Benjamin S. Stidham

Ben Stidham serves as a Contracting Officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where he plays a pivotal role in executing strategic acquisitions that support the agency’s mission to improve healthcare access and quality through data-driven policy and operational modernization. He manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions, from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration, with a primary focus on administrative management and general management consulting services. His acquisitions directly enable CMS to enhance program integrity, streamline operations, and implement evidence-based reforms across Medicare, Medicaid, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Mr. Stidham’s contractor relationships are centered on firms providing high-level strategic advisory, process optimization, and systems integration services to support CMS’s complex regulatory and technological initiatives. He collaborates with a diverse range of vendors, including large consulting firms and specialized government contractors, all aligned with the agency’s need for subject-matter expertise in healthcare policy, data analytics, and operational efficiency. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, clear statement of work development, and rigorous contractor oversight to ensure alignment with federal standards and program objectives. Notably, Mr. Stidham’s contracting activity is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize technical excellence, scalability, and institutional capacity over socioeconomic set-asides, ensuring that CMS secures the most qualified providers to meet its mission-critical needs. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in his portfolio, all procurements adhere strictly to federal competition requirements and fair evaluation criteria. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541611, encompassing administrative management and general management consulting services. He routinely procures expertise in healthcare program design, workflow modernization, performance measurement systems, and policy implementation support—domains critical to CMS’s operational effectiveness and long-term strategic goals.