Ellen Lester

Ellen P. Lester is a procurement professional responsible for managing complex technology acquisitions within a federal agency, focusing on professional and technical services that support mission-critical computing and IT infrastructure. She plays a central role in executing the agency’s acquisition strategy by soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for software development, systems design, and IT support services. Her work ensures alignment with federal procurement regulations and supports the agency’s digital transformation goals through timely and compliant contracting actions. Lester engages with a diverse range of vendors, primarily in the professional services and technology distribution sectors. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she routinely works with firms specializing in computer systems design, data hosting, and IT consulting. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for competitive, open solicitations, fostering a marketplace where both large and small entities can compete on technical merit and cost-effectiveness. She maintains a collaborative, transparent approach to vendor engagement, emphasizing clear requirements and performance-based outcomes. A strong advocate for small business participation, Lester consistently structures approximately 18.2% of her acquisitions as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate commitment to expanding economic opportunity. While the majority of her awards are unrestricted, her targeted use of small business set-asides demonstrates a strategic balance between operational needs and socioeconomic objectives, without reliance on specialized programs like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) and 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), indicating deep expertise in custom software development, cloud-enabled solutions, and integrated IT systems. She also procures computing infrastructure services under 518210 and professional technical services under 541990, reflecting a broad yet focused technical domain spanning enterprise IT modernization, data processing, and software integration. Her work supports the agency’s digital infrastructure through mission-aligned, performance-driven acquisitions.