Carmelia Rush

Carmelia Rush serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contract Administration Services Division (70RCAS) of the Department of Homeland Security, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex procurements for professional, scientific, and technical services critical to national security operations. She manages the full lifecycle of contract actions—from requirements validation and market research through solicitation, evaluation, award, and administration—ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and DHS mission priorities. Her work directly supports the agency’s objectives in cybersecurity, systems engineering, and research and development, with a focus on acquiring high-integrity technical solutions that enhance operational readiness and infrastructure resilience. Carmelia collaborates with a diverse range of vendors, including large systems integrators, niche technology providers, and training organizations, fostering transparent and compliant contracting relationships. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages firms with proven expertise in computer systems design, cybersecurity enablement, and instructional technology delivery. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, clear statement of work development, and rigorous source selection criteria to ensure accountability and mission alignment. Carmelia’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides. This indicates a strategic focus on maximizing competition among qualified industry participants rather than relying on socioeconomic programs, though she remains compliant with all small business participation requirements as part of broader agency goals. Her primary procurement focus lies in three NAICS categories: 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), 611420 (Computer Training), and 531390 (Other Activities Related to Real Estate). She specializes in acquiring IT infrastructure design, cybersecurity workforce development, and facility-related technical support services, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of physical and digital systems essential to DHS’s operational environment.