Cara Craft

Cara Craft serves as a primary contracting professional within the NASA Shared Services Center, supporting the acquisition of mission-critical technology and analytical infrastructure essential to NASA’s scientific and exploration objectives. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on high-precision instrumentation, custom software development, and specialized engineering services that underpin NASA’s research capabilities. Her role is central to ensuring timely, compliant, and efficient procurement of advanced computational tools, laboratory equipment, and technical training solutions that enable mission success across NASA’s enterprise. Craft operates within a framework governed by FAR and agency-specific acquisition policies, prioritizing technical rigor and operational readiness in every acquisition cycle. Her key contractor relationships include NEXTROW INC and PENN OAK SERVICES LLC, both of which provide specialized technical services and mission-enabling support. These partnerships reflect a pattern of sustained engagement with vendors capable of delivering high-integrity software systems, analytical instrumentation maintenance, and professional development training tailored to NASA’s unique operational environment. Craft’s procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, leveraging long-term vendor relationships to ensure continuity, technical alignment, and rapid response to evolving mission needs. Craft’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 74.8% of awards issued without set-asides, indicating a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic categorization. Nevertheless, she consistently supports small business participation, with 25.0% of awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both competition and socioeconomic goals. While 8(a) participation is minimal, her pattern aligns with NASA’s broader strategy of prioritizing technical capability while maintaining statutory small business obligations. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Custom Computer Programming Services, Software Publishing, and Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, reflecting deep expertise in procuring scientific software, data analysis platforms, and precision instrumentation. She routinely acquires R&D services in physical and engineering sciences, ensuring NASA’s workforce has access to cutting-edge tools for aerospace research, data interpretation, and mission-critical simulation environments.