Jeffery A. Ridenour

Jeffery A. Ridenour serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, Procurement and Workforce Administration office, where he plays a pivotal role in enabling critical agricultural research through strategic procurement. He manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for laboratory instrumentation, facility infrastructure, and field research support systems, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and alignment with the agency’s mission to modernize scientific capabilities. His portfolio includes complex procurements for precision analytical equipment, building construction, and specialized maintenance services essential to sustaining national research operations. Ridenour cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse base of vendors, including manufacturers of analytical laboratory instruments, agricultural machinery suppliers, and certified construction contractors specializing in institutional facilities. He works closely with small and mid-sized enterprises to ensure technical alignment and contract performance, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in transparency, compliance, and mission-driven outcomes. His contracting approach emphasizes vendor engagement early in the acquisition planning phase to enhance solution specificity and reduce post-award risk. A staunch advocate for socioeconomic inclusion, Ridenour consistently prioritizes small business set-asides, with approximately 68.8% of his acquisitions designated for small businesses under FAR 19.5. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate emphasis on broad-based small business participation, including firms certified under HUBZone, SDVOSB, and other socioeconomic programs, reinforcing USDA’s commitment to equitable access and innovation through diverse suppliers. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), where he acquires advanced spectrometers, chromatography systems, and data acquisition tools vital to agricultural science. He also regularly procures farm machinery, HVAC systems, roofing, and plumbing services to maintain research facilities. This technical specialization underscores his expertise in science-driven procurement, bridging complex engineering requirements with federal acquisition policy to deliver mission-critical capabilities.