Christopher Halstead

Christopher Michael Halstead serves as a key procurement professional within the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), supporting the agency’s mission to advance scientific research on substance use disorders through strategic acquisition of specialized scientific and technical services. He manages a diverse portfolio of research-supporting contracts, primarily focused on laboratory instrumentation, clinical trial infrastructure, and translational research tools. His acquisitions enable cutting-edge neurobiological and behavioral studies, ensuring that NIDA-funded investigators have access to state-of-the-art equipment and analytical capabilities critical to advancing evidence-based treatment and prevention strategies. Halstead maintains consistent partnerships with leading academic medical institutions, including The McLean Hospital Corporation, the University of Maryland Baltimore, the University of Miami, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. These relationships reflect a preference for high-caliber research entities capable of delivering complex, multi-site clinical and preclinical studies. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term collaboration with institutions possessing deep expertise in addiction science, neuroimaging, and pharmacological intervention trials, often resulting in multi-year task orders under basic ordering agreements. His procurement patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 92.6% of awards issued without set-aside designations. While small business participation is limited, he occasionally supports Women-Owned Small Businesses and Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a measured but compliant approach to socioeconomic goals without compromising scientific rigor. Halstead’s primary NAICS focus areas include analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing (334516), electromedical apparatus manufacturing (334510), and professional training services (611430), underscoring his specialization in procuring advanced neuroscientific equipment, diagnostic tools, and research workforce development programs. His expertise lies at the intersection of biomedical research infrastructure and regulatory-compliant procurement, ensuring that NIDA’s scientific priorities are met through technically sound, compliant acquisitions.