Jennifer R. Unger

Jennifer R. Unger serves as a Contracting Officer at Federal Correctional Institution Gilmer, operating under the Bureau of Prisons within the Department of Justice. In this role, she manages the acquisition of critical goods and services essential to the safe, secure, and humane operation of the facility, with a primary focus on food procurement, dietary compliance, and facility maintenance. Her responsibilities include planning, soliciting, awarding, and administering contracts that uphold federal standards for nutrition, infrastructure reliability, and operational continuity. Unger’s portfolio is dominated by high-volume, mission-critical acquisitions that support daily institutional functions, requiring strict adherence to FAR regulations and federal dietary guidelines. While specific contractor names are not publicly available, Unger maintains consistent working relationships with merchant wholesalers and service providers specializing in institutional food supply chains and facility repair services. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, compliance, and scalability, engaging vendors capable of delivering consistent, high-quality products under strict federal oversight. She collaborates closely with suppliers who understand the unique constraints of correctional environments, ensuring seamless integration of goods into federal prison operations. Unger demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with over 54% of her awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize small business participation, including 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB firms, aligning with agency-wide goals to expand economic opportunity. Her contracting patterns consistently favor small business vendors, reinforcing the Bureau of Prisons’ mandate to foster inclusive procurement practices. Her primary NAICS focus is 621420 (Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers), indicating a significant emphasis on behavioral health support services for incarcerated populations. Additional procurement activity includes dairy and grocery wholesale services (NAICS 424430 and 424490), underscoring her expertise in nutritional supply chains and institutional food systems. Unger’s technical domain expertise lies at the intersection of correctional healthcare, food safety compliance, and facility infrastructure, making her a key steward of operational integrity within the federal prison system.