Of the thousands of firms that supply goods to the government, most are not manufacturers, but middlemen. Most are tiny one or two person businesses like Nicole Corey in New York City.
Here, amid her homemade pickles and jams, Nicole Corey keeps New York City agencies and those of its neighbors supplied with flock-lined latex gloves, safety vests, watches and disposable smocks.
Inmates need new open-toe socks? Done. Just $3.65 a dozen.
Bras for that hard-to-fit female prisoner? One custom-made 34J coming right up – $30, please.
All these items, and hundreds more, have been secured for city and state agencies by Ms. Corey, a scrappy 64-year-old who is a jack-of-all-trades of government procurement.