Jeff Kathman

Jeff Kathman serves as a key procurement lead within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, managing the acquisition of mission-critical scientific infrastructure and specialized research services. He ensures the timely procurement of high-precision laboratory instrumentation, agricultural equipment, and technical support services that enable cutting-edge agricultural and biotechnological research. His portfolio centers on maintaining operational readiness for field and laboratory facilities, with a focus on ultra-low-temperature freezers, micro-CT scanners, sterilization systems, and analytical instrumentation essential to USDA’s scientific mission. Kathman’s work directly supports the agency’s mandate to advance agricultural innovation through strategic, compliant, and technically informed contracting. He maintains established relationships with a diverse set of contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility upgrades, LARKOS PACKING AND DISTRIBUTION INC. for specialized logistics, ARABIC INTERPRETERS LLC for language services in collaborative research settings, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC for advanced instrumentation support. His contracting approach emphasizes reliability, technical compatibility, and long-term service continuity, often favoring vendors with proven expertise in scientific and agricultural environments. These partnerships are cultivated through transparent evaluation criteria and performance-based contract management. Kathman demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 76% of his awards designated under the Small Business Set-Aside program (FAR 19.5). His procurement patterns consistently prioritize small businesses across multiple socioeconomic categories, reinforcing USDA’s goal of equitable access to federal research funding. He actively leverages set-asides to expand vendor diversity while maintaining rigorous technical standards for deliverables. His primary NAICS focus areas include 334516 for analytical laboratory instrumentation, 541714 for biotechnology R&D services, and 333111 for farm machinery and equipment. He regularly procures precision measurement devices, bioreactor systems, field-deployable sensors, and specialized sterilization and containment equipment, demonstrating deep technical fluency in life sciences and agricultural engineering domains.