Marla Robinson

Marla A. Robinson serves as a Contracting Officer and Program Analyst at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where she plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s mission to modernize intellectual property systems through strategic acquisition of technology, services, and operational support. She manages the full lifecycle of procurements—from market research and solicitation to award and contract administration—ensuring alignment with federal regulations and USPTO’s strategic priorities in digital examination infrastructure, cybersecurity, and public-facing digital platforms. Her acquisitions typically involve IT modernization, data management, and professional services critical to sustaining the nation’s patent and trademark examination ecosystem. Robinson maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of contractors, most notably IP.COM I, LLC and Innovative Transducer Implementation, LLC, both of which provide specialized technical and analytical services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in intellectual property systems and innovation support, while also fostering collaborative, performance-based vendor partnerships grounded in clear deliverables and compliance with federal acquisition standards. Her contracting approach strongly emphasizes small business participation, with nearly half of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She also regularly utilizes Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and HUBZone set-asides, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic equity and broadening the base of federal contractors. These preferences reflect a strategic effort to cultivate a diverse supplier base capable of supporting the USPTO’s evolving mission needs. Despite the agency’s technological focus, her NAICS activity is notably concentrated in 721110 (hotels and motels), 561613 (armored car services), 541910 (marketing research), and 611710 (educational support services), suggesting a significant portion of her portfolio supports non-core administrative, logistical, or facility-related functions essential to day-to-day operations. This blend of technical and administrative procurement underscores her ability to balance mission-critical IT needs with the operational infrastructure required to sustain a large federal agency.