Sheronda Jones

Sheronda Jones serves as a Contract Specialist within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Agricultural Research Facility Management and Procurement Division (ARS AFM APD), where she plays a pivotal role in enabling mission-critical agricultural research through strategic procurement of advanced scientific equipment and specialized technical services. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for high-precision laboratory instrumentation, facility maintenance systems, and custom research support services essential to food security and sustainable agriculture innovation. Her work ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurement activities with the agency’s scientific priorities, particularly in biological, environmental, and analytical research domains. Jones maintains consistent relationships with a focused cohort of vendors, including Georgia Commercial and Residential Elevator, LLC for facility infrastructure support, Germfree Laboratories, LLC for controlled-environment research systems, and J’s Associates, LLC for specialized technical consulting. Her contracting approach emphasizes reliability, technical compatibility, and long-term serviceability, fostering collaborative partnerships with vendors who demonstrate deep domain expertise in scientific facility operations and research-enabling technologies. Her procurement portfolio reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately half of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for small businesses in scientific procurement. She actively engages with small business contractors across multiple categories, ensuring broad participation while maintaining rigorous performance standards. Jones specializes in acquisitions governed by NAICS codes 541990 (professional scientific services), 541511 (custom computer programming), 311119 (animal food manufacturing), and 441110 (new car dealers), reflecting the diverse operational needs of ARS facilities—from data analytics and software development for research workflows to vehicle fleets supporting field research and specialized feed production systems. Her expertise spans both high-tech instrumentation procurement and mission-critical support services underpinning USDA’s scientific infrastructure.