Carolyn S. Dickens

Carolyn S. Dickens serves as a key procurement professional responsible for managing complex information technology and professional services acquisitions within her organization. She oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions, from requirements definition and market research through award and performance management, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and agency mission objectives. Her work centers on securing technical services that support digital infrastructure, systems integration, and operational support functions, frequently engaging with vendors to deliver scalable, secure, and mission-critical IT solutions. Dickens plays a pivotal role in translating agency needs into compliant, competitive solicitations that foster innovation and accountability. Her contractor relationships are primarily with firms specializing in computer systems design, IT consulting, and data services, with a preference for vendors possessing deep technical expertise in software development and cloud-enabled environments. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with a diverse pool of mid-tier and small technology service providers, fostering collaborative, performance-based partnerships grounded in clear deliverables and measurable outcomes. Her approach emphasizes vendor responsiveness, past performance evaluation, and technical capability over price alone. Carolyn demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with over 90% of her acquisitions conducted as full and open competition without set-asides, reflecting a preference for broad market access. However, she actively utilizes the Total Small Business Set-Aside authority under FAR 19.5, consistently reserving select requirements for small businesses to promote competition and innovation. Her pattern indicates a balanced strategy—prioritizing efficiency while ensuring meaningful opportunities for small business participation. Her procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) and 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), indicating a specialization in custom software development, systems integration, and IT support solutions. She also procures related services such as data hosting, infrastructure management, and commercial photography for documentation and outreach. Her technical domain expertise lies in modernizing digital operations through agile, service-oriented procurement strategies.