Wayne Plummer

Wayne Plummer serves as a key procurement lead within NASA’s IT Procurement Office (80TECH), supporting the agency’s mission to advance aerospace innovation through the acquisition of mission-critical information technology and scientific instrumentation. He manages complex acquisitions for high-performance computing systems, real-time data acquisition platforms, and specialized engineering services essential to spacecraft development and ground-based research operations. His portfolio emphasizes the procurement of custom software solutions, precision measurement devices, and auxiliary aerospace equipment, ensuring that NASA’s scientific and operational systems remain at the forefront of technological capability. Plummer maintains consistent working relationships with specialized contractors including ZWICKROELL, LP and ABSOLUTE EMC LLC, firms known for their expertise in industrial test systems and mission-critical embedded instrumentation. His contracting approach favors established vendors with proven technical capabilities in aerospace-grade hardware and software integration, often requiring compliance with NASA-specific technical standards and security protocols. These partnerships are characterized by long-term collaboration, rigorous performance evaluation, and a focus on sustaining mission-critical systems through lifecycle support. His procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 88.9% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides, indicating a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic criteria. However, he maintains a deliberate 11.1% allocation to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced commitment to fostering innovation from qualified small vendors while prioritizing mission readiness. Plummer’s primary NAICS focus areas include 336413 for aerospace subsystems, 334513 and 334516 for industrial and analytical instrumentation, and 541511 for custom computer programming services. He routinely procures high-precision sensors, laboratory-grade data acquisition systems, and bespoke software for flight dynamics modeling and telemetry processing, reflecting deep expertise in the technical domains of aerospace engineering, scientific instrumentation, and real-time data systems.