**FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT UNICOR**

***GENERAL OVERVIEW***

-   **What is Federal Prison Industries?**

> Federal Prison Industries (commonly referred to as FPI or by its trade
> name UNICOR) is a wholly-owned government corporation established by
> Congress on June 23, 1934. Its mission is to employ and provide job
> skills training to the greatest practicable number of inmates confined
> within the Federal Bureau of Prisons; contribute to the safety and
> security of our Nation's federal correctional facilities by keeping
> inmates constructively occupied; produce market-priced quality goods
> for sale to the Federal Government; operate in a self-sustaining
> manner; and minimize FPI's impact on private business and labor.

-   **Federal Prison Industries Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 Year in Review**

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Inmate Workers:* 21,778                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Percent of Eligible (medically able/sentenced) Population Employed:* |
| 22%                                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Employment Goal:* 25%                                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Inmate Pay Rates:* 23 cents to \$1.15                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Factories:* 111 factories at 71 locations                            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *FPI staff:* 2,171                                                    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Distribution of FPI's Revenues:*                                     |
|                                                                       |
| 74% goes toward the purchase of materials and supplies from private   |
| sector vendors                                                        |
|                                                                       |
| 20% staff salaries                                                    |
|                                                                       |
| 6% inmate pay (used to meet financial obligations and for commissary  |
| purchases of products that are supplied by local vendors)             |
|                                                                       |
| 100% returned to the private sector                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Net Sales:* \$679 million                                            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Net Income:* \$9 million                                             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Sales Dollars Spent on Purchases from Private Sector:* \$502 million |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

-   **What is the basis for the name "UNICOR" ?**

> "UNICOR" stands for nothing specific. It is merely the trade name of
> Federal Prison Industries, Inc.

-   **How much does the program cost taxpayers?**

> The corporation is self-sustaining and receives no appropriated funds.
> Revenues generated by sales to federal agencies go to cover the
> program's operational expenses. Almost all of FPI's earnings are
> returned eventually to the community.
>
> **Related information available on UNICOR's website :**
>
> Factory with Fences (a historical perspective on FPI)
>
> FPI's FY 2002 Annual Report

Link to FPI's Board of Directors & Management Staff

> Link to FPI's Ombudsman
>
> Link to Public Notices, Meeting Minutes
>
> Link to Procurement

***DIRECTION AND MANAGEMENT***

-   **Who oversees and operates Federal Prison Industries?**

> Federal Prison Industries is governed by a six-member Board of
> Directors. The members are appointed by the President and, by statute,
> represent Industry, Labor, Retailers and Consumers, Agriculture, the
> Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General.
>
> FPI is an integral component of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau
> or BOP), and the Director of the Bureau serves as Chief Executive
> Officer for the corporation. The Assistant Director for the BOP's
> Industries, Education and Vocational Training Division serves as Chief
> Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary.

-   **Who currently serves on FPI's Board of Directors?**

> The following individuals were appointed on May 29, 2002, by President
> George Bush to FPI's Board of Directors:
>
> Kenneth R. Rocks, Chairman, is Sergeant-at-Arms for the Grand Lodge
> Executive Board, Fraternal Order of Police. He has served as a police
> officer for over 31 years with the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Police
> Department. (Labor Representative)
>
> David D. Spears, Vice Chairman, is currently Director of Kansas Farm
> Bureau and Affiliated Services - Agriculture Solutions. Prior to that
> he served as Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
> in Washington, DC. (Agriculture Representative)
>
> Donald R. Elliott, Member, is Director of Global Hose Operations for
> Eaton Corporation's Fluid Power Group, in Holland, Ohio. He has also
> worked for the U.S. Department of Labor, the State of Maryland and in
> the banking industry. (Industry Representative)
>
> Diane K. Morales, Member, is the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for
> Logistics and Materiel Readiness, Department of Defense (DoD). She has
> more than 20 years of experience in both business and defense matters.
> (Defense Representative)
>
> Audrey J. Roberts, Member, is retired as President and Chief
> Administrative Officer, Martin Manufacturing Company, Martin,
> Tennessee. She has also served as Chairperson of the Government
> Contracts Committee, American Apparel and Footwear Association.
> (Retailers & Consumers Representative)
>
> Paul R. Corts, Assistant Attorney General for Administration,
> Department of Justice, Washington, DC, was appointed as the sixth
> member to FPI's Board of Directors (May 2003). Prior to coming to the
> Department of Justice, Dr. Corts was President of Palm Beach Atlantic
> University for over 11 years. (Justice Representative)

-   **Are the FPI Board of Directors' meetings open to the public?**

> FPI is not covered by the Sunshine Act regarding public meeting
> access. However, FPI's Board of Directors have instituted the
> following in an effort to afford the public increased opportunity to
> receive from and/or provide information to the Board concerning the
> corporation's business practices and operations.
>
> \(1\) A specified amount of time is allocated during each Board
> meeting held in Washington, DC, to allow persons who wish to address
> the Board an opportunity to do so.
>
> \(2\) On the third Friday of every month, senior FPI management staff
> are available to meet with interested parties seeking to either raise
> issues of concern and/or ask questions about FPI's current operations.
> The meetings are held at 10:00 am at FPI's headquarters in Washington,
> DC.
>
> \(3\) Interested individuals may write at any time to FPI's Chief
> Operating Officer, Steve Schwalb; the Chairman of the Board, Kenneth
> Rocks; or FPI's Ombudsman, Jan Hynson, at the following address:
>
> Federal Prison Industries
>
> 400 First Street, NW
>
> Washington, DC 20534

-   **Is there any independent oversight or review of FPI's
    operations?**

> As a component of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FPI is subject to
> regular congressional oversight by the House Judiciary Committee.
> Several hearings on the program have been held over the years.
>
> The General Accounting Office (GAO) conducted three separate studies
> on FPI's customer satisfaction rates, delivery performance, and
> product pricing during the late 1990s. The various studies contained
> several recommendations which have since been implemented. The reports
> (#GAO/GGD-98-50, #GAO/GGD-98-118, and #GAO/GGD- 98-151) are available
> on GAO's website at [[www.goa.gov.]{.underline}](http://www.goa.gov/)
>
> Annually, FPI's financial statements are reviewed by an independent
> audit firm, the results of which are published yearly in FPI's Annual
> Report.

***OPERATIONS***

-   **Is FPI a business or a correctional program?**

> FPI is, first and foremost, a correctional program. The whole impetus
> behind Federal Prison Industries is not about business, but instead,
> about inmate release preparation\.... helping offenders acquire the
> skills necessary to successfully make that transition from prison to
> law-abiding, contributing members of society. The production of items
> and provision of services are merely by-products of those efforts.
>
> **Other Program Benefits\.....**
>
> ***to society*** - Rigorous research demonstrates that participation
> in prison industries and vocational training programs has a positive
> effect on post-release employment and recidivism for up to 12 years
> following release. Inmates who worked in prison industries or
> completed vocational apprenticeship programs were 24 percent less
> likely to recidivate than non-program participants and 14 percent more
> likely to be gainfully employed. These programs had an even greater
> positive impact on minority offenders, who are at the greatest risk of
> recidivism.
>
> ***to the courts, crime victims, and inmate families*** - In FY 2002,
> inmates who worked in FPI factories contributed over \$3 million of
> their earnings toward meeting their financial obligations, e.g.,
> court-ordered fines, child support, and/or restitution. Many inmates
> also contributed to the support and welfare of their families by
> sending home a portion of their earnings.
>
> ***to thousands of incarcerated men and women in federal prisons*** -
> For many inmates, working in Federal Prison Industries represents an
> opportunity to learn a marketable skill and gain valuable work
> experience that will substantially enhance their ability to
> successfully reintegrate into society following release from prison.
> The program teaches inmates pro-social values including the value of
> work, responsibility, and the need to respect and work with others.
> Many inmates gain a sense of dignity and self-worth that they had lost
> or never before experienced.
>
> ***to private sector businesses*** - During FY 2002, FPI purchased
> approximately \$502 million in raw materials, supplies, equipment, and
> services from private sector businesses. Over 62 percent of these
> purchases were from small businesses, including women and minority
> owned and disadvantaged businesses.
>
> ***to the Bureau of Prisons* -** FPI contributes significantly to the
> safety and security of federal correctional facilities by keeping
> inmates constructively occupied. Inmates who participate in work
> programs and vocational training are less likely to engage in
> institutional misconduct, thereby enhancing the safety of staff and
> other inmates.

-   **Why has FPI grown so much over the past decade?**

> An increase in the federal inmate population and activation of new
> prisons has led to commensurate growth in Federal Prison Industries,
> whose goal is to provide job opportunities for 25 percent of the
> Bureau of Prisons' sentenced and medically-able inmate population.

-   **Why have FPI's earnings increased so significantly?**

> FPI averages less than 3 percent net earnings, which is actually lower
> than earnings realized by similar size corporations.

-   **Where do all the revenues go?**

> Of the sales revenue generated by FPI, every cent goes into the
> economy, generating private sector demand. Seventy-four cents of each
> sales revenue dollar is spent buying raw materials, supplies,
> services, and equipment from commercial companies, thereby creating
> private sector jobs. Twenty cents is spent on salaries and benefits of
> the civil service staff who train and supervise inmate workers. Six
> cents is paid to inmates, who are required to pay at least 50 percent
> of their earnings toward satisfying their financial obligations. The
> balance of their pay may be used to purchase items from the prison
> commissary which sells items supplied by private sector vendors from
> within the local community.

***INMATE WORKERS***

-   **Why should inmates be given an opportunity to work?**

> It is important to remember, first and foremost, that individuals are
> sent to prison [AS]{.underline} punishment and not [FOR]{.underline}
> punishment. Punishment in the form of a prison term includes the
> elements of deterrence, retribution, incapacitation, and
> rehabilitation. Forcing prisoners to perform harsh, strenuous, and
> meaningless labor does not meet the goals of a modern correctional
> system.
>
> Nowhere in Federal law does it provide that offenders should be
> restricted from meaningful, productive work opportunities as part of
> their sentence. In fact, Federal statute specifically requires all
> able-bodied inmates to work in some capacity. Today, prison work is
> recognized for its rehabilitative potential.
>
> When inmates perform productive work, they acquire marketable skills,
> ranging from a basic work ethic to trade-specific expertise. These
> skills improve self-esteem and enhance the prospect for post-release
> success.

-   **What specific skills do inmates learn working in FPI?**

> In addition to the trade-specific skills listed below, FPI teaches
> inmates the most marketable skill of all - how to work. No matter what
> the job, employers seek candidates who possess a basic work ethic, and
> FPI's program fosters a work environment in which inmate workers learn
> to be dependable, responsible team players, who take direction from
> their supervisors and take pride in their accomplishments. A survey by
> the National Association of Manufacturers indicated that employers
> place the highest priority on job applicants possessing these basic
> employability skills.
>
> **[Clothing & Textiles Electronics]{.underline}**
>
> Sewing Soldering
>
> Cutting Fabric Electronic Testing
>
> Reading Specifications Wire Stripping
>
> Reading Contracts Tinning
>
> Basic Garment Construction Rubber Molding
>
> **[Fleet Management Office Furniture Services]{.underline}**
>
> Engine Repair Carpentry Laundry
>
> Forklift Repair Woodworking Word Processing
>
> Vehicle Component Repair Milling Data Entry
>
> Wood Finishing Packaging
>
> Upholstery Sorting
>
> Customer Service
>
> **[Graphics]{.underline}** **[Industrial Products]{.underline}**
>
> Printing Equipment Operation Welding
>
> Screen printing Eyeglass Grinding
>
> Artwork Development Metal Finishing
>
> Graphic Arts Design Cabinetry
>
> Pre-press Design Painting
>
> Punch Press Operation
>
> Tool & Die Fabrication
>
> **[Recycled Electronic Products General]{.underline}**
>
> Sorting Clerical (typing/filing)
>
> Computer Identification Basic Accounting
>
> Hazardous Material Recognition Quality Control Inspection & Testing
>
> Technical Computer Skills Forklift Operation
>
> Computer Component Identification Building & Equipment Maintenance &
> Repair
>
> Computer Aided Drafting
>
> Test Lab Functions
>
> Warehouse Operations

-   **Why can't the Bureau of Prisons simply expand its vocational
    training program?**

> The Bureau of Prisons is an active supporter of vocational training
> programs; however, expanding the BOP's vocational training program is
> an insufficient substitute for the following reasons:
>
> \(1\) While vocational training programs offer inmates an opportunity
> to learn a skill or trade, classroom instruction is no substitute for
> sustained "live" work experience;
>
> \(2\) The average sentence length for a federal inmate is 8 years. The
> average vocational training program duration is 18-24 months. Thus,
> vocational training must be a complement to, not a substitute for real
> work; and
>
> \(3\) FPI does not receive any appropriated funding. To support an
> expanded vocational training program, the BOP would have to request,
> from Congress, a significant increase in appropriated funds.

***PRODUCTS AND SERVICES***

-   **What kind of products and services does FPI offer?**

> FPI is required by statute to diversify its product offerings as much
> as possible, minimizing the program's impact on any one industry.
> Currently FPI produces over 150 products and services for sale to the
> Federal Government. FPI's eight major product/service groups are as
> follows:
>
> Clothing & Textiles Electronics
>
> Graphics Industrial Products
>
> Office Furniture Recycling Activities
>
> Fleet Management/Vehicular Components Services

-   **Is FPI required to meet the same performance standards as the
    private sector?** Yes. FPI is required to meet the same performance
    [and safety standards]{.underline} as any other supplier to the
    Federal Government.

***MANDATORY SOURCE STATUS***

-   **What is mandatory source and why must FPI rely on it?** Federal
    statute requires that federal agencies purchase products from FPI,
    provided that FPI can meet the purchaser's quality, price, and
    delivery requirements. This "mandatory source" designation merely
    requires that federal agencies contact FPI to see if its products
    will meet their needs. If so, procurement from FPI is required. If
    not, FPI grants a waiver, allowing the federal customer to purchase
    the product on the commercial market. Current waiver procedures are
    available via FPI's website (Click on "Waiver Requests").

> FPI's mandatory source precludes the need for FPI to incur significant
> marketing expenses for "intragovernmental sales," ensures a steady
> work flow, and is necessary to offset some of the competitive
> disadvantages associated with operating a manufacturing operation
> within a correctional environment (e.g., lower inmate productivity
> levels, labor intensive production processes, security
> inefficiencies).
>
> NOTE: FPI is not a mandatory source for the provision of services
> which represents approximately 18 percent of its sales.

-   **How has passage of the FY 2003 Defense Authorization Bill
    (Section 819) impacted FPI's procurement relationship with the
    Department of Defense?**

> Under the provisions of Section 819, DoD is required to conduct market
> research prior to purchasing a product of the type offered by FPI.
>
> After conducting market research, DoD must make a determination as to
> whether or not an FPI product is comparable to products "available
> from the private sector that best meet the Department's needs in terms
> of price, quality, and time of delivery."
>
> If the FPI product is comparable to the private sector products, DoD
> is required to use mandatory source procedures to purchase the product
> from FPI. Under these procedures, the DoD customer may still request a
> waiver.
>
> If DoD makes a determination that an FPI product is not comparable to
> private sector product offerings, DoD shall use competitive procedures
> to purchase that product.
>
> DoD is required to still consider a timely offer from FPI when using
> competitive procedures.
>
> The market research/comparability determination shall be made by a DoD
> contracting officer and is not subject to review by the Waiver Review
> Panel.
>
> A DoD contractor may not be *required* to use FPI as a subcontractor
> in performance of DoD contracts. Such contractor *may* utilize FPI as
> a subcontractor on a voluntary basis.
>
> DoD is prohibited from entering into a contract with FPI if, by doing
> so, inmates would have access to classified data, any geographic data
> regarding the location or surface and subsurface infrastructure
> providing communications or water or electrical power distribution,
> pipelines for the distribution of natural gas, bulk petroleum
> products, or other commodities, or other utilities; or any personal or
> financial information about private citizens without their prior
> consent.
>
> Section 819 requires that DoD amend the Defense Federal Acquisition
> Regulations to implement these requirements. The DoD published a
> proposed rule on May 15, 2003, providing for a 60 day public comment
> period.

***WAIVER PROCESS***

-   **What options do customers have if they don't want to purchase from
    FPI?**

> A customer who wishes to purchase items listed on FPI's Schedule of
> Products, from an alternate source, may request a waiver. The waiver
> request must justify why FPI products fail to meet the customer's
> needs in terms of price, quality, character and/or suitability.
>
> Upon receipt, the customer's waiver request is assigned an
> identification number and then routed to the appropriate product
> business group for evaluation and disposition. Written confirmation of
> FPI's decision will be provided to the customer for record purposes.
> If a waiver request is denied in whole, or in part, the customer may
> appeal the denial through FPI's Ombudsman.
>
> Complete waiver and appeal instructions, as well as on-line request
> forms to expedite processing, are available from FPI's web site at
> [[www.unicor.gov]{.underline}](http://www.unicor.gov/) (Click on
> "Waiver Requests").
>
> During FY 2002, FPI received 20,512 waiver requests. The FY 2002
> Waiver Approval Rate was 73 percent when factoring in appeal
> reversals. As a result, more than \$175 million in potential FPI sales
> were re-directed to the private sector.

-   **What alternatives do I have if my waiver is denied by the
    Ombudsman?**

> In the event FPI's Ombudsman upholds a waiver denial, the customer may
> further appeal the decision through the independent Waiver Review
> Panel. The panel consists of panel members representing the Attorney
> General, the Administrator of GSA, and the President. The Waiver
> Review Panel's decision is final and binding upon all parties.

***MARKET AND CUSTOMERS***

-   **Who are FPI's Customers?**

> By statute, FPI is restricted to selling its products to the Federal
> Government. Its principal customer is the Department of Defense, from
> which FPI derives approximately 61 percent of its sales. Other key
> customers include: General Services Administration, Bureau of Prisons,
> Social Security Administration, Department of Justice, United States
> Postal Service, Department of Transportation, Department of the
> Treasury, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Veterans
> Affairs.

-   **What is UNICOR's market share?**

> For those Federal Supply Classes (FSCs) in which FPI operates, FPI's
> overall market share is only 3.8 percent. FPI's share of the overall
> Federal Government purchases equals approximately one quarter of one
> percent. FPI's statute requires that it produce no more than a
> reasonable share of the market in any specific product.
>
> The Board of Directors is responsible for determining what share is
> "reasonable." FPI's specific market share in any given FSC code may
> vary, depending upon the particular product and size of the market.
>
> FPI provides products and services in 85 different FSC codes, and its
> share in most FSC codes is less than five percent. In those same
> products, when looking at the total U.S. market, including the
> commercial sector, FPI's market share in most cases is typically less
> than one percent.

-   **Does UNICOR adversely impact private sector jobs?**

> FPI's Board of Directors takes seriously its statutory
> responsibilities, which include minimization of any undue impact on a
> given industry. In fact, prior to producing a new product or
> significantly expanding the production of an existing product, private
> industry is afforded an opportunity to present its concerns to FPI's
> Board of Directors through an extensive process involving market
> analysis, public comment and public board hearing.
>
> Prison industry programs stimulate local economies, resulting in the
> creation of civilian jobs. FPI relies heavily on the private sector,
> particularly small business, for supplies, raw materials, equipment
> and services to support its operations. During FY 2002, FPI made
> purchases from the private sector totaling over \$502 million; 62
> percent of which were from small businesses, including women and
> minority owned and disadvantaged businesses.
>
> For some companies, complementing their existing workforce with inmate
> workers has prevented them from either having to go out of business or
> sending work offshore. FPI has entered into numerous teaming
> agreements and partnerships with small businesses.

-   **Do low inmate wages give FPI an unfair competitive advantage?**

> It is a common misconception that inmate wages and inmate labor costs
> are synonymous. Inmates are paid considerably less than minimum wage,
> but this is offset by the labor intensive use of a large number of
> inmates, additional costs for inmate training and staff supervision,
> as well as efficiency constraints associated with a prison work
> environment. These additional costs prevent FPI from having
> substantially lower costs or elevated earnings.

***RECENT ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS TAKEN BY FPI'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS***

-   **"Pass-throughs"**

> Whenever FPI accepts an order, it is with the intention of
> manufacturing the product in the prescribed manner, with extensive use
> of inmate labor. Sometimes, though, events such as a prison lock down,
> factory fire, fog, or machine failure occur, causing such delays in
> production that may render FPI unable to complete an order and/or meet
> the customer's required delivery date. In the past, FPI has asked
> vendors who commercially produce the same items to provide the product
> to the customer to avert any inconvenience to the purchaser. Such
> instances represented less than 2 percent of FPI's total annual office
> furniture sales. The Board of Directors elected, however, to adopt a
> resolution discontinuing this practice.
>
> On October 24, 2002, FPI's Board of Directors adopted the following
> resolution: "The Board directs that the practice of "pass-through" of
> finished goods items that would otherwise be manufactured by FPI be
> discontinued; and that customers be given the right to accept late
> delivery, or be granted an immediate waiver to purchase that portion
> of the order elsewhere; and that such transactions be tracked and
> documented." The resolution became effective immediately.

-   **Blanket waiver threshold.**

> FPI's Board of Directors adopted a resolution on February 20, 2003,
> increasing the blanket waiver threshold for small dollar-value
> purchases from Federal Prison Industries by federal agencies from \$25
> to \$2500. The resolution further states that such increase shall
> become effective upon the publication of appropriate modifications to
> the Government-wide Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and such FAR
> supplements, as may be required. On February 24, 2003, FPI staff
> forwarded a request to the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC)
> seeking an Amendment to the FAR to reflect this decision. An interim
> rule was issued on May 22, 2003, at which time the Board's resolution
> became effective.

-   **Waivers granted based upon price.**

> On March 10, 2003, the Board of Directors adopted the following
> resolution: "The Board directs that FPI grant waivers in all cases
> where the private sector provides a lower price for a comparable
> product that FPI does not meet. This policy is effective immediately."
>
> On April 10, 2003, a letter was forwarded to the CAAC requesting an
> amendment to the FAR. However, since the Board resolution was deemed
> to be effective immediately, FPI has already issued procedures and
> made this information on its website.
>
> These procedures are currently being revised.

-   **Inmate access to personal and sensitive information.**

> FPI takes measures to ensure that inmates do not have access to
> personal and sensitive information. The FPI Board of Directors adopted
> a resolution on March 10, 2003, directing that FPI deny inmates access
> to personal information of any kind. This includes credit card
> numbers, medical records, social security numbers, credit records, and
> other personal information. This policy was made effective immediately
> by the Board.
>
> FPI is responsible for ensuring that inmates do not have access to
> personal information, as determined by FPI's Board of Directors. FPI
> customers acquiring FPI products by use of a government credit card
> would not be affected by this resolution as such credit card
> information is not processed by inmates.

-   **Elimination of mandatory source for products in which FPI's share
    of the Federal market exceeds 20 percent.**

> On April 28, 2003, the Board adopted the following resolution: " The
> Board directs FPI to end the application of mandatory source for
> products for which FPI's share of the Federal market exceeds 20
> percent."
>
> Customers who plan to purchase products in which FPI's Federal market
> share exceeds 20 percent need not initiate a waiver request to procure
> the item(s) from the private sector. FPI will identify those products
> no longer subject to FPI's mandatory source, by FSC, on its website
> under "Waiver Requests/Waiver Processing Exceptions." The list will be
> updated annually.
>
> Implementation procedures are currently being developed and will be
> posted to UNICOR's website.

-   **Inmate value added.**

> On April 28, 2003, the Board adopted the following resolution: "The
> Board directs that FPI stop selling products for which FPI value added
> does not contribute at least 20 percent to the selling price of a
> product. For purposes of this resolution, value added shall be defined
> as the sales price of an FPI product minus the cost of raw materials."

***BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES***

-   **As a private sector company, what do I do if I want to partner
    with FPI?**

> FPI believes that growing small business opportunities and returning
> inmates to society with job skills can and should be complementary,
> not mutually exclusive objectives. To this end, FPI has established a
> website
> ([[www.unicor.gov/procurement]{.underline}](http://www.unicor.gov/))
> that will provide those interested in partnering with FPI information
> about:

-   FPI's Business Development Program

-   How the acquisition process works

-   How to contact contracting personnel within each business group

-   Upcoming and current solicitations/business opportunities

-   Sample joint venture agreements

-   Quarterly updates of total procurement dollars awarded to small
    business.