Zachary Schuler

Zachary Schuler supports the Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement in securing mission-critical scientific infrastructure and specialized services essential to USDA’s research objectives. He manages complex procurement actions for high-precision laboratory equipment, field instrumentation, and technical consulting services that enable cutting-edge agricultural and biological research. His work ensures the operational readiness of national research facilities by facilitating timely acquisitions of ultra-low-temperature freezers, micro-CT scanners, sterilization systems, and analytical instrumentation, aligning procurement strategy with the agency’s scientific priorities and compliance requirements. Schuler maintains consistent working 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 linguistic support in multilingual research collaborations, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC for advanced technology integration. These partnerships reflect a pattern of engaging niche vendors with proven expertise in scientific, technical, and operational domains, prioritizing reliability, regulatory compliance, and mission-specific capability over broad-market providers. His procurement portfolio demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 55% of awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity within the small business community, particularly among firms capable of delivering specialized scientific, technical, and facility support services. While no set-aside categories are dominant, the consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a sustained focus on socioeconomic inclusion in high-technology procurement. Schuler’s primary NAICS focus areas include 334516 for analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing, 541690 for scientific consulting, and 334111 for electronic computer manufacturing, indicating deep engagement with precision instrumentation, data-driven research systems, and technical services. He routinely procures advanced equipment for molecular analysis, field data collection, and laboratory automation, demonstrating technical fluency in the scientific domains served by the Agricultural Research Service.