Sheila Anderson

Sheila Anderson serves as a Procurement Assistant within the Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mission to advance agricultural science through strategic sourcing of critical research infrastructure. She plays a vital role in facilitating the acquisition of specialized laboratory instrumentation, field-ready equipment, and technical services that enable high-precision crop and pest research. Her responsibilities include preparing solicitation documents, coordinating with technical stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations. She primarily handles complex, mission-critical procurements requiring technical expertise in scientific and engineering domains. Sheila maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Lab Leasing Co. of Stevensville, MD, and Boh Environmental, L.L.C., both of which provide specialized environmental testing services and laboratory support solutions. Her procurement approach emphasizes collaborative vendor engagement, ensuring that contractors align with the technical rigor and operational demands of USDA-ARS research facilities. These partnerships are characterized by repeat engagement and a focus on reliability, compliance, and responsiveness to evolving scientific needs. Sheila’s contracting portfolio reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately half of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5, while the other half remain open competition. This pattern demonstrates a deliberate strategy to foster small business participation without compromising access to specialized capabilities. She actively supports the inclusion of small disadvantaged, woman-owned, and veteran-owned firms where qualifications align with technical requirements. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541310 (Architectural Services) and 541330 (Engineering Services), reflecting her specialization in procuring design, construction, and technical engineering support for research facilities and laboratory upgrades. She routinely sources services related to facility modernization, environmental compliance, and instrumentation integration, demonstrating deep familiarity with the technical standards required for federally funded agricultural research environments.