James A Leighty

James A. Leighty serves as a procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in scientific and technological domains, with a focus on advancing research and development capabilities. He plays a critical role in executing the agency’s mission to secure cutting-edge solutions in physical, engineering, and life sciences, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and technical specifications. His portfolio primarily encompasses contracts for R&D services, laboratory equipment, and specialized computing systems, requiring deep technical evaluation and risk-managed contracting approaches. Leighty’s work supports mission-critical innovation by bridging government needs with industry expertise in high-technology sectors. Leighty’s contracting patterns reflect a preference for open competition, with no set-aside preferences observed across his awarded contracts. He engages with a broad spectrum of vendors, including established prime contractors and mid-tier firms capable of delivering specialized engineering and scientific services. His procurement strategy emphasizes technical capability, past performance, and compliance with federal standards over socioeconomic classifications, resulting in a diverse but non-targeted vendor base. He maintains collaborative relationships with contractors who demonstrate proven expertise in R&D execution and systems integration. His contracting activity is overwhelmingly concentrated in NAICS 541712, reflecting a strong emphasis on research and development services in physical, engineering, and life sciences. This includes contract support for laboratory instrumentation, data analytics platforms, and experimental systems development. A secondary focus on NAICS 334118 indicates procurement of custom computer peripheral equipment and specialized hardware used in scientific applications. His technical domain expertise spans instrumentation control systems, data acquisition architectures, and laboratory automation technologies. Leighty’s procurement approach prioritizes technical merit and mission alignment over socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic focus on securing the highest-quality scientific and technical solutions, regardless of vendor size or certification status.