Abbey Claerhout

Abbey Claerhout serves as a key procurement professional within the City of Midland, supporting the agency’s mission to maintain and modernize critical public infrastructure and municipal services. In their role as a SLED (State, Local, and Education) procurement specialist, they manage the acquisition of essential goods and services related to civil works, utilities, and facility operations. Their responsibilities include developing solicitation documents, evaluating vendor proposals, and ensuring compliance with municipal procurement codes and state procurement statutes. Abbey focuses on high-priority capital improvement initiatives, particularly those involving landscaping infrastructure and electrical supply systems, aligning acquisitions with long-term community resilience and environmental stewardship goals. Abbey maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of vendors specializing in landscaping services and electrical equipment distribution. While no single contractor dominates their portfolio, they consistently engage with regional and national merchant wholesalers and service providers capable of delivering durable, code-compliant materials and labor-intensive municipal services. Their contracting approach emphasizes reliability, timely delivery, and adherence to technical specifications, fostering partnerships with vendors who demonstrate strong performance history and capacity to support city-wide operational needs. Abbey’s procurement pattern reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This indicates a focus on value-driven, competitively bid contracts rather than socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through set-asides, vendors of all sizes are evaluated on technical merit, past performance, and compliance with municipal requirements. The primary NAICS categories under Abbey’s purview are 561730 (Landscaping Services) and 423610 (Electrical Apparatus and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers). These reflect a technical specialization in municipal grounds maintenance, irrigation systems, and the procurement of electrical wiring supplies, lighting fixtures, and utility-grade components. Their expertise lies in ensuring that procured goods and services meet municipal engineering standards and support the longevity of public infrastructure systems.