Stephen A Lester

Steve Lester serves as a secondary procurement professional within the CDC Office of Acquisition Services, supporting the agency’s mission to advance public health through strategic acquisition of scientific, technical, and operational services. He contributes to the procurement lifecycle for high-priority biomedical and diagnostic capabilities, with a focus on laboratory instrumentation, data systems, and consulting services that enable disease surveillance, outbreak response, and laboratory modernization. His work supports mission-critical contracts aligned with CDC’s scientific infrastructure, ensuring timely access to technologies that enhance national health security and analytical capacity. Lester collaborates closely with a core group of established contractors including General Dynamics Information Technology, GlaxoSmithKline, MRIGLOBAL, Cepheid, and the New York City Health & Hospitals Corp. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in diagnostic testing platforms, clinical data analytics, and biomedical research support. His contracting patterns indicate sustained engagement with organizations possessing deep domain knowledge in public health operations, often requiring compliance with federal biosafety, data integrity, and regulatory standards. His procurement approach prioritizes open competition, with 92% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides, reflecting a focus on technical merit and mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences. Nevertheless, he supports an 8% allocation to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but consistent commitment to small business inclusion where capabilities align with agency needs. Lester’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 334516 (analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing) and 541613 (marketing consulting services), with significant activity in computer systems design (541512) and facilities management (541513). These reflect a technical portfolio spanning diagnostic equipment procurement, data-driven public health analytics, and strategic advisory services that support CDC’s scientific and operational infrastructure. His expertise lies at the intersection of laboratory science, health informatics, and mission-aligned consulting.