In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 8, federal agencies are required to purchase from mandatory sources when available.
SUPPLIES
Agencies are required to purchase supplies in the following order of priority:
- Agency inventories
- Excess from other agencies
- Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (UNICOR)
- Products on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
Why is UNICOR Designated as a “Mandatory Source” of Supplies?
To help ensure that federal inmates can participate in this evidence-based recidivism reduction program and to partially offset the competitive disadvantages associated with operating in a correctional environment (e.g., lower productivity levels, labor-intensive production processes, and security inefficiencies), FPI was designated a mandatory source of federal supply for the products it manufactures. This “mandatory source” designation does not apply to any of FPI’s services or products offered on a competitive basis.
The UNICOR Advantage
We are proud to be your number one supply source! UNICOR offers hassle-free ordering and purchasing options that work for you. UNICOR actively seeks new ways to improve service to customers. We have invested in and expanded our e-commerce technology to support our online store.
Benefits of purchasing from UNICOR include:
- Eliminates 3-quote purchasing requirements
- Competitive pricing with GSA
- National sales coverage
- Single requisition for products and services
- Online order status and tracking
- One stop shopping
- One invoice
- Convenient payment methods
Department of Defense (DoD) Considerations
Section 827 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law 110-181, requires DoD contracting activities to use competitive procedures when procuring products in Federal Supply Classification (FSC) codes where FPI has significant market share (as identified by the DoD in an annual memorandum). In using these procedures, FPI must be included in the solicitation process. See the DoD Decision Path Procedures and Civilian Decision Path Procedures for additional information.