DOJ's Bureau of Prisons awards $39.7K for toilet paper to Outlook-Nebraska, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $39,701 ($39.7K)

Contractor: Outlook-Nebraska, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-08-01

End Date: 2026-08-31

Contract Duration: 30 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: OUTLOOK NEBRASKA - INSTITUTIONAL TOILET PAPER AUG 2026 MANDATORY SOURCE FY26 ABILITY ONE

Place of Performance

Location: OMAHA, DOUGLAS County, NEBRASKA, 68127

State: Nebraska Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $39,700.8 to OUTLOOK-NEBRASKA, INC. for work described as: OUTLOOK NEBRASKA - INSTITUTIONAL TOILET PAPER AUG 2026 MANDATORY SOURCE FY26 ABILITY ONE Key points: 1. The contract is a firm-fixed-price purchase order for institutional toilet paper. 2. Outlook-Nebraska, Inc. is the sole provider for this specific requirement. 3. The contract is for a 30-day period in August 2026. 4. This purchase is categorized under Stationery Product Manufacturing.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $39,700.80 for a single month's supply of toilet paper appears high, especially given the lack of competition. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific product details, but the price per unit is likely inflated due to the procurement method.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under SAP and is listed as sole-source. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government compared to a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential supplies due to the absence of competitive bidding, impacting the overall efficiency of federal spending.

Public Impact

Essential supplies for federal correctional facilities are being procured. The procurement method raises questions about cost-effectiveness for taxpayers. Reliance on a single source for a basic necessity could indicate potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 20 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source procurement
Lack of competition
High unit cost potential

Positive Signals

Ensures supply of essential item

Sector Analysis

The stationery product manufacturing sector, while essential, often sees significant price variations based on volume and competition. This contract falls within the broader category of general supplies for government institutions.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement, as it was a sole-source award to Outlook-Nebraska, Inc.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants further oversight to ensure the pricing is fair and reasonable, and to explore opportunities for future competition.

Related Government Programs

Stationery Product Manufacturing
Department of Justice Contracting
Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competitive bidding
Potential for inflated pricing
Limited transparency on justification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $39,700.8 to OUTLOOK-NEBRASKA, INC.. OUTLOOK NEBRASKA - INSTITUTIONAL TOILET PAPER AUG 2026 MANDATORY SOURCE FY26 ABILITY ONE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OUTLOOK-NEBRASKA, 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 $39,700.8.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-08-01. End: 2026-08-31.

What is the justification for this being a sole-source award for institutional toilet paper?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and is a sole-source award. A deeper dive into the specific justification, such as unique capabilities of Outlook-Nebraska, Inc., or specific product requirements not met by other vendors, would be necessary to fully understand the rationale behind bypassing competitive bidding.

What is the estimated cost per unit or per case of toilet paper?

The data provides a total award amount of $39,700.80 for a 30-day period. Without knowing the quantity of toilet paper being purchased (e.g., number of cases or individual rolls), it is impossible to calculate a precise per-unit cost. However, given the sole-source nature and the duration, the implied cost per unit is likely higher than if it were competitively procured.

How does this contract's pricing compare to similar institutional toilet paper contracts awarded competitively?

Direct comparison is challenging without knowing the exact specifications and quantities. However, sole-source contracts typically result in higher prices than competitively awarded ones due to the lack of market pressure. Further analysis would require benchmarking against other federal or state contracts for similar bulk toilet paper purchases to assess potential overpayment.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Converted Paper Product Manufacturing › Stationery Product Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: TOILETRIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4125 S 72ND ST, OMAHA, NE, 68127

Business Categories: AbilityOne Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,701

Exercised Options: $39,701

Current Obligation: $39,701

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline