Jerry Johnson

Jerry Johnson serves as a Bio Tech within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, where he plays a critical role in supporting mission-critical scientific research through the acquisition of specialized biological and analytical equipment. His responsibilities include managing the procurement of advanced laboratory instrumentation—such as ultra-low-temperature freezers, micro-CT scanners, and sterilization systems—alongside specialized biological manufacturing services essential for agricultural and biomedical research. He ensures that procurement strategies align with the agency’s mandate to sustain high-precision research infrastructure and maintain operational readiness across field and laboratory facilities. Johnson regularly collaborates with a select group of contractors including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility infrastructure support, LARKOS PACKING AND DISTRIBUTION INC. for controlled-environment logistics, ARABIC INTERPRETERS LLC for specialized linguistic services in research documentation, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC for advanced technical instrumentation. His procurement approach emphasizes reliability, technical compliance, and long-term serviceability, favoring vendors with demonstrated expertise in scientific-grade equipment and biocontainment protocols. Johnson’s contracting activity shows no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of procurements conducted under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability over socioeconomic criteria, prioritizing the highest-performing vendors capable of meeting stringent scientific and regulatory standards. His primary procurement activity is concentrated in NAICS 325414—Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing—reflecting deep specialization in the acquisition of research-grade biological reagents, lab-developed therapeutics, and associated manufacturing services. His technical domain expertise centers on biosafety level 2 and 3 compliant supply chains, cryogenic storage systems, and sterile processing workflows critical to ARS’s agricultural biotechnology initiatives.