Carina Topasna

Carina Topasna serves as a primary procurement lead within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), overseeing acquisitions critical to advancing oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal scientific missions. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts supporting environmental monitoring systems, research instrumentation, and operational logistics, with a focus on ensuring mission-critical data collection and predictive modeling capabilities. Her work directly supports NOAA’s strategic priorities in climate resilience, marine ecosystem protection, and maritime safety by facilitating timely access to specialized technical services and advanced equipment. Topasna routinely handles complex procurements under FAR Part 15, emphasizing performance-based contracting and technical evaluation criteria to align vendor deliverables with scientific and operational requirements. Topasna maintains consistent partnerships with a select group of contractors, including the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP, JNB Services LLC, Pure Enviro-Management, LLC, and The Regents of the University of Colorado. These relationships reflect a balanced approach between academic research institutions, specialized environmental consultants, and technical service providers with domain expertise in oceanographic instrumentation and coastal systems. Her contracting patterns emphasize long-term, performance-driven collaborations over transactional engagements, fostering innovation and continuity in mission-critical programs. Her procurement strategy prioritizes small business participation, with approximately 30.7% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and 7.9% reserved for women-owned small businesses. While the majority of acquisitions remain open to all competitors (60.4%), she actively leverages 8(a) competed opportunities and integrates socioeconomic goals into source selection, ensuring equitable access for disadvantaged firms while maintaining technical rigor. Topasna’s primary NAICS focus includes coastal and Great Lakes passenger transportation (25.5%), search and navigation system manufacturing (12.2%), and professional scientific services (9.2%). She procures advanced oceanographic sensors, environmental data platforms, and research support services, demonstrating deep expertise in marine technology, remote sensing systems, and applied environmental science contracting. Her work bridges engineering, field operations, and policy-driven science, ensuring NOAA’s infrastructure remains at the forefront of Earth system observation.