Olalekan Ismail

Olalekan Ismail serves as a Contracting Officer for the National Cemetery Administration within the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of acquisitions critical to maintaining the dignity and operational integrity of the nation’s cemeteries. His portfolio encompasses a wide range of services and infrastructure support, including grounds maintenance, pest control, janitorial services, concrete product procurement, and security systems installation. As a primary contracting authority, he ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while advancing the agency’s mission of perpetual care for veterans’ final resting places through timely, transparent, and mission-aligned procurements. Mr. Ismail maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors such as MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, and LAUBACKER ENTERPRISES, INC., among others, who deliver specialized services in cemetery infrastructure, landscaping, and facility maintenance. His procurement approach emphasizes reliability, quality assurance, and long-term performance, fostering stable vendor partnerships that align with the NCA’s need for sustained, high-standard operational support across its national network of burial sites. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for non-set-aside acquisitions, with 64.5% of awards issued under open competition, while also demonstrating meaningful support for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, which account for 34.6% of his set-aside awards. Though small business set-asides are less frequent, his consistent inclusion of SDVOSBs underscores a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic goals and veteran-owned enterprise development. Mr. Ismail’s technical expertise centers on NAICS 561730 (Landscaping Services) and 561720 (Janitorial Services), with additional focus on 327390 (Concrete Product Manufacturing) and 561710 (Pest Control Services). He routinely procures groundskeeping equipment, hardscape materials, environmental maintenance systems, and security infrastructure, demonstrating deep familiarity with the specialized needs of perpetual care cemetery operations.