Deborah Hughes

Deborah Hughes supports the Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement in securing critical scientific infrastructure and specialized services essential to USDA’s mission of advancing agricultural research. She manages a diverse portfolio of procurement actions focused on high-precision laboratory instrumentation, agricultural equipment, and technical support services that enable cutting-edge research in food safety, plant sciences, and biophysical analysis. Her work ensures the operational readiness of federal research facilities by facilitating timely acquisition of mission-critical assets such as ultra-low-temperature freezers, micro-CT scanners, and sterilization systems, aligning procurement strategy with the scientific priorities of ARS field and laboratory sites. Her contractor relationships include established vendors such as MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility upgrades, LARKOS PACKING AND DISTRIBUTION INC. for specialized logistics, ARABIC INTERPRETERS LLC for language support in collaborative research initiatives, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC for advanced instrumentation and technical integration. These partnerships reflect a balanced approach between large-capacity contractors capable of delivering complex systems and niche providers offering specialized expertise in scientific support services. Deborah maintains an equitable split between open competitions and Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a strong commitment to socioeconomic diversity in contracting. She consistently prioritizes small business participation, particularly in categories where innovation and agility are vital to research outcomes, fostering relationships with qualified small businesses across multiple socioeconomic categories without preference for specific designations such as 8(a) or HUBZone. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), 333111 (Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing), and 334513 (Industrial Process Control Instruments), reflecting deep technical expertise in acquiring precision scientific equipment. She regularly procures micro-CT scanners, automated sample handling systems, and specialized agricultural machinery, ensuring that ARS laboratories maintain world-class capabilities for data-driven agricultural research.