Samantha Gullion

Samantha Gullion serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirements validation and market research through solicitation, evaluation, award, and contract administration. Her work supports the agency’s mission to secure essential food production and processing services, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and promoting efficiency in the acquisition process. She primarily handles commercial item acquisitions under FAR Part 12, with a focus on sealed bidding and simplified acquisition procedures, often involving complex technical specifications for food manufacturing standards. While no specific contractor relationships are currently identifiable due to limited award data, Samantha consistently engages with a broad base of vendors capable of meeting stringent food safety, packaging, and shelf-life requirements. Her procurement approach emphasizes competitive solicitation and vendor performance accountability, fostering transparent and equitable contracting practices. She maintains strong collaboration with industry stakeholders to ensure market readiness and compliance with USDA and FDA regulatory frameworks. Samantha’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This indicates a deliberate focus on leveraging full and open competition to achieve best value, rather than reserving awards for socioeconomic categories such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through set-asides, she remains committed to fair access and encourages small businesses to compete on technical merit and pricing. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 311423 (Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing) and 311421 (Fruit and Vegetable Canning), reflecting deep expertise in food preservation technologies, hygienic processing, and shelf-stable product supply chains. She routinely evaluates technical capabilities related to thermal processing, vacuum sealing, moisture control, and allergen management, ensuring acquired goods meet federal nutrition and safety standards for institutional use.