Here, amid her homemade pickles and jams, Nicole Corey keeps New York City agencies and those of its neighbors stocked 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 to government purchasing what Sergeant Bilko was to Army procurement.