Shaylyn Price

Shaylyn Price serves as a key procurement professional within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RDK division (FA9451), supporting the development and acquisition of advanced technologies critical to national air dominance. Responsible for managing research and development contracts, Price facilitates the acquisition of cutting-edge solutions in directed energy, electro-optics, laser systems, and advanced instrumentation. Her work directly enables the RDK mission by securing technical expertise and innovative capabilities from industry partners to advance next-generation aerospace systems. She handles complex, high-stakes R&D acquisitions requiring deep technical understanding and rigorous compliance with federal acquisition regulations, often overseeing multi-year, mission-critical contracts for prototype development, test and evaluation, and systems integration. While specific contractor names are not publicly available, Price maintains strategic partnerships with a broad spectrum of defense contractors, research institutions, and specialized engineering firms capable of delivering classified and unclassified R&D services. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and compliance with DoD acquisition standards. She frequently engages with vendors possessing specialized expertise in laser vulnerability analysis, high-energy laser systems, and precision optical instrumentation, fostering collaborative relationships that bridge government requirements with industry innovation. Price’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competitions, with 100% of awards issued under non-set-aside categories. This indicates a focus on maximizing technical capability and competition among qualified industry participants rather than socioeconomic set-asides. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, her acquisitions remain open to all eligible vendors based on technical merit and mission alignment. Her primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—reflecting deep specialization in advanced physics, engineering systems, and applied optics. She procures services including laser system prototyping, electro-optical sensor development, materials characterization, and computational modeling for directed energy applications, ensuring the Air Force maintains technological superiority in critical domains.