Kari Peterson

Kari Peterson serves as a Contracting Officer at the National Institutes of Health, where she plays a pivotal role in securing mission-critical resources that advance biomedical research and scientific discovery. She manages the acquisition of high-precision laboratory instrumentation, specialized software platforms, and technical services essential to hypothesis-driven investigation and clinical translation. Her portfolio encompasses complex procurements requiring deep technical evaluation, including next-generation sequencing systems, bioinformatics tools, and analytical service contracts that support data-intensive life sciences research. Peterson ensures all acquisitions align with NIH’s strategic priorities, balancing innovation, compliance, and operational efficiency across a diverse range of scientific domains. Her primary contractor relationships center on Roche Diagnostics Corporation, with whom she regularly collaborates on the procurement of diagnostic reagents, automated laboratory systems, and associated technical support services. Her contracting patterns reflect long-term, performance-based partnerships with large, established suppliers capable of delivering high-reliability, FDA-regulated products and services. While she maintains strong vendor engagement with industry leaders, her approach emphasizes rigorous technical evaluation, lifecycle cost analysis, and post-award performance monitoring to ensure scientific integrity and regulatory compliance. Peterson’s procurement activity reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside categories. She does not routinely utilize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, instead prioritizing technical capability, scalability, and compliance with federal biomedical standards. This reflects the specialized nature of NIH’s requirements, where proprietary technologies and validated methodologies often necessitate procurement from firms with established regulatory experience and proven scientific infrastructure. Her primary NAICS focus includes 541715 for research and development in the life sciences and 541990 for other professional scientific services, indicating deep engagement with contract research organizations, analytical service providers, and software developers supporting genomic, proteomic, and computational biology initiatives. She rarely procures telemarketing or hospital-related services, underscoring her technical specialization in enabling cutting-edge biomedical research through precision procurement.