Doing Business With The Bureau of Prisons

Notice to Vendors Regarding Sequestration

On March 1st, as required by law, the President issued a sequestration order canceling approximately $85 billion in budgetary resources across the Federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013. Within the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), sequestration will result in a reduction of over $338 million from the Fiscal Year 2013 funding level. Vendors should be aware that the budget cuts imposed by sequestration may impact existing contracts/order and will likely affect the award of new contracts/orders.

The BOP is taking every step to mitigate the effects of these cuts; however, based on our initial analysis, reductions to expenditures under certain contracts/orders may be necessary. New awards will not be made or options exercised unless they are absolutely necessary to protect our mission-critical operations. Vendors with existing contracts with the BOP will be notified by their contracting officer as soon as we determine the specific contracts/orders subject to reduction as well as the extent of the reduction. Please note that reductions to expenditures could be accomplished in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, price reduction, scope reduction, reduced level of effort, determination to not exercise an option: delay or cancellation of new work, or partial or complete termination for convenience.

Your patience and understanding is appreciated as we work through these challenges.

One of your first considerations in deciding to do business with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is to determine how the Federal acquisition process works and how to participate in it. BOP acquisitions are governed by statutes and regulations set out in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Justice Acquisition Regulations (JAR), and the Bureau's Acquisition Policy (BPAP). The acquisition process is the system by which a Federal agency obtains the supplies and services it needs to meet its mission.


The FAR Part 2 defines acquisition as:

The acquiring by contract with appropriated funds of supplies or services (including construction) by and for the use of the Federal Government through purchase or lease, whether the supplies or services are already in existence or must be created, developed, demonstrated, and evaluated. Acquisition begins at the point when agency needs are established and includes the description of requirements to satisfy agency needs, solicitation, and selection of sources, award of contracts, contract financing, contract performance, contract administration, and those technical and management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling agency needs by contract.


At the BOP, each facility is responsible for buying the necessary supplies, services, and equipment to operate the facility. If you have questions relating to contracts or solicitations at a particular site, please contact the Contracting Office noted in the contract or solicitation. To obtain information on BOP facilities, please use our Facility Locator.