Anatiah Utley-Horton

Anatiah Utley-Horton supports the National Continuity SECTION (CON50) within the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, managing critical procurement activities that ensure the resilience of national communications and infrastructure during emergencies. Though their official title is not disclosed, their role centers on executing strategic acquisitions for technical consulting services and facility construction projects essential to sustaining continuity of operations. They oversee the full lifecycle of contract actions—from requirements definition and market research to award and performance monitoring—ensuring alignment with federal continuity directives and cybersecurity standards. Their work directly enables the agency’s mission to maintain secure, redundant, and survivable communication networks under adverse conditions. While specific contractor names are not available, Utley-Horton engages with a diverse pool of vendors, including large systems integrators and specialized small businesses capable of delivering secure infrastructure and technical advisory services. Their contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach between competed open market opportunities and socioeconomically targeted awards, fostering partnerships with firms experienced in emergency response systems, critical infrastructure hardening, and mission-critical IT support. Vendor relationships are characterized by rigorous performance evaluation and a preference for firms with demonstrated expertise in federal continuity frameworks. Utley-Horton demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 8(a) competed set-asides accounting for half of all procurement activity, matched equally by open, non-set-aside competitions. This balanced strategy ensures both competitive pricing and meaningful opportunities for disadvantaged businesses, aligning with DHS and SBA socioeconomic goals. The consistent use of 8(a) set-asides signals a deliberate effort to build capacity among small firms capable of supporting high-stakes national security missions. Their procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 236220 for commercial and institutional building construction—particularly secure, hardened facilities—and NAICS 541690 for other scientific and technical consulting services, including continuity planning, risk assessment, and systems integration. They routinely acquire services related to emergency communication architecture, infrastructure redundancy design, and technical support for federal continuity operations, reflecting deep expertise in mission-critical technical domains.