Peter Nicasio

Peter Nicasio serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where he plays a critical role in executing complex research and development acquisitions that support next-generation space and aerospace systems. His responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract actions—from solicitation and source selection to award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while advancing the Division’s mission to pioneer resilient computing architectures, high-performance instrumentation, and autonomous space operations. Nicasio specializes in procuring technical services and engineering solutions tied to space domain awareness, satellite communications, and propulsion innovation, often navigating high-stakes, rapid-prototyping environments that demand agility and technical precision. While specific contractor names are not publicly enumerated, Nicasio routinely engages with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, academic research institutions, and advanced technology firms capable of delivering cutting-edge R&D capabilities in aerospace engineering and space systems. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for performance-based, outcome-driven contracts that emphasize technical innovation, rapid iteration, and mission-critical delivery timelines. He maintains collaborative relationships with vendors who possess deep expertise in physical sciences, computational modeling, and space-qualified instrumentation. Nicasio demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with approximately one-third of his acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. His contracting approach actively supports the inclusion of small disadvantaged businesses, ensuring that emerging innovators have meaningful access to high-impact DoD research opportunities. While no other socioeconomic set-asides dominate his portfolio, his consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a strategic emphasis on fostering a competitive, diverse supplier base. His procurement focus is exclusively aligned with NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—reflecting his deep specialization in fundamental and applied aerospace R&D. He procures services related to propulsion system design, space-based sensor development, autonomous navigation algorithms, and advanced materials testing, making him a key enabler of the Air Force’s strategic priorities in space dominance and next-generation propulsion technologies.