Derek Urscheler

Derek Urscheler serves as a key contracting professional within the IT Contracting Division - PL84 of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where he manages complex acquisitions to modernize and secure DoD-wide information technology infrastructure. His portfolio centers on enterprise-scale IT services, with a strong emphasis on cloud-based architectures, legacy system replacement, and secure computing environments. He oversees the full lifecycle of procurements—from requirements development to contract award and administration—ensuring alignment with DISA’s strategic mission to deliver resilient, scalable, and mission-critical IT capabilities. His work directly supports the transition from outdated mainframe systems to cloud-native, zero-trust environments. Urscheler maintains established relationships with major defense and IT contractors, notably International Business Machines Corporation and Iron Bow Technologies, LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with deep expertise in enterprise cloud platforms, systems integration, and secure software delivery. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical compliance, often leveraging Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contracts and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) mechanisms to accelerate innovation. He works closely with industry partners to ensure solutions meet stringent DoD cybersecurity standards, including NIST SP 800-53 and CMMC requirements. A strong advocate for socioeconomic diversity, Urscheler consistently prioritizes 8(a) competed set-asides, which account for two-thirds of his awards, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for small, disadvantaged businesses. His contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach—combining robust small business participation with strategic use of full and open competition to maintain market competitiveness and innovation. His procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 513210 (Software Publishers), 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), and 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), underscoring his specialization in custom software development, systems integration, and managed IT services. He routinely acquires cloud migration tools, cybersecurity platforms, DevSecOps pipelines, and mission-critical applications designed for high-assurance environments.