Curtis Yates

Curtis R. Yates serves as a Contract Specialist at Federal Correctional Institution El Reno, operating under the Bureau of Prisons within the Department of Justice. In this role, he is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions to support the institution’s essential feeding programs, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-critical nutritional standards. His portfolio centers on high-volume, low-unit-cost commodities critical to daily institutional operations, including food manufacturing, bakery products, dairy, and meat distribution. Yates executes solicitations under FAR Part 13 and Part 14, utilizing simplified acquisition procedures and sealed bidding to meet the agency’s operational tempo and supply chain reliability requirements. While specific contractor names are not disclosed, Yates maintains consistent engagement with a diverse vendor base specializing in institutional food supply, including manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and commercial bakers. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for vendors capable of scalable production, consistent quality control, and just-in-time delivery to secure federal facilities. He collaborates closely with logistics and nutrition services teams to align procurement outcomes with dietary guidelines and inmate health standards. Yates demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with nearly half of his acquisitions structured as small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. His portfolio prioritizes small business participation, particularly through total small business set-asides, while also incorporating limited opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. This pattern underscores a deliberate strategy to expand economic opportunity within the supply chain supporting federal corrections. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 311999 (All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing) and 311812 (Commercial Bakeries), reflecting deep expertise in procuring shelf-stable meals, baked goods, and processed food items tailored for institutional feeding. He also regularly sources fluid milk and meat products through NAICS 311511 and 424470, demonstrating technical familiarity with food safety protocols, cold chain logistics, and USDA compliance requirements essential to federal correctional nutrition programs.