Modernized Commissary Operations

The New York City Department of Correction will utilize the Negotiated Acquisition procurement method to obtain services of Keefe Group LLC to provide modernized commissary operations. The term of the procurement will commence, from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026; with a two-year renewal option.As part of ongoing efforts to provide a safe and supportive environment to our staff and people in custody, DOC is continuing to take aggressive measures to address our staffing crisis. A commissary operation that relieves staff from multiple commissary related activities and eliminates the DOCs need to process, credit and fulfill orders will have a significant impact on DOCs ability to focus more of its resources on the health and safety of people in our care. Keefe staff will take over each of these responsibilities, and DOC facility staff will only need to distribute final orders to incarcerated individuals. Keefe will work to hire a full-time staff solely devoted to providing commissary service to the DOC. Additionally, Keefe will provide the DOC with its proprietary commissary software to manage order forms; process orders and credits; and create restriction profiles. Restriction profiles can be assigned on an individual or group basis.

While there are other firms offering modernized commissary operations, it is not in the agencys best interest to replace Keefe Group LLC as the provider of DOC's Commissary Operations. It is neither practical nor advantageous to replace the vendor as a there is a limited number of vendors available and able to perform the work and DOC needs to respond to the Nunez Action Plan due to the increase in unrest and disorder in our City jails and it creates a serious risk to the necessary maintenance and delivery of sanitary conditions; access to basic services including showers, meals, visitation, religious services, commissary, and recreation; and prompt processing at intake. Selecting a new vendor to provide modernized commissary operations would be a massive effort for both the vendor and DOC. To start from scratch with a new vendor would carry great risk. If one process fails, the entire commissary operation for the incarcerated population would fail. Any extended absence of commissary services for the incarcerated population would cause great unrest amongst the population, negatively impacting the conditions for all those living and working in DOC facilities. The advantages of negotiating with Keefe Group LLC, clearly outweigh the disadvantages of a lack of competition.

See attached for the CCPO approval.

Agency: Correction

Category: Services (other than human services)

Selection Method: Negotiated Acquisition

PIN: 07223N0007001