Kim Caraway

Kim A. Caraway serves as a Contracting Officer for Federal Prison Industries (Unicor), a U.S. Department of Justice component dedicated to providing vocational training and meaningful employment to incarcerated individuals through the production of goods and services for federal agencies. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions, from solicitation to contract award and administration, ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and Unicor’s mission of rehabilitation through industry. Her acquisitions primarily support janitorial services and commercial/industrial machinery maintenance, aligning with the agency’s goal of cost-effective, mission-critical supply chain solutions while fostering workforce development. Caraway maintains longstanding relationships with key contractors including Veterans Range Solutions, LLC, Krueger International, Inc., Veterans Environmental Group, LLC, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, and Nightingale Corp. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with specialized capabilities in institutional cleaning, facility maintenance, and adaptive manufacturing—often leveraging the unique labor models of nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. Her contracting approach emphasizes reliability, quality, and alignment with Unicor’s rehabilitative objectives, fostering collaborative, long-term vendor engagements. Her procurement patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 75% of awards issued without set-asides, while maintaining a consistent 25% allocation to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Though she does not prioritize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her portfolio actively supports small business participation through unrestricted small business awards and partnerships with organizations that employ individuals with barriers to employment, including veterans and the visually impaired. Caraway’s primary NAICS focus is on 561720 (Janitorial Services) and 811310 (Commercial and Industrial Machinery Repair and Maintenance), reflecting her expertise in institutional facility support and equipment lifecycle management. She procures a range of services including custodial operations, HVAC maintenance, and industrial equipment overhauls—critical to sustaining federal facility operations while advancing Unicor’s dual mission of public service and inmate rehabilitation.