Kelly Bannister

Kelly A. Bannister supports the U.S. Census Bureau’s mission to modernize data collection and dissemination through strategic procurement of technical and analytical services. While her official title is not publicly designated, her procurement activities center on acquiring IT systems, data analytics, and operational support services critical to the 2030 Decennial Census and ongoing survey modernization efforts. She plays a key role in managing acquisitions aligned with the Bureau’s digital transformation goals, focusing on contracts that enhance data accuracy, scalability, and cybersecurity across federal survey platforms and geospatial infrastructure. Bannister collaborates with a diverse range of contractors specializing in systems design, custom software development, and technical consulting. Her working relationships include both large federal IT service providers and niche firms with expertise in census-specific data workflows, survey instrumentation, and linguistic support for multilingual data collection. She maintains a vendor-neutral approach, prioritizing technical capability and compliance over vendor size, while actively encouraging competition across the market. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with over 90% of acquisitions conducted without set-aside restrictions. However, she consistently allocates approximately 9% of opportunities to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to small business participation without compromising mission-critical requirements. Bannister’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), reflecting the Bureau’s reliance on tailored software solutions for census operations. She also frequently procures services under 541690 (Technical Consulting), 541930 (Translation and Interpretation), and 561611 (Background Investigation Services), underscoring her expertise in supporting multilingual data collection, field operations, and workforce vetting for temporary census personnel. Her technical domain spans digital survey platforms, cloud-based data pipelines, geospatial analytics, and secure data processing environments.