Kurt Spokas

Kurt Spokas serves as a Researcher and End User within the Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, where he plays a critical role in defining technical requirements for mission-critical scientific infrastructure. His expertise bridges laboratory research needs with acquisition strategy, ensuring that procurement decisions align with the operational demands of high-precision agricultural and biological research. He is deeply involved in the acquisition of advanced analytical instrumentation, ultra-low-temperature freezer systems, micro-CT scanners, and sterilization equipment essential to maintaining the integrity of experimental workflows. His input directly shapes solicitation specifications and evaluation criteria, ensuring that awarded contracts deliver scientifically valid, reliable, and compliant technologies. Spokas maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility integration, LARKOS PACKING AND DISTRIBUTION INC. for logistics of sensitive materials, ARABIC INTERPRETERS LLC for technical documentation support, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC for advanced instrumentation procurement and calibration services. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with proven technical competence in scientific equipment lifecycle management, rather than broad-spectrum suppliers. His procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, technical documentation rigor, and post-delivery support capabilities. Spokas does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. His focus remains squarely on technical merit and performance capability, reflecting the mission-critical nature of the research infrastructure he supports. While small business participation is not a formal requirement in his portfolio, vendors are evaluated strictly on their ability to meet stringent scientific and operational specifications. His procurement activity is exclusively concentrated in NAICS 334516—Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing—reflecting his deep specialization in high-end scientific equipment. He routinely procures precision instruments such as cryogenic storage systems, mass spectrometers, and automated sterilization units, requiring deep domain knowledge in biophysical research environments and compliance with federal laboratory standards.