Department of Justice Awarded a Contract to CLARK'S TRADING CO. for $13,920.00

Summary of Award

The contract in question is a purchase order between the U.S. federal government and Clark's Trading Co., identified by the unique award ID "CONT_AWD_15B20325P00000034_1540_-NONE-_-NONE-". It was facilitated by the Federal Prison System, under the Bureau of Prisons, a sub-agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The contract was signed on January 22, 2025, with a total obligation of $13,920. The purpose of this contract is to supply dry goods and meats for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, specifically targeting subsistence needs which implies its role in providing necessary food supplies, possibly for correctional facilities.

Clark's Trading Co., the recipient of the contract, is a small, U.S.-owned business located in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. The company falls within several business categories including being a corporate entity that is not tax-exempt, a small business, and a Subchapter S corporation. This designation means it likely has a specific limit in terms of stockholder count and is structured for tax benefits while being recognized as a small business which might have influenced the contract's small business set-aside criteria.

The procurement was conducted under a simplified acquisition procedure as stated by the solicitation procedure code "SP1", which typically allows streamlined purchase processes for specific thresholds, often leading to faster procurement without extensive competitive bidding. Although seven offers were received, it was competed under Small Business Set-Aside - Total, indicating a preference for awarding the contract to smaller firms to support small business development. The naics code “311991” attributed to this contract correlates to the Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing industry, thus providing a clearer picture of Clark's Trading Co.'s capacities and the products involved—meat, poultry, and fish supply for the Department of Justice's facilities. The product or service code “8905”, referring to meat, poultry, and fish, confirms that the contract's scope is focused on food provisions, essential for meeting subsistence needs. The contract is characterized as a “Firm Fixed Price”, meaning the price for the work was established at the time of contract's commencement and is to remain unchanged regardless of the contractor's cost experience. This type of pricing is typically designed to ensure cost certainty for government agencies but can pose financial risks to the contractor if costs exceed initial estimates. The transactions related to this award reveal two significant modifications. On January 22, 2025, the initial transaction amount was issued for the full contract value of $13,920. Interestingly, this transaction name credits a different entity—“MATTS TRADING INC.” rather than Clark's Trading Co., which might suggest either a clerical error or initial assignment changes, later resolved with Clark's Trading Co. This indicates complexities or changes in procurement recording that might warrant further investigation. The subsequent transaction dated March 21, 2025, records a modification without a change in transaction amount. The funding and execution of this contract are centralized within the DOJ, specifically under the Federal Prison System/Bureau of Prisons. This underscores the critical role of federal facilities in managing inmate provisions, relying on external suppliers like Clark's Trading Co. for the continuity of food supply chains to uphold institutional operations. Geo-economically, the place of performance is situated in Boca Raton, Florida, which is interesting as it does not align with either the location of Clark's Trading Co. in Wisconsin or the geographically closest federal prison, suggesting logistical planning over considerable distance. This contract illustrates an archetypal government interaction with small businesses, showcasing government efforts to enable small business growth through set-asides while ensuring mission-critical supply continuity. The relatively modest contract amount aligns with typical procurement efforts for quarterly food provisions within a constrained budgetary framework, adhering to federal fiscal responsibility and operational demands. From a broader fiscal perspective, the contract's emphasis on simplicity in procurement procedures demonstrates an operational efficiency drive, imperative in streamlining service delivery amidst complex federal bureaucracies. The contract also reflects the DOJ's continued partnership with U.S.-owned entities, reinforcing internal industry support while fulfilling governmental goals for dependable food supply channels critical to maintaining the core functions of its federal institutions.