Federal Contact

Melinda E. Swenson serves as a Contracting Officer responsible for managing complex procurements in scientific, engineering, and technical services. She plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s acquisition strategy by ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while delivering mission-critical research and development capabilities. Her portfolio primarily encompasses sole-source and competitive negotiated acquisitions for advanced scientific services, including laboratory testing, engineering analysis, and applied R&D projects. Swenson’s expertise lies in structuring performance-based contracts that emphasize technical excellence, risk mitigation, and measurable outcomes, often utilizing Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) mechanisms where appropriate. Her contractor relationships are centered on high-caliber professional service providers with demonstrated technical competence in physical and engineering sciences. While no single vendor dominates her award profile, she consistently engages firms with specialized expertise in experimental design, data analytics, and advanced testing methodologies. Swenson fosters collaborative, long-term partnerships with vendors who bring innovative solutions and subject-matter depth, prioritizing responsiveness, past performance, and technical proposal quality over price alone. Swenson’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of her awards issued under the “No Set-Aside” category. This indicates a focus on selecting the most technically qualified offerors regardless of socioeconomic status, aligning with mission-critical requirements that demand specialized capabilities often found only among large or highly specialized firms. While she does not currently utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her approach ensures rigorous technical evaluation and full and open competition consistent with high-stakes R&D needs. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541712 and 541715, encompassing non-biotechnology research and development in physical and engineering sciences. She also frequently procures services under 541990 for specialized technical consulting and 541380 for accredited testing laboratories. Her domain expertise spans experimental physics, materials engineering, propulsion systems testing, and independent validation of technical systems, making her a key player in advancing national scientific and defense-related innovation.