Gary Brown

Gary Brown serves as the primary procurement lead within the USDA Rural Development Regional Acquisition Division, operating under the Rural Housing Service. In this role, he manages the acquisition of professional and technical services critical to advancing rural infrastructure, housing, and community development initiatives across the United States. His responsibilities include planning, soliciting, awarding, and administering contracts for consulting, marketing, public relations, and site preparation services that directly support the delivery of safe, affordable housing and essential utilities to underserved rural populations. He works closely with program staff to align procurement strategy with mission-critical objectives, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and rural development priorities. Gary fosters collaborative relationships with a diverse range of vendors, including management consulting firms, marketing and public relations agencies, and site preparation contractors. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages both large professional service providers and small, specialized firms capable of delivering tailored solutions for rural contexts. His contracting approach emphasizes flexibility, responsiveness, and performance-based outcomes, often requiring vendors to demonstrate experience in rural program implementation and cultural competency. A hallmark of Gary’s procurement strategy is his balanced commitment to small business participation, with approximately half of his acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. He actively promotes equitable access to opportunities for small businesses, including those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, without relying on specific socioeconomic set-asides like 8(a) or HUBZone. His approach reflects a deliberate effort to broaden vendor participation while maintaining competitive integrity. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting), with significant activity in marketing consulting, public relations, and site preparation services. This reflects a strategic need to enhance program outreach, streamline administrative operations, and prepare land for housing development—all essential to expanding rural economic opportunity through targeted, service-based acquisitions.