Mary Alice Powe

Mary Alice Powe serves as a Contracting Officer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she plays a pivotal role in securing specialized scientific and technical services critical to advancing U.S. measurement science, semiconductor standards, and advanced manufacturing capabilities. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, primarily focused on analytical instrumentation, laboratory support, and R&D consulting services that align with NIST’s mission to drive innovation and industrial competitiveness. Her work ensures the agency maintains access to cutting-edge technologies and expert technical support essential for national priorities in metrology and standards development. Powe maintains consistent relationships with key contractors including Quality Biological, Inc., ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND LABORATORIES (ATL) INTERNATIONAL, INC., and PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS USA, INC., among others. These partnerships are typically established through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements, reflecting a preference for vendors with proven expertise in precision instrumentation, laboratory calibration, and scientific consulting. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term vendor reliability, fostering stable collaborations with firms capable of meeting NIST’s high-accuracy requirements. While the majority of her acquisitions—77.5%—are conducted without set-asides, she demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 22.6% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her procurement patterns reflect a deliberate effort to engage qualified small businesses in supporting NIST’s technical missions, particularly in niche scientific domains where small firms offer specialized capabilities. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) and 811219 (Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Repair), with significant activity in 541690 (Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) and 541712 (R&D in Physical and Engineering Sciences). She routinely procures high-precision instruments, calibration services, and applied research support, underscoring her deep expertise in the physical sciences and industrial measurement ecosystems.