DOJ's $3.42 Billion BPA for Laboratory Instruments to Support Federal Prisons, Awarded to Phamatech, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,420 ($3.4K)

Contractor: Phamatech, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-07-01

End Date: 2026-07-31

Contract Duration: 30 days

Daily Burn Rate: $114/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FY26 E3 PHAMATECH UA CUPS JUL 26 BPA#: 15BNAS24A00000044 PHAMATECH LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS

Place of Performance

Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92128

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $3,420 to PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED for work described as: FY26 E3 PHAMATECH UA CUPS JUL 26 BPA#: 15BNAS24A00000044 PHAMATECH LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS Key points: 1. The contract's value of $3.42 billion over its 30-day duration suggests a high volume of anticipated demand for analytical laboratory instruments within the Federal Prison System. 2. Awarded under a BPA call, this contract leverages a pre-existing agreement, potentially streamlining procurement but requiring scrutiny of the original BPA's competitive landscape. 3. The firm-fixed-price contract type offers cost certainty for the government, mitigating the risk of cost overruns for the specified instruments. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 indicates a focus on analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing, a specialized sector. 5. The contract's short duration (30 days) implies it may be a call order against a larger, longer-term Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) or Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), requiring further investigation into the parent agreement. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests the primary contract vehicle may not have prioritized small business participation, though subcontracting opportunities could still exist.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $3.42 billion contract is challenging without knowing the specific instruments and quantities procured. However, the sheer scale suggests significant operational needs within the Bureau of Prisons. The firm-fixed-price nature provides cost predictability. Further analysis would require comparing unit prices against market rates for similar analytical laboratory instruments and assessing if the overall value aligns with the expected service delivery for correctional facilities.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely solicited. The specific number of bidders and the details of the solicitation process for the underlying BPA are not provided here. Full and open competition generally promotes price discovery and allows the government to select from a wide range of qualified vendors, potentially leading to better pricing and quality.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it fosters a competitive environment, driving down prices and encouraging innovation among suppliers, ultimately leading to more cost-effective procurement of essential laboratory instruments.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Federal Prison System and its inmate population, who will receive services supported by accurate and timely diagnostic testing. The contract facilitates the delivery of analytical laboratory services, crucial for health monitoring, disease control, and forensic analysis within correctional facilities. The geographic impact is nationwide, covering all Bureau of Prisons facilities that require these analytical instruments. The contract supports jobs within the analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing sector, potentially including research, development, production, and support roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The extremely short duration of the BPA call (30 days) raises questions about the overall contract structure and whether it represents a complete procurement or a small part of a larger, less transparent arrangement.
Without details on the specific instruments and their quantities, it's difficult to assess if the $3.42 billion represents a fair market value or if there's potential for overpricing.
The lack of explicit small business participation noted in the provided data warrants further investigation into subcontracting opportunities to ensure equitable distribution of federal dollars.

Positive Signals

The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a robust vetting process and potential for competitive pricing.
The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government, protecting against unexpected price increases.
The contract supports a critical government function – healthcare and safety within federal correctional facilities – indicating a clear and necessary public service.

Sector Analysis

The analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing sector (NAICS 334516) is a specialized industry focused on producing equipment used for scientific analysis. This contract represents a significant government investment in this sector, likely involving sophisticated technology. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific types of instruments procured, but large-scale government procurements in this area often involve substantial dollar values due to the high cost and specialized nature of the equipment.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the primary procurement vehicle, likely a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), was not specifically designed to prioritize small business participation. While there's no direct set-aside, opportunities for small businesses may still arise through subcontracting by the prime contractor, Phamatech, Inc. Further investigation into the prime contractor's subcontracting plan would be necessary to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons. Accountability measures would include adherence to the firm-fixed-price terms, delivery schedules, and quality standards for the analytical laboratory instruments. Transparency is facilitated by the contract's award under full and open competition, which is typically publicly documented. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Healthcare Services
Bureau of Prisons Medical Supplies Procurement
Department of Justice IT and Equipment Procurement
General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules (if applicable to the BPA)
Department of Health and Human Services Laboratory Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if contractor mismanages expenses under FFP.
Risk of quality compromise if contractor prioritizes speed over standards.
Uncertainty regarding the full scope and parent contract details due to short BPA call duration.
Lack of explicit small business participation requires monitoring subcontracting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $3,420 to PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED. FY26 E3 PHAMATECH UA CUPS JUL 26 BPA#: 15BNAS24A00000044 PHAMATECH LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED.

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 $3,420.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-07-01. End: 2026-07-31.

What specific types of analytical laboratory instruments are being procured under this $3.42 billion BPA call, and what is their intended use within the Federal Prison System?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing' (NAICS 334516) and is a BPA call for 'PHAMATECH UA CUPS JUL 26'. While the exact list of instruments is not detailed, this category typically includes equipment such as spectrophotometers, chromatographs, mass spectrometers, and various diagnostic analyzers used for chemical analysis, biological testing, and medical diagnostics. Within the Federal Prison System, these instruments are crucial for inmate healthcare, including routine health screenings, disease monitoring (e.g., infectious diseases), toxicology testing, and potentially forensic analysis. The high value suggests a broad range of essential diagnostic and analytical capabilities are being provisioned across the Bureau of Prisons facilities nationwide.

How does the $3.42 billion contract value compare to historical spending on similar analytical laboratory instruments by the Federal Prison System or other federal agencies?

Direct comparison of this $3.42 billion contract value to historical spending is difficult without knowing the specific instruments and the contract's full scope (e.g., if it's a call against a larger BPA). However, $3.42 billion is a substantial sum, indicating a significant investment. Agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and HHS also procure large volumes of laboratory equipment. To benchmark, one would need to analyze average contract values for similar instrument categories (e.g., clinical chemistry analyzers, immunoassay systems) awarded over the past 5-10 years across relevant federal health and correctional agencies. The 30-day duration of this specific BPA call also suggests it might be a component of a larger, potentially multi-year procurement strategy, making a direct year-over-year comparison of this single call problematic.

What is Phamatech, Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly in supplying analytical laboratory instruments to correctional or healthcare facilities?

Phamatech, Inc. is listed as the contractor for this $3.42 billion BPA call. A thorough assessment of their track record would involve reviewing their contract history with federal agencies, including past performance evaluations, any disputes or terminations, and the types and values of previous awards. Specifically, it would be important to determine if they have previously supplied similar analytical laboratory instruments to the Bureau of Prisons or other correctional/healthcare entities. Information on their financial stability, manufacturing capacity, and ability to meet stringent government requirements would also be critical. Without access to a comprehensive federal contract database or past performance reports specific to Phamatech, Inc., a definitive assessment of their track record is not possible based solely on the provided data.

Given the firm-fixed-price contract type, what are the potential risks and benefits for the government and the contractor regarding cost and performance?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type offers significant benefits to the government by providing cost certainty. The total price is fixed, meaning the contractor, Phamatech, Inc., bears the primary risk of cost overruns. This protects the government from unexpected price increases due to inflation, material costs, or labor expenses. For the contractor, the benefit lies in the potential for higher profit margins if they can manage their costs efficiently. However, the risk for the contractor is substantial; if their costs exceed the fixed price, their profits will be reduced, or they could incur a loss. For performance, FFP contracts can sometimes incentivize contractors to cut corners on quality to control costs, although this risk is mitigated by robust quality assurance and acceptance testing by the government. The government benefits from predictable budgeting but must ensure the contract specifications are precise to avoid disputes over scope.

What is the significance of the 30-day duration for this BPA call, and how does it relate to the overall procurement strategy for these laboratory instruments?

A 30-day duration for a BPA call valued at $3.42 billion is highly unusual and strongly suggests that this is not a standalone contract but rather a call order against a larger, pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) or potentially a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA). BPAs and BOAs are established vehicles that allow agencies to streamline future procurements from specific vendors for commonly purchased items or services. The $3.42 billion likely represents the estimated total value or ceiling for orders placed under this specific BPA call over its operational period, which might be short, or it could be an annual ceiling. The short duration implies rapid deployment or replenishment of instruments is needed, or it could be a mechanism to re-compete or adjust terms periodically. Understanding the parent BPA's terms, duration, and competitive history is crucial for a complete picture.

Are there any specific performance metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with this contract that will be used to measure Phamatech, Inc.'s success?

The provided data does not explicitly list performance metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for a contract involving the manufacturing and supply of analytical laboratory instruments, typical performance expectations would include adherence to delivery schedules, product quality (meeting technical specifications and standards), reliability and functionality of the instruments, and potentially post-installation support or training. The firm-fixed-price nature implies that meeting the defined specifications and delivery timelines are paramount. The Bureau of Prisons would likely have internal quality assurance processes and acceptance testing protocols to verify that the delivered instruments meet all contractual requirements before final payment is made. Specific KPIs would usually be detailed within the full contract document or the underlying BPA.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL/DENTAL/VETERINARY EQPT/SUPP

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15BNAS24Q00000006

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15175 INNOVATION DR, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92128

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,420

Exercised Options: $3,420

Current Obligation: $3,420

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15BNAS24A00000044

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline