Gloria J Benson

Gloria J. Benson supports the procurement mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) by managing complex acquisitions critical to safeguarding U.S. agricultural biosecurity. Though her formal title is not listed, her contracting activity centers on securing scientific, technical, and logistical services essential to pest and disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and field response operations. She routinely handles contracts for specialized equipment, analytical instrumentation, and professional technical services that enable APHIS to detect, contain, and mitigate biological threats to livestock, crops, and natural ecosystems. Benson maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of niche vendors, including Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Thorobred Aviation Maintenance, Inc., and AR6 Construction & Engineering, LLC, reflecting a reliance on specialized service providers capable of supporting field operations, equipment maintenance, and infrastructure readiness. Her procurement patterns indicate a preference for contractors with demonstrated expertise in aviation support, laboratory instrumentation, and commercial/industrial repair services—capabilities directly aligned with APHIS’s mobile surveillance and diagnostic response needs. Her contracting portfolio exhibits a strong emphasis on small business participation, with nearly half of all awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides are predominant, her consistent use of small business set-asides signals a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity within the small business community serving federal biosecurity missions. Benson’s primary NAICS focus areas include Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516) and Pesticide and Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (325320), underscoring her technical engagement with diagnostic tools, chemical countermeasures, and scientific support services. She also frequently procures professional technical services (541990) and industrial equipment maintenance (811310), demonstrating expertise in acquiring mission-critical solutions that bridge laboratory science with field operational readiness.