Desiree S. Sterling

Desiree Sterling supports the Department of the Air Force’s FA7014 office in executing mission-critical procurement activities focused on sustaining and modernizing Air Force operational readiness. She manages a diverse portfolio of professional services contracts, primarily centered on systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA), enterprise IT modernization, and cybersecurity infrastructure. Her role involves the full lifecycle acquisition of complex technical services, ensuring alignment with Air Force strategic priorities and compliance with federal procurement regulations. Sterling’s work directly enables the agency’s ability to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient digital capabilities to support national defense operations. She maintains longstanding relationships with key contractors including SIGMATECH, INC. and PURDUE UNIVERSITY, reflecting a preference for high-caliber technical partners capable of delivering specialized SETA, advanced analytics, and research-driven solutions. Her contracting patterns indicate a reliance on established vendors with proven expertise in government IT environments, often leveraging Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) vehicles and Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to accelerate delivery of innovative capabilities. These partnerships are characterized by sustained engagement, performance-based outcomes, and a focus on mission-critical continuity. Sterling’s procurement strategy prioritizes open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions. However, she consistently allocates 20% of opportunities to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding small business participation without compromising technical rigor. Her approach balances broad market access with targeted support for qualified small firms capable of meeting the Air Force’s demanding technical requirements. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), reflecting deep specialization in software development, system integration, and mission analytics. She also procures services under NAICS 519130 (Other Information Services) and NAICS 532411 (Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing), indicating a broad technical scope that includes data analytics platforms, cloud-enabled tools, and specialized logistics support systems critical to Air Force readiness.