Phyllis Epps

Phyllis Epps serves as a Contract Specialist within the Department of Commerce’s Strategic Services and Procurement Office (SSPO), where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that advance data-driven governance and digital modernization across federal commerce initiatives. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, from market research and solicitation development to award and contract administration, ensuring alignment with the agency’s mission to inform national economic policy through high-impact research and public engagement. Her acquisitions primarily support consulting, data infrastructure, and technology services critical to policy analysis and operational efficiency. Epps maintains a consistent working relationship with CACI, INC. - FEDERAL, a primary contractor for complex analytical and IT-enabled services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established federal contractors with proven expertise in public sector delivery, while also fostering partnerships with firms capable of supporting agile, mission-critical requirements in data processing and management consulting. She engages vendors through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements under FAR Part 15, prioritizing technical capability and past performance. Her contracting approach reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with 40% of her awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her portfolio remains open to all competitors, she actively promotes small business participation across multiple socioeconomic categories, ensuring equitable access to opportunities aligned with the agency’s innovation priorities. Epps specializes in procurements governed by NAICS codes 518210 and 541519, focusing on computing infrastructure, data hosting, and specialized computer services, alongside 541611 for management consulting and 334210/334419 for electronic component-related technical support. Her domain expertise lies in procuring solutions that enhance digital infrastructure, support public opinion polling systems, and enable secure, scalable data environments for economic policy development.