Ben D. Hanson

Ben D. Hanson serves as a Contract Specialist at U.S. Penitentiary Terre Haute (15B418), a facility within the Federal Bureau of Prisons under the Department of Justice. In this role, he manages the procurement of mission-critical food, dietary, and facility services tailored to the religious, cultural, and health needs of a federally incarcerated population. His acquisitions focus on halal and kosher food systems, shelf-stable provisions, perishable prepared meals, dairy, and related nutritional support services, ensuring compliance with federal dietary standards and constitutional protections for religious observance. Hanson works within the full spectrum of contract types, including indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and requirements contracts, to sustain operational continuity in a high-security correctional environment. Hanson maintains consistent working relationships with key vendors such as Shaver Foods LLC and Roche Diagnostics Corporation, reflecting a blend of food supply chain expertise and specialized medical-dietary support. His contractor engagements emphasize reliability, regulatory compliance, and the ability to meet stringent food safety and religious certification requirements. He frequently collaborates with suppliers capable of delivering culturally appropriate meals under strict logistical and security protocols, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in performance accountability and adherence to federal procurement standards. Hanson demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with over 61% of his awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. His contracting patterns prioritize socioeconomic programs that empower small, disadvantaged, and community-based vendors, aligning with the Bureau of Prisons’ broader equity goals. He routinely structures solicitations to encourage participation from small businesses with expertise in specialty food distribution and religious dietary compliance. His primary NAICS focus includes 424690 (Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers), 813110 (Religious Organizations), and 424470/424440 (Meat and Poultry Wholesalers), underscoring his technical expertise in halal/kosher certification, perishable logistics, and religiously compliant food sourcing. He is deeply versed in the intersection of dietary law, supply chain integrity, and federal food service regulations.