Steven P. Scharlow

Steven P. Scharlow serves as a Contract Specialist within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where he plays a critical role in procuring mission-critical telecommunications infrastructure and fabricated metal components essential to the Department of Defense’s global communications network. His responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal regulations while supporting DISA’s strategic objectives of modernizing legacy systems, deploying secure virtual private networks, and enhancing network resilience across military and federal operations. He primarily handles procurements for hardware, network-enabling components, and specialized telecom equipment requiring stringent security and interoperability standards. Scharlow maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors, including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established vendors with proven capabilities in secure fiber optic deployment, military-grade telecom hardware fabrication, and integrated network solutions. His contracting approach emphasizes technical proficiency, past performance, and compliance with DoD cybersecurity requirements, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in reliability and mission alignment. Notably, Scharlow’s procurement portfolio exhibits no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability and operational readiness over socioeconomic categorization, aligning with the Telecommunications Division’s priority to rapidly field mission-critical systems without restriction. His primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 332999—All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing—indicating a specialized focus on custom-fabricated metal components used in telecom enclosures, rack systems, and hardened infrastructure. This specialization underscores his technical expertise in procuring ruggedized, electromagnetic interference-shielded hardware essential to secure, high-reliability communications environments.