Mitchell J. Thomas

Mitchell J. Thomas serves as a key procurement lead within the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center’s Acquisition Division, where he oversees the acquisition of specialized engineering and technical services critical to national land conservation and agricultural resource planning. His role centers on managing complex contracts for heavy civil infrastructure projects that support soil health initiatives, easement restoration, and data-enabled rural planning. Thomas ensures alignment with USDA’s mission by facilitating the procurement of expert technical services that enable field-level conservation programs and sustainable land management practices, consistently applying federal acquisition regulations to deliver mission-critical outcomes. Thomas maintains long-standing relationships with a focused group of contractors, including PROJECTELLA LLC, HOMESTEAD SERVICES, LLC, and JANIE B LLC, all of which provide specialized engineering and construction services tailored to agricultural conservation infrastructure. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for collaborative, performance-based partnerships with firms experienced in on-site implementation of conservation engineering solutions, such as erosion control systems, wetland restoration, and rural drainage infrastructure. These relationships are characterized by repeat engagements and a shared commitment to technical precision and environmental compliance. His procurement strategy is deeply rooted in small business empowerment, with 66.7% of awards designated for total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and 33.3% reserved for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. This reflects a deliberate and consistent effort to expand economic opportunity within the rural contracting community while ensuring access to niche technical capabilities. Thomas prioritizes socioeconomic diversity in vendor selection, fostering a supplier base that aligns with both mission needs and federal socioeconomic goals. The division’s entire acquisition portfolio is focused on NAICS 237990—Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction—encompassing specialized services such as land grading, conservation structure installation, hydrologic engineering, and erosion control systems. Thomas’s expertise lies in procuring technically complex, field-deployed infrastructure solutions that require deep domain knowledge in agricultural land management and environmental engineering, ensuring that every contract delivers durable, ecologically sound outcomes for America’s working landscapes.