Betty A. Kunkel

Betty A. Kunkel serves as a Small Business Specialist, dedicated to advancing small business participation in federal procurement processes. In this role, she provides critical guidance to acquisition teams on socioeconomic program eligibility, subcontracting plans, and small business set-aside strategies. Her expertise ensures compliance with the Small Business Act and supports agency missions by fostering equitable access to contracting opportunities for disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Kunkel typically handles acquisitions across food manufacturing and processing categories, advising on solicitation language, source selection criteria, and small business outreach initiatives to maximize vendor participation. While no specific contractor relationships are currently documented, Kunkel’s work centers on enabling small businesses—particularly those certified under 8(a), HUBZone, and WOSB programs—to compete effectively for federal contracts. She engages with a broad network of small manufacturers, procurement specialists, and Small Business Development Centers to identify capable vendors and align their capabilities with agency needs. Her approach emphasizes capacity building, pre-solicitation outreach, and mentor-protégé collaboration to strengthen the small business supply base. Kunkel’s procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” Despite this, she actively promotes small business inclusion through subcontracting goals, joint venture structures, and targeted market research to ensure small firms are considered even in unrestricted solicitations. Her commitment to socioeconomic contracting is demonstrated through consistent advocacy for small business eligibility verification and compliance with FAR Part 19 requirements. Her primary industry focus lies in food manufacturing, with significant activity in NAICS 311211 (Flour Milling), 311212 (Rice Milling), and 311513 (Cheese Manufacturing), alongside 311514 (Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing) and 311821 (Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing). Kunkel possesses deep technical knowledge of food safety standards, processing equipment, and packaging requirements, enabling her to accurately define performance specifications and evaluate technical proposals within these specialized domains.