Terri Carney

Terri Carney serves as Acquisition Branch Chief for the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Agricultural Research Facility Management and Procurement Division, where she leads the strategic procurement of specialized laboratory instrumentation, precision maintenance services, and high-throughput analytical support critical to national agricultural research initiatives. Her role encompasses the full lifecycle of acquisition planning, solicitation, evaluation, and contract administration for mission-critical scientific equipment and technical services that enable cutting-edge biological, environmental, and food safety research. She ensures alignment with federal acquisition regulations and agency priorities to sustain the operational readiness of federal research facilities. Carney maintains longstanding partnerships with a focused group of specialized vendors, including Germfree Laboratories, LLC for controlled-environment research infrastructure, Gold Wave Inc. for precision calibration and maintenance, and J’s Associates, LLC for technical support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical competency, compliance with biosafety standards, and proven track records in delivering complex laboratory systems. These relationships are built on consistent performance, responsiveness to evolving research needs, and adherence to stringent quality controls required in federally funded scientific environments. Carney’s contracting portfolio reflects a singular focus on full and open competition, with no set-asides applied to her acquisitions. While she does not utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB preferences, her process remains transparent and merit-based, prioritizing technical capability and service reliability over socioeconomic categorization. This approach ensures that mission-critical research operations are supported by the most qualified providers, regardless of business size or certification status. Her primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 541380—Testing Laboratories and Services—with a strong emphasis on analytical instrumentation, sterile environment construction, and specialized maintenance for mass spectrometry, chromatography, and biosafety-level facilities. Carney’s expertise lies in procuring high-complexity, low-volume scientific equipment and services that directly support USDA ARS’s mandate to advance sustainable agriculture and food security through rigorous scientific innovation.