FPI General Overview FAQs

1. What is Federal Prison Industries (trade name UNICOR)?

Federal Prison Industries (commonly referred to as FPI, or by its trade name UNICOR), is a wholly-owned government corporation established by the Congress June 23, 1934. Its mission is to employ and provide job skills training to the greatest practicable number of inmates confined within the Federal Bureau of Prisons; contribute to the safety and security of our Nation’s federal correctional facilities by keeping inmates constructively occupied; provide market-quality products and services; operate in a self-sustaining manner; and to minimize FPI’s impact on private sector business and labor.

2. What is the derivation of the term "UNICOR"?

“UNICOR” is simply the trade name for Federal Prison Industries, Inc.

3.How much does the program cost taxpayers?

The corporation is self-sustaining and receives no appropriated funds. Revenues generated by sales are used to cover the program’s operational expenses. All of FPI’s revenues are eventually returned to the community.

For related information about UNICOR, click on any of the following topics:

Factory with Fences (retrospective on FPI);
FPI’s 2005 Annual Financial Report/Audit ;
FPI’s Board of Directors & Management Staff;
FPI’s Constituent Relations/Ombudsman; 
Public Notices, Meeting Minutes
Procurement

4. Please provide a FY 2006"year-in-review" summary of FPI

Number of Inmate Workers: 21,205
Percent of Eligible Population Employed (medically-able/sentenced): 18%
Employment Goal: 25%
Inmate Pay Rates: 23 cents to $1.15 per hour
Number of Factories: 108
Distribution of FPI Revenues:
77% toward purchase of materials/supplies from private sector vendors;
18% for staff salaries;
5% for inmate pay
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100% returned to the private sector

FY 2006 Net Sales: $717.5 million
FY 2006 Net Income: $ 17.2 million
FY 2006 Sales Dollars Spent on Purchases from Private Sector: $552 million

Products: Currently FPI produces over 80 products and services for sale to the Federal Government. Click on UNICOR Products & Services to view offerings among seven major product/service groups.