Nancy Costello

Nancy Costello serves as a key procurement professional within the Office of Acquisition Management under the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Department of Justice, where she supports mission-critical acquisitions for secure communications, digital surveillance systems, and operational infrastructure essential to federal drug enforcement. Her work directly enables real-time intelligence gathering and secure interagency coordination, focusing on high-assurance technology solutions that meet stringent federal cybersecurity and interoperability standards. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts spanning communications hardware, data analytics platforms, and logistics support systems, ensuring alignment with DEA’s operational tempo and national security requirements. While specific contractor relationships are not publicly disclosed, Costello engages with a broad spectrum of vendors, including defense and federal IT contractors with expertise in encrypted communications, forensic data extraction tools, and secure cloud environments. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established firms with proven track records in delivering classified and controlled unclassified information systems, alongside emerging technology providers capable of rapid prototyping and field-deployable solutions. Costello’s procurement strategy prioritizes non-set-aside contracts at 73.3%, reflecting the operational urgency and technical specificity of DEA’s requirements. However, she consistently allocates 26.7% of awards to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to fostering innovation from small businesses without compromising mission readiness or security compliance. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 511130 (Software Publishers) for custom intelligence platforms, 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) for cyber-enabled analytics, 493110 (General Warehousing and Storage) for secure equipment logistics, and 562213 (Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators) and 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), which reflect niche but mission-critical support functions for evidence handling and aerial surveillance systems. Her expertise lies at the intersection of law enforcement operational needs and advanced technical procurement.