Claudius Price

Claudius Price serves as the primary contracting lead for the Agricultural Marketing Service under USDA, overseeing the acquisition of processed and preserved agricultural commodities critical to federal nutrition assistance programs. Responsible for end-to-end procurement of canned, frozen, dried, and prepared foods, Price ensures compliance with federal food safety and shelf-stability standards while maintaining a resilient supply chain for vulnerable populations. Their role centers on executing full and open competitions under FAR Part 13 and Part 14 procedures, with a focus on time-sensitive, high-volume requirements that support nationwide food distribution networks. Price’s acquisitions are strategically aligned with USDA’s mission to guarantee nutritious, shelf-stable food access through efficient, transparent contracting practices. Price maintains a consistent working relationship with Navcor Logistics LLC, a key contractor specializing in the processing, packaging, and distribution of perishable food commodities. This partnership reflects a pattern of long-term, performance-based contract management focused on supply chain reliability, quality control, and just-in-time delivery of USDA-compliant products. The relationship is characterized by sustained contract performance, minimal recompetition, and collaborative adherence to federal food handling and storage protocols, indicating a trusted vendor ecosystem built on operational consistency and regulatory compliance. Price’s procurement activity is exclusively conducted under full and open competition, with no set-asides designated for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic categories. This reflects a strategic prioritization of scale, consistency, and food safety over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the agency’s operational need for high-capacity, standardized suppliers capable of meeting large-scale federal nutrition program demands. The primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 311421 (Fruit and Vegetable Canning), accounting for two-thirds of acquisitions, alongside NAICS 311991 (Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing). Price specializes in sourcing pre-processed, shelf-stable items including canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables, dried fruits, and ready-to-serve meals, requiring deep technical knowledge of food preservation standards, USDA commodity specifications, and cold chain logistics. Their expertise ensures procurement decisions directly support nutritional guidelines and federal food safety mandates.