Ignacio Reyes, Contracting Officer

Ignacio Reyes serves as a Contracting Officer within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), supporting the agency’s mission to accelerate biomedical research against infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. In this secondary procurement role, he facilitates the acquisition of critical research and development services, primarily focused on high-containment laboratory infrastructure, diagnostic tool development, and medical countermeasure innovation. His work ensures timely procurement of technical solutions aligned with NIAID’s strategic priorities in biosafety, biocontainment, and public health preparedness, often coordinating with scientific and operational stakeholders to align contracting strategies with evolving research needs. Reyes maintains consistent contracting relationships with Quality Biological, Inc., a leading provider of biological reference materials and research reagents, and GENOMIC LABS LTD, a specialized provider of genomic sequencing and analysis services. These partnerships reflect a focus on high-integrity, biosafety-compliant vendors capable of supporting advanced life sciences research under stringent regulatory conditions. His procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, technical specificity, and compliance with federal biosafety standards, fostering long-term collaborations with niche suppliers who meet the unique demands of high-containment research environments. Reyes’ contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. However, he actively supports small business participation, consistently awarding 20% of contracts under the Total Small Business Set-Aside authority (FAR 19.5), prioritizing firms with demonstrated expertise in biotechnology and life sciences research. While he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, his approach ensures equitable access for qualified small businesses capable of delivering specialized scientific services. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541714 (Research and Development in Biotechnology) and 541715 (Research and Development in Life Sciences), encompassing contract research, assay development, pathogen characterization, and laboratory automation systems. He routinely procures services involving recombinant protein production, viral vector engineering, and high-throughput screening—technical domains requiring deep scientific acumen and regulatory compliance expertise.