Harry Gardner

Harry Gardner serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, specifically supporting the Procurement and Workforce Administration office under agency code 12905B. He manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure and operational assets essential to sustaining national agricultural research initiatives, with a focus on water supply systems, irrigation infrastructure, and precision pumping equipment. His work ensures that USDA research facilities maintain state-of-the-art technical capabilities to advance scientific discovery in food security, sustainable agriculture, and water resource management. Gardner oversees the full lifecycle of procurements—from needs assessment and solicitation to contract award and performance monitoring—ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and agency mission priorities. Gardner maintains strategic partnerships with a broad network of small business vendors specializing in water infrastructure and fluid control systems. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages with firms capable of delivering customized, high-precision equipment and integrated irrigation solutions tailored to field research environments. His contracting approach emphasizes technical responsiveness, reliability, and compliance with federal standards, fostering long-term vendor relationships built on performance transparency and regulatory adherence. Gardner exhibits a full commitment to small business participation, directing 100% of his acquisitions toward small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to empower economically disadvantaged and locally rooted enterprises, ensuring equitable access to federal research support contracts. His procurement patterns consistently prioritize small businesses without distinguishing among 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB categories, demonstrating a broad-based dedication to socioeconomic inclusion across the rural and technical supplier base. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 221310 (Water Supply and Irrigation Systems) and 333914 (Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing). He procures automated irrigation controllers, soil moisture sensors, variable-frequency drive pumps, and laboratory-grade fluid dispensing systems—technologies vital to precision agriculture research. Gardner’s expertise spans hydraulic engineering, sensor integration, and field-deployable instrumentation, making him a specialized conduit between scientific needs and commercial supply chains.