Steven Prado

Steven M. Prado serves as a procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in the professional, scientific, and technical services domain. He plays a critical role in advancing the agency’s mission by executing full lifecycle contracting actions—from market research and solicitation development to award and performance monitoring—ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations. His work centers on securing high-value, non-commodity professional services that support operational efficiency, analytical capacity, and technical innovation across mission-critical functions. Prado routinely handles requirements involving consulting, research, data analysis, and technical advisory services, often requiring specialized expertise and stringent performance metrics. Prado’s contractor relationships are characterized by a broad and diverse vendor base, primarily engaged through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements under FAR Part 15. He works with a wide array of firms offering professional services, including management consultants, research analysts, and technical subject matter experts, with no singular contractor dominating his portfolio. His approach emphasizes open competition and value-based selection, fostering a dynamic marketplace where firms compete on technical merit, past performance, and cost-effectiveness. Prado’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of his awards issued under the “No Set-Aside” category. This indicates a deliberate focus on maximizing competition and selecting the most qualified providers regardless of socioeconomic status, consistent with agency priorities that emphasize performance over certification-based preferences. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, he maintains compliance with all applicable small business subcontracting reporting requirements. His primary procurement focus is exclusively under NAICS 541990—All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services—encompassing a wide spectrum of specialized services such as policy analysis, program evaluation, systems engineering support, and technical advisory services. Prado’s expertise lies in defining complex, performance-based requirements that demand deep domain knowledge and adaptability, ensuring the agency secures high-caliber expertise to meet evolving operational needs.