Kim Stapleton

Kim Stapleton serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing complex procurement actions across high-technology and scientific service domains. She plays a critical role in executing full lifecycle contracting processes, from market research and solicitation development to award and contract administration. Her portfolio primarily encompasses analytical instrumentation, biotechnology R&D, and specialized professional services, aligning with mission-critical scientific and laboratory operations. Stapleton ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while fostering competitive, transparent procurement practices that support agency innovation and operational readiness. Her contractor relationships are broadly distributed across industry leaders and niche suppliers in analytical instrumentation and scientific services. While no single vendor dominates her award profile, she consistently engages with manufacturers of laboratory equipment, research service providers, and technical consultants capable of delivering specialized scientific solutions. Her approach emphasizes competitive bidding and technical evaluation, cultivating a vendor ecosystem that balances capability with compliance, ensuring reliable delivery of mission-essential goods and services. Stapleton’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 97.8% of her acquisitions conducted without set-aside restrictions. Only 2.2% are designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a selective but intentional approach to socioeconomic contracting. She prioritizes technical merit and performance capability over socioeconomic preferences, yet remains committed to opportunities for qualified small businesses when market conditions and acquisition requirements align with set-aside eligibility criteria. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in procuring precision scientific equipment. She also frequently acquires services under NAICS 541714 (Biotechnology R&D) and 541990 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), demonstrating specialized knowledge in life sciences, laboratory automation, and technical consulting. This technical domain expertise enables her to effectively evaluate complex proposals and ensure alignment with agency research and development objectives.