Matthew A. Wendel

Matthew A. Wendel serves as a Contract Specialist within the Detention Compliance and Removals unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (70CDCR), where he manages the acquisition lifecycle for mission-critical services supporting secure detention operations and removal logistics. His responsibilities include developing solicitation documents, conducting market research, evaluating proposals, and administering contracts aligned with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) guidelines. Wendel specializes in non-personal services contracts focused on operational support, facility compliance, and detainee care, ensuring procurement activities directly advance DHS’s national security and humanitarian obligations. Wendel maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including B.I. Incorporated, Acentra Health LLC, and Ardent Group, LLC, which provide specialized services ranging from healthcare support in detention environments to facility management and logistical coordination. His procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, regulatory compliance, and performance accountability, fostering long-term partnerships with firms experienced in federal detention systems and immigration enforcement infrastructure. He prioritizes vendors with proven track records in high-security, high-volume operational settings. His contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 75% of awards issued without set-asides, while maintaining a meaningful 25% commitment to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Wendel actively supports small business participation by targeting eligible firms capable of delivering essential services in detention and removal operations, though he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, favoring broad small business eligibility instead. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 713990 (All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries), which encompasses recreational and programming services for detainees, and NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services), reflecting the agency’s need for facility hygiene, sanitation, and environmental compliance. Wendel’s expertise centers on procuring non-medical operational support services that ensure safe, lawful, and humane detention conditions under federal oversight.