Gary Kurtz

Gary Kurtz serves as a secondary procurement liaison within the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Pekin, supporting the Bureau of Prisons’ mission to deliver safe, compliant, and nutritionally adequate food services to incarcerated populations. While not the primary contracting officer, he plays a critical role in coordinating acquisition planning, vendor outreach, and contract administration for subsistence and facility support services. His responsibilities include facilitating the procurement of dietary programs, kitchen infrastructure maintenance, and specialized food manufacturing services that meet federal nutritional and religious dietary standards, including kosher and culturally appropriate menus. He operates within the agency’s structured acquisition framework, ensuring alignment with FAR requirements and operational needs. Kurtz collaborates closely with a network of small business vendors, particularly those certified under socioeconomic programs, to ensure reliable supply chain continuity. Though no primary contractors are designated, his engagement patterns reflect consistent interaction with food manufacturers, facility maintenance contractors, and technical service providers who specialize in institutional food systems. His working relationships are characterized by proactive vendor engagement, pre-solicitation outreach, and close coordination with facility operations teams to align procurement with daily institutional demands. His procurement portfolio demonstrates a strong preference for small business set-asides, with 72.7% of acquisitions designated under the Total Small Business Set-Aside program (FAR 19.5), reflecting a deliberate commitment to expanding economic opportunity for small, locally based suppliers. This pattern underscores a strategic emphasis on community-based vendors and socioeconomic inclusion in federal food service contracting. Kurtz’s primary industry focus lies in NAICS 311999 (All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing), indicating deep expertise in procuring specialized institutional food products, including pre-packaged meals, dietary supplements, and culturally compliant provisions. He also oversees related services under NAICS 238220 and 423720, ensuring seamless integration of plumbing, HVAC, and food equipment supply chains essential to institutional food service operations. His technical domain centers on compliance-driven, logistically complex food and facility support acquisitions within a secure federal correctional environment.