Paula Hartzell

Paula Hartzell serves as a key procurement lead within the W6QK Acc-apg Cont Ct Software Sector under the Department of the Army, overseeing the acquisition of mission-critical software systems and infrastructure supporting Army modernization and battlefield communications. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on secure, scalable IT platforms, custom software development, and network resilience capabilities essential for command and control, intelligence processing, and tactical data exchange. Her work directly enables the Army’s digital transformation by ensuring timely delivery of compliant, interoperable technologies that meet DoD cybersecurity and interoperability standards. Hartzell maintains longstanding relationships with major contractors including British Telecommunications Public Limited Company, Liberty Communications, Inc., and Southwestern Industrial Contractors & Riggers, Inc., reflecting a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in defense-grade communications and field-deployable IT systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical reliability and mission readiness, often engaging firms with prior DoD experience and demonstrated capacity for rapid deployment in austere environments. She collaborates closely with technical stakeholders to align vendor deliverables with operational requirements. Her procurement activity shows no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on technical capability over socioeconomic criteria, prioritizing mission-critical performance and system interoperability above other contracting preferences. Hartzell’s primary focus lies in NAICS 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) and NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), indicating a dual emphasis on software development for battlefield systems and associated physical infrastructure supporting communications networks. She procures secure embedded software, tactical data links, field-deployable network hardware, and supporting civil works necessary to sustain connectivity in expeditionary environments, demonstrating deep expertise in both IT and infrastructure integration for military operations.