Carla May

Carla May serves as a Contracting Officer for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (HDTRA1), where she plays a critical role in securing specialized capabilities to counter weapons of mass destruction and emerging national security threats. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions centered on scientific research, technical analysis, and operational support systems, including threat detection, forensic analysis, and advanced cybersecurity infrastructure. Her work directly supports HDTRA1’s mission to develop and deploy innovative solutions against chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats, ensuring timely procurement of mission-critical technologies through full and open competition and targeted set-asides. Carla maintains strong, sustained relationships with key contractors including TECHTRANS INTERNATIONAL INC, BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE, AERIS LLC, APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC., and AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC. These partnerships reflect her focus on engaging high-caliber scientific, engineering, and cloud-based service providers capable of delivering complex, mission-sensitive solutions. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term vendor collaboration, often involving research and development contracts, services acquisitions, and IT modernization efforts requiring stringent security compliance. Carla demonstrates a robust commitment to small business participation, with nearly half of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While no set-aside remains the most common approach, her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity-building within the national security supply chain. She actively promotes equitable access for small businesses with expertise in technical services and defense-related R&D. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 511210 (Software Publishers) and 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), reflecting a strong emphasis on software development, data analytics, and cyber-enabled threat detection systems. She also regularly procures specialized technical services under 811219 and 423430, indicating a need for advanced computing infrastructure, software distribution, and mission-specific IT support. Her expertise spans the intersection of national security, scientific research, and commercial cloud platforms.