Barbara Eschels

Barbara A. Eschels serves as a key procurement lead within the National Cemetery Administration, overseeing acquisitions critical to the stewardship of national burial grounds. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on grounds maintenance, infrastructure preservation, and environmental services essential to sustaining the dignity and permanence of veterans’ final resting places. Her work ensures compliance with federal standards for cemetery operations, including landscaping, waste management, and site development, aligning procurement activities directly with the agency’s mission of perpetual care and historical integrity. Eschels maintains consistent partnerships with a select group of contractors specializing in cemetery-related services, including McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC, Laubacker Enterprises, Inc., and Hamilton Pacific Chamberlain LLC. These relationships reflect a preference for firms with demonstrated expertise in site grading, landscaping, and facility upkeep. Her contracting patterns emphasize long-term operational support over one-time projects, fostering stable vendor collaborations that prioritize reliability, regulatory compliance, and mission alignment. Her procurement strategy reflects a balanced commitment to small business participation, with equal portions of contracts set aside for total small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs), alongside a significant portion awarded without set-aside. This pattern underscores a deliberate effort to support veteran-owned enterprises while maintaining flexibility to meet urgent operational needs through qualified large vendors. Eschels’ primary procurement focus centers on NAICS codes related to landscaping services, solid and hazardous waste collection, and construction materials mining—reflecting the operational realities of cemetery management. She routinely procures services including grave site preparation, debris removal, soil stabilization, and infrastructure maintenance, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with environmental compliance, sustainable site practices, and the unique logistical demands of federal cemeteries.