Robert Ideker

Robert Ideker serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, specifically supporting the Office of Acquisition and Procurement for the Sea AAO division. He manages mission-critical acquisitions focused on electrical infrastructure, laboratory facility upgrades, and precision environmental control systems essential to sustaining agricultural research operations. His work directly enables scientific continuity at field stations and experimental sites by ensuring reliable power distribution, wiring systems, and compliance with federal technical standards for research-grade environments. Ideker’s portfolio centers on contracting for installation, maintenance, and modernization of mission-critical electrical systems that underpin data collection, sensor networks, and controlled-environment research facilities. He maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC, Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and L1 Enterprises Incorporated. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with demonstrated expertise in commercial and industrial electrical contracting, facility retrofitting, and compliance with USDA-specific technical and safety protocols. Ideker fosters long-term, performance-based vendor relationships grounded in technical reliability and adherence to federal construction and safety codes. Ideker’s contracting activity is fully aligned with small business set-aside requirements under FAR 19.5, with 100% of his procurements reserved for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate and consistent commitment to expanding economic opportunity for qualified small contractors, particularly those with niche capabilities in electrical installation and facility systems integration. His approach prioritizes socioeconomic equity while maintaining rigorous performance standards. His procurement focus is exclusively concentrated under NAICS 238210—Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors—indicating deep specialization in the design, installation, and maintenance of complex electrical systems for federal research facilities. He procures services including low-voltage wiring, conduit systems, panel upgrades, grounding and bonding, and integration of power systems for sensitive laboratory equipment, demonstrating technical fluency in the infrastructure needs of modern agricultural science.