Melissa Sterling

Melissa Sterling supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Acquisition Services in managing critical procurement activities that enable public health response, laboratory diagnostics, and biomedical research capabilities. She oversees the acquisition of technical and scientific services essential to disease surveillance, infectious disease detection, and data-driven public health operations. Her portfolio primarily includes professional services contracts aligned with CDC’s mission to strengthen national and global health security, with a focus on rapid deployment of diagnostic technologies and analytical support systems. Sterling works closely with scientific and operational teams to ensure procurement strategies align with public health priorities and regulatory compliance. She maintains established relationships with key contractors including General Dynamics Information Technology, GlaxoSmithKline, New York City Health & Hospitals Corp, MRIGLOBAL, and Cepheid—organizations with proven expertise in laboratory diagnostics, epidemiological data systems, and biomedical research support. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for experienced, high-capacity vendors capable of delivering complex, time-sensitive services under stringent federal compliance standards, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to emerging public health threats. Sterling’s procurement approach prioritizes open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-asides, reflecting the specialized nature of CDC’s technical requirements. However, she consistently allocates 20% of opportunities to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to fostering innovation and capacity-building among small business contractors in the public health sector. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 519130 (Other Activities Related to Scientific and Technical Research), which accounts for two-thirds of her portfolio, encompassing bioinformatics, public health analytics, and research support services. The remaining third involves management consulting under NAICS 541618, supporting strategic planning and operational efficiency within CDC’s scientific programs. Her expertise centers on procuring advanced diagnostic tools, data infrastructure, and scientific advisory services critical to national health security.