Ted Jeo

Ted Jeo serves as a Technical Contracting Specialist within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, where he plays a pivotal role in securing mission-critical scientific infrastructure and specialized equipment to support agricultural research. His responsibilities include managing the acquisition of high-precision laboratory instrumentation—such as ultra-low-temperature freezers, micro-CT scanners, and sterilization systems—as well as agricultural machinery and analytical services essential to field and lab operations. Jeo ensures procurement activities align with ARS’s scientific priorities by applying technical expertise to evaluate specifications, assess vendor capabilities, and enforce compliance with federal acquisition regulations. He bridges the gap between research scientists and contracting processes to deliver equipment that meets exacting performance standards. Jeo maintains strategic relationships with a select group of contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility upgrades, LARKOS PACKING AND DISTRIBUTION INC. for specialized logistics, ARABIC INTERPRETERS LLC for language services supporting international research collaborations, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC for advanced instrumentation support. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for vendors with proven experience in scientific and agricultural environments, emphasizing reliability, technical compliance, and responsiveness to research timelines. He consistently applies a 100% Small Business Set-Aside strategy under FAR 19.5, prioritizing participation from small businesses across all socioeconomic categories. This reflects a deliberate institutional commitment to fostering innovation and capacity-building within the small business community, particularly those capable of delivering niche technical solutions for agricultural science. Jeo’s procurement focus is exclusively aligned with NAICS 333111 (Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing), where he acquires custom-engineered tractors, harvesters, soil analysis systems, and precision agriculture tools. His domain expertise lies in the technical specifications of farm equipment designed for research applications, ensuring procurement decisions support both operational efficiency and scientific validity.