Irelita Jones

Irelita Jones serves as a key procurement professional at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance human spaceflight systems and life sciences research. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions critical to crewed mission operations, including specialized logistics, structural infrastructure, and scientific research services. Her work directly enables the development and sustainment of spacecraft systems, microgravity physiology experiments, and radiation biology initiatives essential for exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Jones handles complex contract actions under FAR and NASA FAR Supplement guidelines, ensuring compliance with federal procurement standards while aligning acquisitions with NASA’s strategic objectives in human space exploration. Jones maintains consistent partnerships with a select group of contractors, including Sierra Space Corp for advanced space habitat and transportation systems, Aspera Biomedicines, Inc. for life sciences research support, and Single Crystal Diamond Inc. for high-performance material solutions. She also collaborates with Wright & Dalbin Architects Inc. on facility modernization projects supporting mission-critical infrastructure. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established technical partners with proven capabilities in aerospace, biomedical, and engineering domains, fostering long-term relationships built on technical reliability and mission alignment. Jones demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 40% of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides dominate her portfolio, her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for qualified small firms in high-technology sectors aligned with NASA’s mission. Her contracting approach balances mission-critical needs with federal socioeconomic goals, ensuring broad vendor participation without compromising technical rigor. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 484220 for specialized local freight logistics supporting spacecraft component transport and NAICS 238120 for structural steel and precast concrete work on facility upgrades. She also frequently procures research and development services under NAICS 541715, targeting engineering and physical science contractors supporting microgravity and radiation biology studies. This technical focus reflects deep domain expertise in mission-enabling infrastructure and life sciences research.