Cassandra A Ellis

Cassandra C. Ellis serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirements definition through contract award and administration. She plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) while advancing mission-critical procurement objectives. Her portfolio primarily encompasses professional services contracts in scientific and technical consulting, with a strong emphasis on research and development activities across physical, engineering, and life sciences disciplines. Ellis works closely with program managers and technical stakeholders to translate complex operational needs into solicitation requirements that promote competition, accountability, and value. Her contractor relationships center on firms specializing in scientific advisory services, systems engineering, and applied research, including both large professional services firms and small business concerns. She fosters collaborative partnerships with vendors who bring domain-specific expertise in technical consulting and R&D, ensuring that contract deliverables align with evolving agency priorities. Ellis maintains an open and transparent procurement process, encouraging broad market engagement while prioritizing responsiveness and technical capability in vendor selection. A strong advocate for small business participation, Ellis consistently structures solicitations with a 50% total small business set-aside preference, reflecting her commitment to socioeconomic contracting goals under FAR 19.5. Her approach balances open competition with targeted opportunities for small businesses, ensuring equitable access to federal contracting while maintaining high standards of performance and innovation. She does not favor specific socioeconomic categories over others but ensures that small business eligibility is fully leveraged across her portfolio. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) and NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, except Biotechnology). She procures services such as data analysis, technical feasibility studies, laboratory support, and policy-driven research, requiring deep subject matter expertise and rigorous methodological standards. Ellis brings a disciplined, compliance-driven approach to acquiring high-value professional services that directly inform evidence-based decision-making.