Cielo Ibarra

Cielo Ibarra serves as a primary procurement lead within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), supporting the agency’s mission to advance measurement science, standards, and technological innovation critical to U.S. industrial competitiveness and national security. She manages a high-volume portfolio of acquisitions centered on precision analytical instrumentation, semiconductor process equipment, and laboratory testing systems. Her work directly enables NIST’s research initiatives in advanced manufacturing, quantum technologies, and semiconductor metrology, ensuring the agency maintains cutting-edge capabilities through timely and compliant contract awards under FAR Part 15 procedures. Ibarra maintains sustained contracting relationships with specialized vendors including Quality Biological, Inc., ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND LABORATORIES (ATL) INTERNATIONAL, INC., and PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS USA, INC.—organizations recognized for their expertise in high-purity reagents, calibration standards, and surface analysis systems. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established technical partners with proven capabilities in precision instrument manufacturing and laboratory automation, fostering long-term vendor collaboration to meet NIST’s stringent scientific requirements. Her contracting activity is overwhelmingly non-set-aside, with 88.3% of awards issued under full and open competition, reflecting the highly specialized nature of NIST’s technical needs. However, she consistently supports small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides (11.7%), aligning with NIST’s broader socioeconomic goals while prioritizing technical capability and mission readiness. Ibarra’s procurement focus is dominated by NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), which accounts for 72% of her activity, underscoring her deep expertise in procuring mass spectrometers, chromatography systems, and spectroscopic instrumentation. She also engages with contractors in semiconductor machinery and electrical signal measurement equipment, reinforcing NIST’s role in advancing foundational technologies essential to U.S. supply chain resilience and innovation leadership.