Sarah J. Malene

Sarah J. Malene serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions within her organization, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-aligned outcomes. She specializes in complex research and development solicitations, overseeing the planning, solicitation, evaluation, and award of contracts for scientific and technical services. Her role is central to advancing the agency’s innovation objectives by translating technical requirements into legally sound, competitively awarded agreements that support high-priority R&D initiatives. Malene routinely handles performance-based, cost-reimbursement, and time-and-materials contracts, emphasizing outcomes over inputs to drive efficiency and accountability. While specific contractor names are not available, Malene maintains a broad network of qualified vendors with expertise in physical, engineering, and life sciences research. She engages with a diverse pool of contractors ranging from large federal contractors to specialized boutique firms, fostering competitive bidding environments that prioritize technical excellence and compliance. Her contracting approach emphasizes transparent evaluation criteria, clear performance metrics, and rigorous post-award oversight to ensure deliverables meet rigorous scientific and operational standards. Malene’s procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under non-set-aside conditions. This indicates a focus on technical merit and capability rather than socioeconomic preferences, though she remains fully compliant with all small business programs and may consider set-asides when justified by market conditions or statutory requirements. Her approach prioritizes mission needs while maintaining equitable access for all qualified offerors. Her primary focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—where she procures advanced analytical services, laboratory testing, engineering prototyping, and data modeling solutions. She works closely with scientific teams to define technical scopes, ensuring contracts support cutting-edge innovation in fields such as materials science, environmental engineering, and applied physics.