Kenneth E. Albright

Kenneth E. Albright serves as a key procurement specialist within the NASA Shared Services Center, supporting the agency’s mission to sustain advanced scientific operations through strategic acquisition of mission-enabling technologies. He manages a portfolio of research and development contracts focused on high-precision analytical instruments, specialized software systems, and engineering services critical to NASA’s aerodynamics, computational modeling, and nanotechnology research. His work ensures the timely delivery of cutting-edge capabilities that underpin space exploration and Earth science missions, aligning acquisitions with federal procurement regulations and NASA’s technical priorities. Albright maintains consistent contracting relationships with NEXTROW INC and PENN OAK SERVICES LLC, both of which provide specialized R&D support, technical consulting, and advanced instrumentation services. These partnerships reflect a preference for agile, niche vendors capable of delivering tailored solutions in highly technical domains. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical compliance, and long-term vendor collaboration, fostering reliable access to expert capabilities that complement NASA’s in-house research infrastructure. A defining feature of Albright’s contracting profile is his exclusive use of Total Small Business Set-Aside authority under FAR 19.5, ensuring that 100% of his acquisitions are reserved for small businesses. This reflects a strong institutional commitment to socioeconomic diversity and the empowerment of small, innovative firms. His pattern of awarding contracts solely to small business concerns demonstrates a deliberate strategy to cultivate a robust supplier base capable of meeting NASA’s demanding technical requirements. His procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 541713 (Research and Development in Nanotechnology) and NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), indicating deep expertise in advanced materials, micro-scale instrumentation, and experimental systems development. He routinely procures nanoscale characterization tools, computational simulation software, and custom-engineered test platforms that enable NASA’s scientific workforce to push the boundaries of space-based research.