Steven Merch

Steven J. Merch serves as a Contracting Officer responsible for managing federal acquisitions in the food supply chain, with a primary focus on perishable and processed food commodities. He plays a critical role in ensuring the timely and compliant procurement of essential food products to support government operations, adhering strictly to FAR guidelines and agency procurement policies. His portfolio centers on commercial food manufacturing and wholesale distribution, requiring deep familiarity with food safety standards, cold chain logistics, and contract delivery terms under indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and requirements-type contracts. While specific contractor names are not available, Merch consistently engages with a diverse base of food producers and merchant wholesalers, including firms specializing in fluid milk, bakery goods, and fresh produce distribution. His procurement approach emphasizes reliability, quality control, and supply chain resilience, fostering long-term vendor relationships grounded in performance-based contracting and FAR-compliant source selection procedures. He routinely works with both large-capacity processors and regional suppliers capable of meeting federal food specifications. Merch demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 86.7% of his acquisitions conducted without set-asides, reflecting a focus on broad market access and cost-effectiveness. However, he maintains a meaningful commitment to small business participation, allocating 13.3% of his awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, aligning with agency goals to promote economic opportunity among qualified small vendors. His primary NAICS focus is Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511), indicating expertise in dairy procurement, followed by Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480), Commercial Bakeries (311812), and General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers (424410). This specialization underscores his technical knowledge of perishable goods procurement, including shelf-life management, packaging standards, and USDA compliance requirements. His domain expertise lies in securing high-volume, high-turnover food products under stringent federal quality and safety protocols.