Darin Smith

Darin Smith serves as a Contract Specialist at Federal Prison Industries (Unicor), where he plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that align with the agency’s mission of rehabilitation through industry. He manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for goods and services produced by incarcerated workers, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while supporting cost-effective supply solutions for federal agencies. His portfolio primarily includes industrial manufacturing, environmental remediation, and materials recovery contracts, all designed to sustain Unicor’s operational autonomy and workforce development goals. Smith maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of established contractors, including Veterans Range Solutions, LLC, Krueger International, Inc., and Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. These partnerships reflect a focus on vendors capable of scaling production, managing complex logistics, and supporting workforce integration initiatives. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, particularly with organizations that share Unicor’s commitment to social impact and operational reliability. While the majority of his acquisitions are conducted under full and open competition, Smith consistently allocates approximately 25% of his portfolio to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a structured commitment to small business participation. He prioritizes vendors with proven capacity in specialized manufacturing and service delivery, though he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, reflecting Unicor’s unique statutory authority and procurement structure. His primary technical focus lies in NAICS 562920 (Materials Recovery Facilities) and 333244 (Industrial Machinery Manufacturing), with additional activity in remediation services and animal food manufacturing. This specialization underscores his expertise in procuring industrial-scale production systems, waste processing equipment, and specialized manufacturing lines—critical to sustaining Unicor’s self-sufficient operational model and mission-driven outcomes.