Kristina Baker

Kristina Baker supports the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center’s acquisition mission within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, facilitating critical procurement activities that enable land conservation, soil health initiatives, and rural resource planning. She manages a diverse portfolio of technical and professional services contracts aligned with field-level conservation programs, easement restoration, and data-driven agricultural decision-making. Her acquisitions typically involve engineering, land assessment, and site preparation services essential to implementing USDA conservation priorities across rural landscapes. Baker ensures alignment with federal procurement regulations while advancing programmatic outcomes through strategic sourcing and compliance with socioeconomic objectives. She maintains consistent working relationships with PROJECTELLA LLC, HOMESTEAD SERVICES, LLC, and JANIE B LLC, firms known for specialized expertise in land documentation, real estate appraisal, and site preparation services. These partnerships reflect a preference for niche, mission-aligned vendors capable of delivering precise technical deliverables in support of conservation planning and land management. Baker’s contracting approach emphasizes reliability, regulatory compliance, and technical proficiency, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in clear performance expectations and deliverable-driven contract structures. Baker exhibits a balanced approach to socioeconomic set-asides, allocating approximately half of her acquisitions to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, while the remainder remain open to all competitors. This pattern demonstrates a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for small businesses without compromising access to specialized capabilities. Her contracting strategy reflects a pragmatic balance between promoting economic inclusion and ensuring mission-critical service delivery, consistently prioritizing qualified small firms in technical service categories. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 541191 (Title Abstract and Settlement Offices), reflecting a strong demand for land title and conveyance services supporting easement and conservation agreements. She also regularly procures services under NAICS 531320 (Real Estate Appraisers) and 238910 (Site Preparation Contractors), underscoring expertise in land-based conservation infrastructure. These categories reveal deep technical familiarity with property documentation, land valuation, and ground preparation for conservation projects, positioning her as a key conduit between agricultural policy goals and on-the-ground implementation.