Marilou D. Overla

Marilou D. Overla serves as an Acquisition Support Services Contractor for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), providing critical procurement support to advance the agency’s mission of enabling precision measurement science and technological innovation. In this role, she facilitates the acquisition of specialized technical services that underpin NIST’s research in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and scientific instrumentation. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of service-based contracts, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and aligning procurement activities with NIST’s strategic priorities in emerging technologies and industrial competitiveness. Overla maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of high-caliber contractors, including Quality Biological, Inc., ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND LABORATORIES (ATL) INTERNATIONAL, INC., and PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS USA, INC. These partnerships reflect a focus on vendors with deep technical expertise in laboratory services, instrumentation calibration, and scientific consulting. Her procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with firms capable of delivering niche, mission-critical support services that align with NIST’s research and development objectives, fostering long-term, performance-based vendor relationships grounded in technical excellence and regulatory compliance. A strong advocate for socioeconomic diversity in federal contracting, Overla consistently prioritizes small business participation, with 80% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and an additional 20% reserved for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. This pattern underscores a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for underrepresented firms while ensuring access to specialized capabilities essential to NIST’s technical mission. Her procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) and 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), reflecting a strong demand for software development, data analysis, and technical advisory services supporting NIST’s standards development and metrology initiatives. She also frequently procures management consulting services under NAICS 541618 to enhance operational efficiency across NIST’s research programs, demonstrating expertise in acquiring high-precision technical services that drive national innovation.