Cindy A Steele

Cindy A. Steele serves as a Contract Specialist supporting the Department of the Air Force under FA7014, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions aligned with Air Force modernization and operational readiness priorities. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, with a focus on systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA), enterprise IT modernization, and mission analytics. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while facilitating timely procurement of high-value advisory and technical support services that sustain Air Force capabilities. Her portfolio predominantly involves complex, performance-based contracts requiring deep technical oversight and risk mitigation. Steele maintains strong, enduring relationships with key contractors including SIGMATECH, INC. and Purdue University, reflecting a preference for established partners with proven expertise in defense-sector consulting and applied research. She routinely engages with firms offering specialized technical assistance, data infrastructure, and advanced analytics services, often structuring task orders under IDIQ vehicles to ensure flexibility and responsiveness. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance outcomes, clear statement of work development, and rigorous contractor performance monitoring to align deliverables with Air Force operational needs. Her procurement patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 87.5% of awards issued without set-aside designations, indicating a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic categorization. However, she consistently allocates 12.5% of awards to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but deliberate commitment to small business participation within a predominantly large-business environment. Steele’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), reflecting her central role in securing strategic advisory support. She also regularly procures services under NAICS 611310 (Higher Education Research), 518210 (Data Processing and Hosting), and 339999 (Miscellaneous Manufacturing), indicating a multidisciplinary approach that integrates academic research, IT infrastructure, and specialized technical manufacturing support to fulfill complex Air Force mission requirements.