Stephanie C Gardner

Stephanie C. Gardner serves as a Contract Specialist within the Social Security Administration’s Office of Acquisition and Grants, where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that support the agency’s mission to secure reliable, secure, and efficient operational infrastructure. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions—primarily in facilities maintenance, building systems integration, and critical administrative services—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and SSA’s strategic priorities. She specializes in soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for technical services that underpin the delivery of social security benefits, with a strong emphasis on mission-critical infrastructure and cybersecurity-enabled systems. Gardner maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including CA, Inc. and COLORID, LLC, partnering with vendors who deliver specialized engineering, facility modernization, and systems support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and clear statement of work development, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in accountability and technical excellence. She frequently engages with contractors capable of delivering integrated solutions across mechanical, electrical, and building automation systems, ensuring seamless alignment with SSA’s operational needs. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately 20.8% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and 12.5% allocated to HUBZone firms, demonstrating a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for underserved businesses. While the majority of acquisitions are open competition, her portfolio consistently includes 8(a) competed set-asides, reflecting a structured approach to promoting equitable access and diversity in federal contracting. Gardner’s primary technical focus lies in NAICS categories related to building systems, including plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors (238220), electrical contractors (238210), and commercial machinery repair (811310). She regularly procures services for HVAC integration, electrical infrastructure upgrades, and maintenance of mission-critical building equipment, requiring deep domain knowledge in facility engineering and lifecycle management to ensure uninterrupted service delivery across SSA’s nationwide operations.