Federal AgriTech Contracting Handbook
8(a) sole-source, Blue UAS, EQIP, USDA programs — the procurement-policy layer of AgriTech.
Abstract
The federal procurement layer of AgriTech is its own discipline, distinct from the technology layer and the agronomy layer. It is where 8(a) set-asides, GSA schedules, Blue UAS framework requirements, EQIP program rules, USDA NRCS practice standards, and CMMC posture all intersect. Most AgriTech vendors avoid this layer; most federal-adjacent buyers cannot.
This handbook is the practitioner's map of the federal AgriTech contracting landscape as it stands in 2026. It documents the procurement vehicles relevant to AgriTech, the timeline advantages of 8(a) sole-source pathways, the 2026 Farm Bill EQIP provisions that affect technology-driven conservation practices, and the documentation requirements that surprise first-time federal AgriTech buyers and integrators.
It is written from inside the work: JMJ Consultants is an 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business that has worked through these procurement vehicles directly. The handbook is opinionated about what works in practice vs. what is documented in policy, and it includes program-structuring templates and documentation checklists for the most common engagement types.
Table of contents
- 1. Federal procurement vehicle map
- 2. 8(a) set-asides for AgriTech
- 3. 2026 Farm Bill EQIP provisions
- 4. Blue UAS framework requirements
- 5. CMMC posture for federal-adjacent work
- 6. Program structuring templates
- 7. Documentation requirements
Who this is for
Federal procurement, state agency lead, head of compliance