Cassandra F. Tharpe

Cassandra F. Tharpe serves as a Contracting Officer responsible for managing complex technical acquisitions across engineering, information technology, and specialized instrumentation domains. In this role, she ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while delivering mission-critical services and systems that support advanced technical operations. Her portfolio primarily consists of competitive, full-and-open solicitations, reflecting a procurement philosophy centered on technical excellence, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory integrity. She oversees the full acquisition lifecycle—from market research and requirements definition to contract award and administration—ensuring alignment with agency objectives and sound fiscal stewardship. While no specific contractor relationships are identified in available data, Ms. Tharpe routinely engages with a broad spectrum of vendors, including large prime contractors and small businesses capable of delivering high-precision engineering and software solutions. Her contracting patterns suggest a preference for performance-based acquisitions and fixed-price contracts, fostering accountability and innovation among vendors. She maintains a collaborative yet rigorous approach to vendor management, emphasizing compliance, deliverable quality, and timely contract execution. Ms. Tharpe’s set-aside preferences are exclusively non-set-aside, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted as full-and-open competitions. This reflects a strategic focus on maximizing competition and selecting the most technically qualified offerors, regardless of socioeconomic status. While she does not prioritize designated small business set-asides, she remains committed to fair and open competition that allows all eligible entities, including small businesses, to compete on an equal footing. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), indicating deep expertise in systems engineering, software development, and technical consulting. She also regularly procures specialized instrumentation under NAICS 334515 and 334511, demonstrating proficiency in acquiring test, measurement, and navigation systems. Her technical domain expertise spans electrical signal analysis, avionics, and mission-critical software applications, making her a key steward of high-technology acquisitions.