Lt. David Combs

Lt. David Combs serves as a Program Officer responsible for managing technical acquisitions in support of federal research and development initiatives. In this role, he acts as a key liaison between mission stakeholders and contractor teams, ensuring that procurement activities align with scientific objectives and operational requirements. He primarily oversees sole-source and competitive procurements for advanced R&D services, with a focus on engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences innovation. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to advance technological capabilities through targeted investment in high-priority scientific domains. Lt. Combs collaborates with a diverse range of contractors, including academic research institutions, defense-oriented engineering firms, and specialized science and technology service providers. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages vendors with proven expertise in experimental design, data analytics, and laboratory systems integration. His contracting approach emphasizes technical merit, past performance, and institutional capability over price alone, fostering long-term partnerships built on scientific rigor and deliverable transparency. Lt. Combs exhibits a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This reflects a strategic focus on selecting the most technically qualified offeror regardless of socioeconomic status, rather than prioritizing designated small business programs. While he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, his procurement process remains fully compliant with all federal acquisition regulations and encourages broad market participation through transparent solicitation practices. His primary procurement focus is centered on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). He regularly procures services such as prototype development, computational modeling, sensor system testing, and laboratory automation. His technical expertise lies in supporting complex, mission-critical R&D projects requiring interdisciplinary collaboration and compliance with federal scientific standards, making him a key contact for firms specializing in applied engineering research and experimental science.