Clarice E. Dixson

Clarice E. Dixson serves as a Contract Specialist within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Procurement and Workforce Administration office, where she plays a pivotal role in securing critical infrastructure and scientific equipment to advance national agricultural research. She manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions, including high-precision laboratory instruments, field research support systems, and facility modernization contracts, ensuring alignment with federal procurement regulations and the agency’s mission to sustain cutting-edge scientific capabilities. Her work directly enables researchers to conduct innovative studies in food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental resilience. While specific contractor names are not disclosed in available records, Dixson maintains a consistent procurement pattern focused on specialized manufacturers and technical service providers with expertise in analytical instrumentation and scientific research support. She engages with vendors capable of delivering calibrated, high-reliability equipment compliant with federal standards, fostering long-term partnerships with firms that demonstrate technical proficiency, quality assurance, and responsive post-award support. Dixson’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 70.3% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. However, she actively supports small business participation, allocating 29.7% of opportunities as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This pattern underscores her commitment to expanding market access for qualified small businesses while maintaining rigorous performance standards essential to scientific integrity. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in acquiring mass spectrometers, chromatography systems, and other advanced analytical tools. She also routinely procures services under NAICS 541712 for physical and life sciences R&D support, and occasionally engages vendors in industrial process control instrumentation (NAICS 334513). Her technical acumen ensures that acquisitions meet the exacting demands of laboratory and field-based agricultural research environments.