Steve Whisenant

Steve Whisenant serves as a key procurement professional within the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, responsible for managing acquisitions of processed and preserved agricultural commodities to support federal nutrition assistance programs. His work directly advances AMS’s mission to ensure a reliable, safe, and shelf-stable food supply for vulnerable populations by overseeing the procurement of canned, frozen, dried, and prepared foods. He handles full lifecycle contracting actions, including solicitation, evaluation, award, and contract administration, with a focus on high-volume, mission-critical food supply chain requirements. His acquisitions are strategically aligned with national nutrition security objectives and emphasize compliance with federal food safety and quality standards. Whisenant maintains a consistent working relationship with Navcor Logistics LLC, a primary contractor for the handling, storage, and distribution of processed agricultural products. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven capabilities in cold chain logistics, food packaging, and compliance with USDA food safety protocols. These partnerships are characterized by long-term performance reliability and adherence to strict delivery timelines, ensuring continuity in the federal food assistance pipeline. Whisenant’s procurement portfolio reflects no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under open competition. This indicates a focus on operational efficiency and broad market competition rather than socioeconomic set-asides, prioritizing capacity, compliance, and supply chain resilience over socioeconomic classifications. His primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 311611 (Animal Slaughtering) and 311710 (Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging), reflecting deep expertise in the processing of meat and seafood commodities for federal food programs. He specializes in acquiring pre-cooked, frozen, and vacuum-sealed products that meet stringent USDA nutritional and shelf-life requirements, demonstrating technical proficiency in food manufacturing standards and cold chain logistics.