Arlette M. Tongue

Arlette M. Tongue serves as a key procurement lead within the Headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), supporting the agency’s mission to combat illicit drug trafficking through strategic acquisition of advanced operational technologies. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on secure communications, surveillance systems, forensic analytical tools, and intelligence-enabled equipment critical to lawful intercept and field operations. Her work directly enables DEA’s tactical and investigative units by ensuring timely access to mission-critical capabilities that enhance situational awareness and evidence collection. Tongue’s acquisitions are strategically aligned with the agency’s modernization priorities, emphasizing secure, scalable, and interoperable solutions for federal law enforcement use. She maintains consistent working relationships with specialized vendors including OCTASIC US INC. and OBSIDIAN INTEGRATION, LLC, which provide advanced signal processing and intelligence analytics platforms, as well as CAYMAN CHEMICAL CO INC. for forensic reference standards and FOCUS CAMERA LLC for high-resolution surveillance imaging systems. Her procurement approach prioritizes technical precision and compliance with federal security standards, often engaging niche suppliers with proven expertise in law enforcement-grade hardware and chemical analysis tools. Security Products International, LLC further supports her efforts through secure containment and evidence handling equipment, reflecting a pattern of partnering with vendors who offer hardened, mission-specific solutions. Tongue demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with half of her awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and an additional 10% reserved for women-owned small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity within the small business community while maintaining operational readiness. Her contracting patterns consistently prioritize verified small business vendors, aligning with DEA’s broader goals of inclusive procurement and resilient supply chains. Her primary NAICS focus includes apparel manufacturing (315990), which supports covert operational attire, and medical equipment wholesaling (423450) for forensic and medical response gear. She also procures research services in social sciences (541720) to inform behavioral analytics and drug trend modeling, demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach to intelligence-driven procurement.