Ann W. Little

Ann W. Little serves as a procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in advanced manufacturing and electronic systems, playing a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s technical modernization objectives. She oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions—from market research and solicitation development to award and administration—focusing on high-precision components and mission-critical electrical systems. Her acquisitions typically support defense, aerospace, and industrial automation programs, requiring deep technical understanding of electronic component integration and regulatory compliance under FAR and DFARS. Little maintains a broad vendor network, engaging both large-tier manufacturers and specialized small businesses to meet stringent performance and quality standards. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently collaborates with firms possessing AS9100 and ISO 13485 certifications, emphasizing supply chain resilience and technical capability over volume-based sourcing. Her approach favors competitive sealed bidding and negotiated acquisitions, with a preference for performance-based contract structures that incentivize innovation and quality assurance. Her procurement strategy reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 30% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and over 2% allocated to HUBZone firms. Although the majority of contracts remain unrestricted, her deliberate use of socioeconomic set-asides demonstrates alignment with federal goals to broaden vendor diversity, particularly in high-tech manufacturing sectors. She actively encourages small business subcontracting and leverages small business outreach programs to expand the eligible vendor pool. Little’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334419 (Other Electronic Component Manufacturing), with significant activity in motor vehicle electronics (336320) and current-carrying wiring devices (335931). Her expertise spans printed circuit board assemblies, sensor systems, and precision electrical controls used in automated systems. She is deeply familiar with technical specifications for MIL-STD-810 and IPC-A-610 standards, ensuring acquired components meet rigorous environmental and reliability requirements for mission-critical applications.