USDA Farm Production and Conservation Business Center Market Research Report

Background

The USDA Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center is a centralized operations office within the FPAC Mission Area, established on October 14, 2018. It serves as a strategic partner to the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA), providing a wide range of services across 15 functional areas, including budgeting, financial management, procurement, human resources, information technology, and customer experience. The FPAC Business Center aims to enable efficient and effective delivery of programs to America's farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.

Key Strategic Focus

The FPAC Business Center's strategic focus includes:

Financial Management and Budgeting: Overseeing USDA's farm program payments, grants, and conservation funding.

Human Resources and Workforce Development: Managing recruitment, training, and personnel policies for FPAC agencies.

Procurement and Contracting: Facilitating USDA farm-related contracts and vendor services.

Information Technology and Cybersecurity: Supporting digital infrastructure, cloud computing, and data security for USDA programs.

Customer and Data Services: Enhancing user experience and data transparency for farmers and government stakeholders.

These efforts aim to streamline administrative operations and improve service delivery for USDA’s farm and conservation programs.

Financials and Funding

In fiscal year 2024, the FPAC Business Center's net spending was $910.7 million, accounting for 0.4% of the Department of Agriculture's total spending. This reflects a significant increase from $1.25 million in 2018, indicating substantial growth in the center's operational scale.

Pipeline Development

As a support entity, the FPAC Business Center does not have a product pipeline. Instead, it focuses on enhancing the operational capabilities of FSA, NRCS, and RMA to improve service delivery to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.

Technological Platform and Innovation

The FPAC Business Center has implemented several technological initiatives, including:

Digital Records Management System: Collaborating with Brillient to digitize millions of legacy records across 2,700 field offices, developing a secure, cloud-based Enterprise Records Management System compliant with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements.

Customer Experience Enhancements: In 2023, the center introduced a free on-demand interpretation service for FSA and NRCS customers with limited English proficiency, facilitating better communication and service delivery.

Leadership Team

The FPAC Business Center is led by:

Robert Ibarra: Chief Operating Officer, responsible for overseeing the center's operations and strategic direction.

Scott (Ronald) Royster: Acting Chief Financial Officer, managing the center's financial operations.

Craig Harper: Acting Director of Acquisition and Procurement, overseeing contracting support.

Jack Welch: Director of Appeals and Litigation, managing legal activities.

Anetra Harbor: Acting Director of Budget, handling budget formulation and execution.

Ms. Willisa Donald: Director of Civil Rights & Equal Employment Opportunity, ensuring equal employment opportunities and program access.

Kim Iczkowski: Acting Director of Customer Experience, enhancing customer interactions.

Joy Harwood: Director of Economic and Policy Analysis, conducting analyses and developing cost-benefit assessments.

Nell Fuller: Director of Environmental Activities, providing guidance on environmental laws and regulations.

Kaveh Sadeghzadeh: Deputy Director of Communications, managing internal and external communications.

John Shea: Deputy Director of Legislative and Stakeholder Relations, coordinating legislative and public engagement.

Rita Wilson: Director of Financial Management, administering core financial functions.

Galon Hall: Acting Director of Grants and Agreements, overseeing grant and agreement administration.

Donald Butler: Acting Director of Homeland Security, ensuring a safe environment for employees and customers.

Terri Meighan: Director of Human Resources, managing recruitment and retention.

Tonye Gross: Director of Information Solutions, providing IT services.

Jacob Joubert: Director of Management Services, overseeing property management and support functions.

Christopher Simmons: Director of Performance Accountability and Risk, managing strategic frameworks and risk mitigation.

Competitor and Partner Profiles

As a government entity, the FPAC Business Center does not have direct competitors in the traditional sense. However, it collaborates with various organizations to enhance its services:

Brillient: Partnered to develop a cloud-based Enterprise Records Management System, digitizing millions of records across USDA field offices.

Small and Disadvantaged Businesses: In fiscal year 2023, the center engaged with over 12,300 small businesses, with 73.74% of its contracting directed toward small businesses, totaling more than $534 million.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

The FPAC Business Center collaborates with various entities to enhance its capabilities:

Brillient: Assisted in digitizing legacy records and developing a secure, cloud-based Enterprise Records Management System.

Small and Disadvantaged Businesses: Increased the number of small and disadvantaged business database entries to 1,275 in fiscal year 2023, up from 800 in fiscal year 2022, fostering greater inclusivity in its contracting processes.

Operational Insights

The FPAC Business Center's strategic considerations include:

Enhancing Service Delivery: Implementing digital records management and customer experience initiatives to improve efficiency and accessibility for farmers and ranchers.

Engaging Small Businesses: Actively involving small and disadvantaged businesses in contracting opportunities to promote diversity and inclusivity.