Jennifer S. Ayres

Jennifer S. Ayres serves as a Contracting Officer for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), where she manages mission-critical acquisitions supporting secure communications, cyber-enabled command and control, and global information infrastructure. In this role, she executes full lifecycle contracting for complex IT and telecommunications systems aligned with DoD cybersecurity standards and interoperability requirements. Her portfolio primarily includes procurements under FAR Part 12 and Part 15, focusing on commercial-off-the-shelf solutions and service-based contracts that enable resilient, high-bandwidth networks for deployed military forces. Ayres maintains a broad network of vendor partnerships, engaging both large-scale technology integrators and specialized firms delivering secure communications hardware, software-defined networking tools, and mission-critical application services. While no single contractor dominates her award profile, her procurement patterns reflect a preference for vendors with proven DoD compliance, FedRAMP authorization, and cybersecurity maturity ratings. She actively collaborates with industry through pre-solicitation outreach and industry days to ensure market responsiveness and technical alignment with DISA’s evolving operational needs. Her contracting approach prioritizes open competition, with 84.6% of awards issued under full and open competition. However, she consistently supports small business participation, allocating 15.4% of opportunities to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding the defense industrial base. While she does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on enabling small business innovation within the broader IT and telecommunications ecosystem. Ayres specializes in procurements governed by NAICS codes 511210 (Software Publishers), 334210 (Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing), and 517919 (Other Telecommunications), indicating deep expertise in secure voice/data infrastructure, networked communication devices, and custom software solutions for tactical environments. Her technical focus centers on commercial-grade hardware and software adapted for military-grade security, emphasizing scalability, encryption compliance, and lifecycle sustainment.