Carolyn Knight

Carolyn Knight serves as a Contract Specialist within the Incident Support Section (ISS70) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where she plays a pivotal role in executing rapid-response procurements that sustain critical operations during domestic emergencies. Her work centers on acquiring essential goods and services that ensure operational continuity, public safety, and survivor support in austere environments. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions under FAR Part 13 and Part 14 procedures, frequently utilizing simplified acquisition methods to meet urgent mission needs while maintaining strict compliance with federal procurement regulations. Carolyn collaborates with a broad spectrum of vendors, including small businesses, specialty manufacturers, and service providers with proven capabilities in high-turnover, mission-critical supply chains. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, her procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms capable of delivering scalable, just-in-time solutions under dynamic conditions. She fosters partnerships with vendors who demonstrate agility, quality control, and adherence to federal logistics standards, ensuring reliable delivery of time-sensitive resources during disaster response cycles. Her contracting approach prioritizes small business participation, with nearly 92% of her awards structured as set-asides for small businesses—46.1% under total small business set-asides and 7.7% specifically for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB). This reflects a deliberate strategy to expand economic opportunity while leveraging the innovation and responsiveness of small business contractors in emergency logistics. Carolyn’s primary procurement focus lies in five NAICS categories: commercial screen printing (323113), perishable prepared food manufacturing (311991), broadwoven fabric mills (313210), commercial and industrial machinery repair (811310), and tire and tube wholesale distribution (423130). These reflect her expertise in procuring durable supplies, protective gear, food logistics, and maintenance services critical to sustaining field operations during large-scale incidents. Her technical domain knowledge spans supply chain resilience, emergency logistics, and mission-critical commodity acquisition.