Darlene D. Harkins

Darlene Harkins serves as a key procurement professional at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance space science and Earth observation through strategic acquisition of technical services and advanced systems. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on engineering services, scientific research and development, and space vehicle manufacturing, ensuring alignment with NASA’s priorities in Earth science, deep-space communications, and next-generation instrumentation. Her work directly enables the integration of cutting-edge technologies into orbital and planetary missions, bridging technical requirements with compliant federal contracting practices. Harkins maintains enduring relationships with high-caliber contractors including Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory, reflecting her focus on mission-critical partnerships with organizations possessing deep technical expertise in aerospace systems and space-based research. These collaborations are characterized by long-term, performance-based engagements that emphasize innovation, systems integration, and rigorous technical oversight, often involving complex R&D deliverables and mission assurance protocols. Her procurement approach prioritizes open competition, with 77.8% of awards issued under non-set-aside authorities, while maintaining a meaningful commitment to small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides (22.2%). Though not heavily reliant on specialized socioeconomic programs, she consistently leverages small business capabilities in engineering and R&D roles, ensuring broad industry engagement without compromising mission performance. Harkins’ primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 541715 (Research and Development in Physical and Engineering Sciences), reflecting her specialization in mission systems design, sensor development, and spacecraft subsystem integration. She frequently procures advanced telemetry systems, space-qualified electronics, and data processing architectures, demonstrating deep familiarity with the technical demands of spaceflight and Earth observation missions.