Samuel Barksdale

Samuel Barksdale serves as a Contracting Officer within the GSA/FAS Center for IT Schedule Program, where he plays a pivotal role in executing the federal government’s acquisition of mission-critical information technology services. Responsible for managing the procurement lifecycle under IT Schedule 70 and related vehicle agreements, he ensures the rapid, compliant delivery of scalable IT solutions to federal agencies nationwide. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to modernize federal IT infrastructure by facilitating access to pre-vetted, high-performance technology providers, with a focus on cloud-enabled platforms, managed services, and telecommunications systems. Barksdale handles complex, high-volume solicitations requiring deep technical understanding and strict adherence to FAR and FAR Part 8 procurement protocols. Barksdale maintains a broad network of vendor relationships across the federal IT ecosystem, engaging with both large enterprise contractors and specialized service providers offering computing infrastructure, data hosting, and managed IT support. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established Schedule holders with proven performance histories, though he actively encourages competition through open solicitations and multi-award contract structures. He works collaboratively with industry representatives to clarify technical requirements and ensure alignment with federal cybersecurity and interoperability standards. Barksdale’s procurement activity reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 100% of his awards issued under the No Set-Aside category. While he does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, he remains committed to fair and transparent competition that enables all qualified vendors to compete on technical merit and service capability. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) and 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers), encompassing managed cloud services, data center operations, network security, and IT consulting. He specializes in acquiring solutions that support digital transformation, including hybrid cloud architectures, cybersecurity compliance, and infrastructure-as-a-service offerings critical to federal agency modernization efforts.