Duli Zhao

Duli Zhao serves as a procurement specialist within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, supporting the acquisition of mission-critical scientific infrastructure and advanced analytical instrumentation. Responsible for managing complex procurements across laboratory equipment, precision environmental control systems, and facility modernization projects, Zhao ensures alignment with ARS’s strategic goals of sustaining cutting-edge agricultural research. Their work directly enables data-driven science at field stations and experimental sites by securing high-precision, federally compliant technologies essential for long-term research continuity and operational resilience. Zhao maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility upgrades, AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC for advanced environmental monitoring systems, and L1 ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED for technical support and calibration services. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with demonstrated expertise in scientific instrumentation integration, laboratory-grade construction, and compliance with federal research facility standards. The contracting approach emphasizes technical competency, past performance in controlled environments, and adherence to stringent quality assurance protocols. There is no set-aside preference in Zhao’s procurement portfolio; all acquisitions are conducted as full and open competitions, reflecting a focus on technical merit and mission readiness over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation is not formally prioritized, vendors must still meet rigorous performance and compliance benchmarks, ensuring that all awardees possess the specialized capability to support high-stakes scientific operations. The primary procurement focus is exclusively under NAICS 334516—Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing—reflecting deep expertise in acquiring mass spectrometers, chromatography systems, climate-controlled growth chambers, and other precision analytical tools critical to agricultural biotechnology and environmental research. Zhao’s domain knowledge spans laboratory instrumentation specifications, calibration standards, and compliance with NIST-traceable requirements, ensuring that all acquisitions meet the exacting needs of USDA’s research community.