DOJ's $19.8K purchase order for corn on the cob awarded to Foods Galore Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,801 ($19.8K)

Contractor: Foods Galore Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-05-01

End Date: 2026-05-01

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 15

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FY 2026 Q3 - FROZEN ITEM - CORN ON THE COB

Place of Performance

Location: PENNSAUKEN, CAMDEN County, NEW JERSEY, 08110

State: New Jersey Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $19,801.2 to FOODS GALORE INC for work described as: FY 2026 Q3 - FROZEN ITEM - CORN ON THE COB Key points: 1. This contract represents a small expenditure for the Federal Prison System, likely for inmate sustenance. 2. The award was made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a focus on efficiency for smaller purchases. 3. The fixed price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the government. 4. The single-day duration suggests a one-time or immediate need for the specified goods. 5. The contractor, Foods Galore Inc., is a new awardee for this specific item, requiring performance monitoring. 6. The geographic location of the awardee in New Jersey may influence delivery logistics and local economic impact.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $19,801.20 for corn on the cob is relatively small in the context of federal food procurement. Benchmarking this specific item is challenging without more granular data on per-unit pricing or volume. However, given the small total amount and the nature of the item, the pricing is likely within a reasonable range for bulk food service. The value proposition hinges on the quality and timely delivery of the corn to meet the needs of the Federal Prison System.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a limited number of quotes or proposals, often from pre-qualified vendors. While not a full and open competition, SAP aims to balance efficiency with fair opportunity. The exact number of bidders is not specified, but the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation suggests more than one offer was solicited, though potentially not a broad market outreach. This level of competition may lead to slightly higher prices than a full and open competition but ensures some price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, competing under SAP for smaller purchases like this is generally efficient, balancing administrative costs with achieving a reasonable price. It avoids the higher overhead associated with large-scale competitive bidding for relatively minor expenditures.

Public Impact

Inmates within the Federal Prison System will benefit from the provision of corn on the cob as part of their dietary needs. The service delivered is the supply of a specific food commodity, contributing to the operational requirements of correctional facilities. The geographic impact is localized to the correctional facility or facilities served by this purchase order, likely within New Jersey given the vendor's location. There are no significant workforce implications directly tied to this specific purchase order, as it is for goods rather than services requiring extensive labor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for inconsistent quality of corn if not properly sourced and inspected.
Risk of delivery delays impacting meal service schedules within the correctional facility.
Limited competition under SAP could result in a less than optimal price compared to a broader solicitation.

Positive Signals

The fixed-price contract provides budget certainty for this food purchase.
Simplified Acquisition Procedures are designed for efficient procurement of goods and services below certain thresholds.
The award to a vendor located in New Jersey may support regional economic activity.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader food manufacturing and distribution sector, specifically catering to institutional or government food service needs. The market for supplying food to federal correctional facilities is a niche within the larger food industry. While the total value is small, it represents a typical transaction for maintaining essential supplies within government operations. Comparable spending benchmarks for specific food items like corn on the cob are difficult to ascertain without detailed market analysis of institutional food contracts.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to be a small business set-aside, as indicated by 'sb: false'. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans. The awardee, Foods Galore Inc., is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific award is likely minimal, unless Foods Galore Inc. itself is a small business and utilizes other small businesses in its supply chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this purchase order would primarily fall under the Federal Prison System's procurement and logistics departments. Accountability measures are inherent in the purchase order system, requiring the vendor to fulfill the order as specified. Transparency is facilitated by federal procurement databases where such awards are recorded. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected in the procurement or fulfillment process.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Food Procurement
Department of Justice Commodity Purchases
Institutional Food Service Contracts
Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) Awards

Risk Flags

Potential for supply chain disruption
Food quality and safety concerns
Delivery timeliness critical for operations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $19,801.2 to FOODS GALORE INC. FY 2026 Q3 - FROZEN ITEM - CORN ON THE COB

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FOODS GALORE 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 $19,801.2.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-05-01. End: 2026-05-01.

What is the typical cost per unit for corn on the cob in federal food service contracts?

Determining a precise 'typical' cost per unit for corn on the cob in federal food service contracts is challenging without access to detailed historical data and specific contract terms (e.g., fresh vs. frozen, organic, packaging, delivery requirements). Federal food procurement often involves bulk purchasing, which can lead to lower per-unit costs than retail. However, simplified acquisition procedures (SAP), as used here, may involve fewer bidders and potentially less aggressive pricing than full and open competition. For a $19,801.20 purchase order, if it were for a significant quantity, the per-unit cost would be a key metric. Without knowing the quantity, a direct comparison is impossible. Generally, institutional food service aims for cost-effectiveness, but specific benchmarks for individual commodities like corn on the cob are not readily available in public databases without extensive analysis of similar, recent awards.

How does Foods Galore Inc.'s track record compare for similar food supply contracts?

The provided data indicates that Foods Galore Inc. is the awardee for this specific purchase order. However, it does not offer any historical information about their performance on previous contracts, nor does it specify if they have supplied corn on the cob or similar food items to the federal government or other institutions before. To assess their track record, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for past performance reviews, contract history, and any reported issues or successes. Without this additional data, it is impossible to compare their track record for similar food supply contracts.

What are the primary risks associated with this type of small-value food procurement?

The primary risks associated with this small-value food procurement, despite its limited dollar amount, include potential issues with food quality and safety, timely delivery, and vendor reliability. For correctional facilities, disruptions in food supply can have significant operational and morale consequences. While the contract value is low, the consequences of failure can be disproportionately high. Ensuring the corn meets nutritional and safety standards, and is delivered on schedule, are critical. Furthermore, even with limited competition, there's a risk that the price paid might not be the most economical if the solicitation process was not sufficiently robust or if the vendor lacks competitive pressure. Vendor solvency and capacity to fulfill the order are also underlying risks, though typically mitigated by pre-award vetting.

How effective are Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) in ensuring value for money for items like corn on the cob?

Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) are designed to streamline the procurement process for purchases below certain thresholds (currently $250,000), aiming for efficiency and reduced administrative burden. For items like corn on the cob, where the total value is well below this threshold, SAP can be effective in obtaining goods quickly and at a reasonable cost by reducing the time and resources spent on a full competitive bidding process. The effectiveness in ensuring value for money depends on how well the SAP solicitation was conducted – specifically, how many quotes were solicited, the clarity of the requirements, and the evaluation criteria used. While SAP may not always yield the absolute lowest price achievable through extensive competition, it strikes a balance between cost, speed, and fair opportunity, which is often considered good value for smaller, routine purchases.

What is the historical spending pattern for corn on the cob by the Federal Prison System?

The provided data only pertains to a single, specific purchase order for corn on the cob in FY 2026 Q3. It does not offer any historical spending patterns for this item by the Federal Prison System (FPS) or the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). To determine historical spending, one would need to analyze procurement data over multiple fiscal years, searching for contracts or purchase orders specifically for 'corn on the cob' or related agricultural food products issued by the FPS/BOP. This analysis would reveal trends in spending volume, frequency of purchase, average price per unit, and the contractors most frequently awarded such business, providing insights into the scale and consistency of this procurement need.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Other Food Manufacturing › All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: SUBSISTENCE

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 15B50226Q00000040

Offers Received: 15

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9246 COMMERCE HWY, PENNSAUKEN, NJ, 08110

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,801

Exercised Options: $19,801

Current Obligation: $19,801

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline