Nicole Grass

Nicole Grass supports the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency in executing critical procurement activities that secure and modernize the Department of Defense’s global communications infrastructure. She manages the acquisition of advanced telecommunications systems, including secure virtual private networks, high-capacity data transport solutions, and resilient network services essential to military and federal operations. Her work ensures interoperability across distributed command environments and facilitates the transition from legacy telecom architectures to next-generation, cloud-enabled platforms. She plays a pivotal role in aligning contract awards with DISA’s strategic objectives of network modernization, cybersecurity resilience, and mission-critical connectivity. Grass maintains consistent working relationships with key industry partners including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These contractors provide specialized engineering, fiber-optic deployment, managed network services, and secure communications infrastructure solutions. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance-based outcomes, and technical compliance with DoD security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and RMF requirements. She engages with vendors capable of delivering end-to-end telecom solutions under strict operational and cybersecurity constraints. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-asides, while maintaining a deliberate 20% commitment to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This balance supports both scalability and socioeconomic goals, enabling qualified small businesses to contribute to mission-critical telecom projects without compromising operational urgency or technical rigor. Her primary procurement focus is exclusively on NAICS 511210—Telecommunications Resellers and Service Providers—reflecting deep expertise in procuring managed network services, bandwidth provisioning, secure transport, and telecom infrastructure integration. She specializes in acquiring services that support DoD-wide connectivity, including MPLS, SD-WAN, and encrypted data links, ensuring seamless, secure, and scalable communications across global defense networks.