Stephen L. Wharton

Stephen E. Wharton serves as a Contracting Officer responsible for managing federal acquisitions in support of mission-critical information technology services. He plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s procurement strategy by ensuring compliance with FAR regulations while promoting efficiency, competition, and socioeconomic goals. His portfolio primarily consists of complex service-based contracts requiring technical oversight and risk mitigation, particularly in IT infrastructure and managed services. Wharton is instrumental in designing solicitation strategies that align with agency objectives and federal contracting best practices. Wharton cultivates relationships with a diverse base of vendors, including both large systems integrators and small business concerns certified under federal socioeconomic programs. His contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach—engaging established contractors with proven performance histories while actively fostering opportunities for emerging small businesses. He maintains a collaborative working relationship with industry stakeholders, often participating in pre-solicitation outreach and market research to ensure requirements are clearly defined and competitively viable. A strong advocate for small business participation, Wharton consistently prioritizes set-aside opportunities, with 50% of his awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and 25% competitively awarded to 8(a) participants. His procurement approach reflects a deliberate commitment to expanding economic opportunity, leveraging statutory authorities to enhance access for disadvantaged businesses while maintaining rigorous performance standards. He rarely utilizes unrestricted competitions, demonstrating a clear preference for socioeconomic contracting mechanisms. His technical expertise centers on NAICS 541513 (Computer Facilities Management Services) and 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), where he procures managed IT operations, cloud support, cybersecurity monitoring, and systems integration services. Wharton’s domain knowledge enables him to evaluate technical proposals with precision, ensuring that contracted solutions meet evolving operational needs while adhering to federal information systems standards. His work directly supports the modernization and resilience of government IT environments.