Scott E. Cooper

Scott E. Cooper serves as a Contract Specialist at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac (FDC SeaTac), operating under the Bureau of Prisons within the Department of Justice. In this role, he manages the acquisition of mission-critical food services and religious dietary provisions that ensure constitutionally compliant, culturally appropriate nutrition for incarcerated populations. His procurement portfolio centers on securing Kosher, Halal, and nutritionally standardized meals, aligning with federal institutional feeding standards. Cooper handles a range of acquisitions under FAR Part 12 and Part 13, including commercial item procurements, blanket purchase agreements, and service contracts with strict compliance requirements for religious and dietary accommodations. Cooper maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse array of vendors, primarily specialty food distributors, religiously certified food processors, and commercial bakeries that meet stringent federal dietary guidelines. He works closely with vendors holding kosher and halal certification, ensuring adherence to religious observance standards while maintaining food safety and logistical reliability. His contracting approach emphasizes vendor accountability, supply chain transparency, and consistent quality control, fostering long-term partnerships with suppliers who demonstrate compliance expertise and operational scalability. A strong advocate for socioeconomic inclusion, Cooper consistently prioritizes small business participation, with 84.4% of his acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate focus on empowering small, disadvantaged, and community-based suppliers, particularly those certified as small business concerns under the Small Business Act. He actively leverages set-aside authorities to expand access for businesses owned by veterans, women, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to equitable contracting. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 813110 (Religious Organizations) for certified religious meal providers, 424410 (General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers) for bulk food procurement, and 311812 (Commercial Bakeries) for specialized bread and baked goods. Cooper’s technical expertise spans dietary compliance, religious accommodation protocols, and institutional food service logistics, making him a key steward of federal standards for humane and constitutionally sound institutional feeding programs.