James Farnsworth

James Farnsworth serves as a key procurement professional within the Office of Naval Research, supporting the agency’s mission to translate fundamental scientific discoveries into operational naval capabilities. He manages a portfolio of research and development contracts focused on physical, engineering, and life sciences, ensuring alignment with the Navy’s strategic priorities in autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and maritime sensing technologies. His acquisitions are primarily awarded under the NAICS 541715 category, emphasizing non-clinical, applied R&D efforts that bridge laboratory innovation with field-deployable solutions. Farnsworth operates within a mission-driven framework that prioritizes technical excellence, rapid prototyping, and scalable science and technology transitions. He maintains sustained working relationships with leading defense and scientific contractors including Cherokee Strategic Solutions, Science Applications International Corporation, BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Skydwellers US Inc., and Abbott Laboratories Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for established prime contractors with proven capabilities in systems integration, sensor development, and advanced materials research. His procurement approach favors experienced firms capable of delivering high-complexity, mission-critical R&D outcomes under tight technical and schedule constraints, often involving multi-year, performance-based task orders. Farnsworth’s contracting activity shows no use of socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued as full and open competitions. This reflects a deliberate focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic criteria, consistent with the Office of Naval Research’s emphasis on securing the most advanced scientific expertise regardless of vendor size or certification status. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, the nature of the work often involves subcontracting to specialized research entities. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541715, encompassing fundamental and applied research in areas such as fluid dynamics, materials science, signal processing, and autonomous control systems. He procures services related to modeling and simulation, prototype development, test and evaluation, and systems integration—always with an eye toward transitioning innovations into Navy and Marine Corps operational platforms.