DOJ awards $129K for Pakistani sheeting, bypassing domestic options

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $129,000 ($129.0K)

Contractor: Tabb Textiles CO Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-03

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 27 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SHEETING FOR THE TERRE HAUTE IN TERRY MILL. WAIVER EXECUTED IN ORDER TO BUY FROM PAKISTAN.

Place of Performance

Location: OPELIKA, LEE County, ALABAMA, 36801

State: Alabama Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $129,000 to TABB TEXTILES CO INC for work described as: SHEETING FOR THE TERRE HAUTE IN TERRY MILL. WAIVER EXECUTED IN ORDER TO BUY FROM PAKISTAN. Key points: 1. Value for money is questionable given the waiver to procure from Pakistan. 2. Competition dynamics were limited by the waiver, potentially impacting price discovery. 3. Risk indicators include reliance on foreign sourcing and potential supply chain disruptions. 4. Performance context is a short-term delivery order for specific sheeting needs. 5. Sector positioning is within the textile manufacturing and government procurement space.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $129,000 for sheeting is relatively small. However, the decision to waive domestic sourcing requirements and procure from Pakistan raises concerns about value for money. Without a clear justification for why domestic suppliers could not meet the need, it is difficult to benchmark this price against comparable contracts or market rates. The waiver itself suggests a potential deviation from cost-effectiveness or availability that would typically be achieved through open competition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition. However, a waiver was executed to allow procurement from Pakistan, which suggests that while the initial solicitation may have been open, the final award was made under specific conditions that bypassed standard domestic sourcing preferences. The number of bidders is not specified, but the waiver implies that the lowest domestic offer may not have been selected or that domestic capacity was insufficient.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the best value if domestic manufacturers were bypassed due to reasons other than significant cost savings or unavailability. The waiver introduces a layer of complexity in assessing true price discovery.

Public Impact

The Federal Prison Industries (Unicor) benefits from this contract by acquiring necessary sheeting materials. Services delivered include the provision of broadwoven fabric mills sheeting. Geographic impact is primarily on the Federal Prison Industries' operations, with indirect impact on the Pakistani textile sector. Workforce implications are minimal within the US, but support employment in Pakistan's textile industry.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Reliance on foreign sourcing can introduce supply chain vulnerabilities and longer lead times.
Waiver of domestic sourcing requirements may undermine domestic manufacturing capabilities and jobs.
Limited transparency on the specific reasons for the waiver could obscure potential cost inefficiencies.

Positive Signals

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating an attempt to find competitive pricing.
The use of a firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
The delivery order is for a specific, short-term need, minimizing long-term commitment risks.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the textile manufacturing sector, specifically focusing on broadwoven fabric mills. The market for government textile procurement is significant, with agencies like the Department of Justice and its associated entities (like Federal Prison Industries) being regular buyers. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing prices for similar fabric types procured through domestic channels, which are not readily available due to the waiver.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides or subcontracting opportunities. The focus on international procurement from Pakistan suggests that the primary supplier is likely a larger entity, and the value of the contract is modest, making it less probable for significant small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the Department of Justice's procurement regulations and Federal Prison Industries' internal policies. Accountability measures are tied to the delivery of specified sheeting materials by the contract end date. Transparency is moderate, as the award details are public, but the rationale behind the waiver requires further scrutiny.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison Industries (Unicor) Procurement
Department of Justice Textile Purchases
Government Supply Chain Management
International Procurement Waivers

Risk Flags

Waiver of Domestic Sourcing
Potential Supply Chain Risk (International)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $129,000 to TABB TEXTILES CO INC. SHEETING FOR THE TERRE HAUTE IN TERRY MILL. WAIVER EXECUTED IN ORDER TO BUY FROM PAKISTAN.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TABB TEXTILES CO INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison Industries / Unicor).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $129,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-03. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the track record of TABB TEXTILES CO INC in supplying to the federal government?

Information regarding TABB TEXTILES CO INC's specific track record with the federal government is not detailed in the provided data. As a supplier to Federal Prison Industries (Unicor), their performance would be evaluated based on meeting the specifications and delivery timelines for this particular contract. A deeper dive into the General Services Administration (GSA) contract database or other federal procurement portals would be necessary to ascertain their history, including past performance ratings, any contract disputes, or previous awards. Without this historical data, it's difficult to assess their reliability beyond the scope of this single delivery order.

How does the price of this sheeting compare to similar domestic procurements?

Direct comparison of this contract's price to similar domestic procurements is challenging due to the waiver allowing sourcing from Pakistan. Typically, domestic textile prices are influenced by US labor costs, material sourcing, and regulatory compliance, which can differ significantly from international markets. To benchmark effectively, one would need to identify contracts for identical or highly similar 'broadwoven fabric mills' sheeting awarded to US-based manufacturers around the same period. Analyzing those domestic awards, considering factors like quantity, material composition, and delivery terms, would reveal potential price discrepancies. The waiver itself suggests that domestic options might have been either unavailable or significantly more expensive, but without explicit data, this remains an assumption.

What are the primary risks associated with procuring textile materials from Pakistan for the DOJ?

Procuring textile materials from Pakistan for the Department of Justice (DOJ) introduces several risks. Firstly, supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical instability, trade disputes, or logistical challenges in Pakistan or transit routes can lead to delays or non-delivery. Secondly, quality control can be a concern; ensuring that the sheeting meets stringent federal specifications requires robust oversight, which may be more complex with international suppliers. Thirdly, currency fluctuations could impact the final cost if not adequately hedged. Lastly, ethical sourcing and labor practices in the Pakistani textile industry may require additional due diligence to ensure compliance with US government standards and public perception.

What is the historical spending pattern for sheeting by the Federal Prison Industries (Unicor)?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for sheeting by the Federal Prison Industries (Unicor). To analyze this, one would need to access Unicor's procurement records or broader federal spending databases (like FPDS-NG or USASpending.gov) and filter for contracts related to 'sheeting' or specific fabric types awarded to Unicor over several fiscal years. Examining past contract values, quantities purchased, and sourcing locations (domestic vs. international) would reveal trends. This analysis could highlight whether procuring from Pakistan is a recurring practice or an anomaly, and whether spending has increased or decreased over time for such materials.

What is the justification for waiving domestic sourcing requirements for this specific contract?

The provided data indicates that a waiver was executed 'in order to buy from Pakistan,' but it does not detail the specific justification for this waiver. Generally, such waivers are granted when domestic sources cannot meet the government's needs in terms of quantity, quality, delivery schedule, or price. Agencies must typically document why domestic options are insufficient before seeking approval for international procurement. Potential reasons could include a lack of available domestic capacity for the specific type of sheeting required, significantly longer lead times from US suppliers, or a substantial cost advantage offered by Pakistani manufacturers. Without further documentation from the Department of Justice or Federal Prison Industries, the precise rationale remains unclear.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Fabric Mills › Broadwoven Fabric Mills

Product/Service Code: TEXTILE/LEATHER/FUR; TENT; FLAG

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 511 PLEASANT DR, OPELIKA, AL, 36801

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $129,000

Exercised Options: $129,000

Current Obligation: $129,000

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15UC0C22D00001902

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline