect long-term infrastructure needs or potential volume discounts.
- The effectiveness of SAP competition in driving down prices for specialized items like inmate lockers needs further evaluation.
Positive Signals
- Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
- Competition among 5 bidders, even under SAP, suggests an effort to achieve competitive pricing.
- UNICOR's mission supports inmate rehabilitation through work programs.
- The contract addresses a critical need for secure storage within a correctional facility.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the manufacturing and industrial products sector, specifically serving government and institutional needs. UNICOR, as Federal Prison Industries, Inc., operates within a unique niche, manufacturing goods and services using inmate labor. Its spending is often benchmarked against internal cost structures rather than direct commercial market comparisons, making sector-wide spending benchmarks less directly applicable. The market for correctional facility furnishings is specialized, with a limited number of providers capable of meeting security and durability requirements.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve small business set-asides, as it is awarded to UNICOR, a federal government corporation. UNICOR's operational model relies on inmate labor, and its subcontracting practices, if any, would be internal or with other government-approved entities. The impact on the broader small business ecosystem is likely minimal, as this procurement is handled through a specialized government program.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons. As a purchase order issued under SAP, the level of formal oversight might be less intensive than for larger, more complex contracts. UNICOR itself has internal oversight mechanisms and is subject to audits and reviews by government accountability bodies. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, but detailed cost breakdowns or performance metrics may not be publicly available.
Related Government Programs
- UNICOR Manufacturing Contracts
- Federal Prison System Equipment Procurement
- Bureau of Prisons Infrastructure Purchases
- Correctional Facility Furnishings
Risk Flags
- Potential for non-competitive pricing due to UNICOR's status.
- Quality control concerns related to inmate labor.
- Delivery schedule adherence risks.
- Limited transparency in cost structure.
Tags
manufacturing, unicor, department-of-justice, bureau-of-prisons, purchase-order, firm-fixed-price, competed, simplified-acquisition-procedures, louisiana, correctional-facility, inmate-welfare
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $13,278.47 to FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC. FY26 C1 UNICOR LOCKERS/LOCKS - FOR INMATES HOUSED AT FCC POLLOCK
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC.
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 $13,278.47.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-09-30. End: 2026-09-30.
What is UNICOR's historical performance record with similar locker and lock contracts for correctional facilities?
UNICOR, as Federal Prison Industries, Inc., has a long history of supplying goods and services to federal agencies, including correctional facilities. Their product catalog often includes items like lockers, furniture, and other manufactured goods. Performance records for specific contracts, especially regarding on-time delivery, quality adherence, and post-installation issues, are typically managed internally by the contracting agency (in this case, the Bureau of Prisons). While aggregate performance data might be available through agency reports or IG audits, detailed historical performance for individual contract types like inmate lockers is not always readily accessible in public databases. However, UNICOR's continued operation and awards suggest a baseline level of acceptable performance, though specific issues or commendations would require deeper investigation into agency procurement histories and any associated performance reviews.
How does the pricing of this UNICOR contract compare to commercial market rates for similar lockers?
Directly comparing the pricing of this UNICOR contract to commercial market rates is challenging due to UNICOR's unique operational model, which utilizes inmate labor and operates as a government-owned entity. Commercial manufacturers face different labor costs, overheads, and profit margin expectations. The $13.3 million total value for a one-year contract suggests a significant volume. To assess value, one would ideally compare this to bids received from commercial entities if the procurement process allowed for it, or benchmark against large-scale commercial or government procurements of similar specifications and quantities. Without access to UNICOR's cost structure or detailed bid comparisons from the SAP process, a definitive value-for-money assessment relative to the open market remains difficult. The firm-fixed-price nature provides budget certainty, but not necessarily the lowest possible price.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?
Key risks for this contract include potential quality control issues given the manufacturing workforce, delivery delays impacting facility operations, and pricing that may not be as competitive as the open market. Mitigation strategies often involve clear performance standards in the contract, defined delivery schedules with potential penalties, and the competitive bidding process itself, even under SAP. The Bureau of Prisons, as the contracting agency, is responsible for monitoring performance and enforcing contract terms. UNICOR's established processes and the government's oversight aim to manage these risks. Furthermore, the firm-fixed-price structure shifts some cost overrun risk to the contractor.
What is the expected impact of this contract on the Bureau of Prisons' operational efficiency and inmate welfare?
This contract directly impacts the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) by providing essential infrastructure – lockers and locks – for inmate housing at FCC Pollock. Adequate and secure storage is crucial for maintaining order, security, and inmate dignity within correctional facilities. Reliable provision of these items contributes to the smooth operation of the facility by ensuring inmates have necessary personal storage. From an inmate welfare perspective, secure lockers protect personal belongings, which can be important for morale and reducing disputes. The timely delivery and proper installation of these lockers are key to realizing these operational and welfare benefits.
How has federal spending on UNICOR products, specifically lockers and related hardware, trended over the past five fiscal years?
Analyzing federal spending trends specifically on UNICOR-produced lockers and locks requires accessing detailed procurement data, often aggregated under broader UNICOR contracts or manufacturing categories. Publicly available data might show overall UNICOR spending by agency or by product category (e.g., 'furniture,' 'metal products'). Historically, UNICOR has secured significant contract values across various federal agencies, including the Department of Justice. Trends can fluctuate based on agency budget allocations, infrastructure upgrade cycles, and the specific needs of correctional facilities. Without granular data on locker-specific procurements, it's difficult to pinpoint a precise trend for this item alone. However, the consistent need for such items in federal prisons suggests a steady, albeit variable, demand.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing › Showcase, Partition, Shelving, and Locker Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: FURNITURE
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Government of the United States
Address: 3301 LEESTOWN RD, LEXINGTON, KY, 40511
Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $13,278
Exercised Options: $13,278
Current Obligation: $13,278
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-09-30
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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