Jerry Johnson

Jerry Johnson serves as a Lab Technician within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, playing a critical technical role in supporting the procurement of specialized laboratory infrastructure and analytical services. While not a contracting officer, Johnson provides essential technical evaluation and requirements definition for high-precision equipment such as ultra-low-temperature freezers, micro-CT scanners, and sterilization systems, ensuring acquisitions align with rigorous scientific standards. His expertise bridges operational laboratory needs with procurement processes, enabling the agency to acquire mission-critical instrumentation that sustains cutting-edge agricultural and biological research. Johnson collaborates closely with a select group of vendors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility integration, LARKOS PACKING AND DISTRIBUTION INC. for specialized logistics of sensitive materials, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC for advanced instrumentation support. He also engages Arabic Interpreters LLC for language services during international technical evaluations. His working relationships are characterized by long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors who demonstrate technical reliability, compliance with biosafety protocols, and ability to deliver complex, calibrated equipment under strict regulatory conditions. His procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides, reflecting the technical specificity and limited vendor base for high-end lab equipment. However, he consistently supports 20% of procurements under Total Small Business Set-Asides, prioritizing qualified small businesses capable of meeting stringent performance and calibration requirements. Johnson’s focus is centered on NAICS 518210 for computing infrastructure and data services supporting lab automation, and NAICS 541380 for accredited testing laboratories providing analytical validation. His technical domain expertise lies in procuring precision instruments for molecular analysis, microbial containment, and field-deployable diagnostic systems, ensuring all acquisitions meet USDA’s standards for scientific integrity and operational readiness.