Office of Acquisition (OA)

What We Do:

The Office of Acquisition and its member branches provide guidance, acquisition services, and assistance to program staff in NCATS, NIDA, NINDS, NIA, and NIMH regarding the procurement of supplies and services to ensure that the COAC's member Institutes obtain technically appropriate services from vendors at contract costs that are fair and reasonable.

The OA performs the following functions:

  • Manages and conducts a comprehensive program of all research and development contracting, non-research and development contracting, station support contracting, commercial item acquisitions using simplified acquisition procedures, GSA Federal Supply Schedule acquisitions and simplified acquisitions for customer ICs
  • Provides advice and assistance regarding all phases of the acquisition cycle from planning to closeout with the purpose of accomplishing all acquisitions needed for the scientific mission and all related acquisitions required by its customers

Subject Matter Expert Contact List

Office of Acquisition (OA)
NameTitlePhoneAreas of Responsibility
Chris BeltDirector(301) 827-5252
  • Provides acquisition oversight and review for the OA, Neuroscience COAC
Brian O’LaughlinDeputy Director(301) 827-5253 
Tonya MansfieldProgram Specialist(301) 594-1928 
NIDA/SOAR Contracts Management Branch Green
NameTitlePhoneAreas of Responsibility
Nancy Lamon-KritikosBranch Chief(301) 480-2447
  • Oversees all Branch activities for the award and administration of NIDA and SOAR Program Contracts
Christine FrateSection Head(301) 443-3846
  • Senior Contracting Officer responsible for overseeing all SOAR Program acquisitions
Joshua LazarusSection Head(301) 827-6923
  • Senior Contracting Officer responsible for overseeing all NIDA acquisitions
NCATS/NIA/SOS Contracts Management Branch Blue
NameTitlePhoneAreas of Responsibility
Scott BredowBranch Chief(301) 480-7503
  • Oversees all Branch activities for the award and administration of NCATS/NIA Contracts
K J ShaikhSection Head(301) 435-1777
  • Senior Contracting Officer responsible for overseeing NCATS acquisitions
Karen MahonSection Head(301) 402-1488
  • Senior Contracting Officer responsible for overseeing NIA acquisitions
Valerie WhippleSection Head(301) 827-5218
  • Senior Contracting Officer responsible for Shared Operations Section (SOS)
NIMH/NINDS Contracts Management Branch Red
NameTitlePhoneAreas of Responsibility
Reika PluggeBranch Chief(301) 827-7515
  • Oversees all Branch activities for the award and administration of NIMH and NINDS Contracts