Hilary Cole

Hilary Cole serves as Branch Chief responsible for overseeing food manufacturing and processing acquisitions within her organization, ensuring alignment with federal procurement standards and operational readiness. In this leadership role, she directs the planning, solicitation, and award of contracts for critical food supply chains, with a focus on safety, compliance, and timely delivery. Her team manages complex procurements across meat, poultry, seafood, and specialty food manufacturing, coordinating with technical evaluators and supply chain analysts to meet mission-critical requirements. Cole’s acquisitions are primarily firm-fixed-price contracts requiring strict adherence to USDA and FDA regulatory frameworks. While specific contractor names are not available, Cole’s procurement patterns indicate consistent engagement with mid- to large-scale food processors capable of meeting federal food safety and sanitation standards. Her working relationships are characterized by long-term vendor partnerships with manufacturers holding FSMA-compliant certifications and GMP accreditations, emphasizing reliability, traceability, and capacity to scale production. She favors vendors with established quality control systems and demonstrated experience in federal food supply contracts. Cole’s contracting portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic preference for maximizing market competition and leveraging economies of scale rather than socioeconomic set-asides. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, her approach ensures equitable access for all qualified vendors capable of meeting stringent technical and regulatory benchmarks. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 311615 (poultry processing) and 311611 (animal slaughtering), accounting for over 70% of her portfolio, supplemented by seafood preparation (311710) and specialty food manufacturing (311911, 311999). Cole possesses deep expertise in cold chain logistics, sanitary processing standards, and HACCP-compliant production, making her a key decision-maker for high-volume, regulated food procurement requiring stringent quality assurance protocols.