Administrative POC

Administrative POC serves as a key procurement liaison for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), supporting the acquisition of high-risk, high-reward research and development initiatives aligned with national defense innovation priorities. While not a contracting officer, this role facilitates the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for advanced scientific programs, coordinating between technical teams, legal counsel, and industry partners to ensure rapid, compliant execution of research contracts. The POC specializes in managing complex R&D solicitations under FAR Part 35 and other advanced acquisition authorities, enabling DARPA’s mission to accelerate breakthroughs in autonomous systems, next-generation computing, bio-integrated technologies, and advanced materials. The POC maintains strategic relationships with a select group of technical innovators, including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC., and PENNSYLVANIA & SOUTHERN RAILWAY LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established defense contractors and research institutions with proven capabilities in physical sciences, engineering systems, and biomedical technologies. Collaborations are typically performance-driven, with an emphasis on agile contract structures such as Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) and prototype agreements to expedite innovation cycles. This role exhibits no preference for socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of procurements conducted under full and open competition. The absence of 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB targeting underscores a mission-first procurement philosophy prioritizing technical capability and speed over socioeconomic criteria, consistent with DARPA’s mandate to secure the most capable innovators regardless of firm size or certification status. The POC’s procurement portfolio is exclusively focused on NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—encompassing advanced materials, quantum computing architectures, neurotechnologies, and autonomous control systems. Their work centers on procuring foundational scientific research, prototype development, and systems integration services critical to maintaining U.S. technological superiority in next-generation defense domains.