Fred Gifford

Fred Gifford serves as a Contracting Officer within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, specifically supporting the Procurement and Workforce Administration office. In this role, he manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure, laboratory equipment, and operational services essential to advancing national agricultural research. His portfolio encompasses procurement of precision instrumentation, field research support systems, and specialized technical services that enable scientific innovation in food security, sustainable farming, and pest management. Gifford ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning contracting actions with the agency’s mission to modernize research capabilities across USDA’s nationwide network of facilities. Gifford maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse range of vendors, including manufacturers of agricultural chemicals, engineering firms providing support services for research facilities, and specialized contractors delivering animal production and hay farming solutions. He engages with both large-scale suppliers and small businesses, fostering partnerships grounded in technical competence, regulatory compliance, and mission alignment. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, clear statement of work development, and rigorous source selection to ensure scientific integrity and operational reliability. Gifford’s contracting activity reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted without set-asides. While he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, his process remains transparent and inclusive, allowing all qualified entities to compete on merit. His focus is on securing high-quality, mission-critical goods and services rather than socioeconomic targeting, aligning with the ARS’s priority of scientific excellence over programmatic quotas. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 111940 (Hay Farming), 112990 and 115210 (Animal Production and Support Activities), 325320 (Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing), and 541990 (Professional Scientific Services). He routinely procures pesticides, livestock management systems, field research equipment, and specialized consulting services for experimental design and data analysis, demonstrating deep expertise in the technical demands of agricultural science procurement.