Dawn A. Schmidt

Dawn A. Schmidt serves as a Contract Negotiator responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle of complex aerospace and information technology contracts. In her role, she ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while facilitating fair and competitive negotiations that align with agency mission objectives. She specializes in soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for specialized aircraft components and custom software solutions, working closely with technical evaluators and legal counsel to mitigate risk and secure optimal outcomes. Her procurement activities center on high-precision manufacturing and software development requirements, requiring deep familiarity with FAR and DFARS provisions governing technical specifications, delivery schedules, and performance metrics. While specific contractor names are not available, Dawn consistently engages with a diverse pool of vendors, including Tier 1 aerospace suppliers and niche IT service providers. Her negotiation patterns reflect a preference for established industry participants with proven technical capabilities, particularly those capable of meeting stringent quality and certification standards in aviation systems. She maintains collaborative relationships with vendors who demonstrate agility, compliance rigor, and a commitment to delivering mission-critical solutions under tight timelines. Dawn demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with approximately one-third of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting approach prioritizes socioeconomic opportunities for small businesses while maintaining rigorous performance standards. She does not rely heavily on other set-aside categories such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB, indicating a strategic focus on broad small business eligibility rather than targeted socioeconomic programs. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336413, encompassing the acquisition of other aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment, including avionics, flight control components, and support systems. She also procures Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511), particularly for mission-critical software used in aircraft systems integration. This dual-domain expertise positions her at the intersection of aerospace engineering and defense IT, requiring technical fluency in both hardware certification standards and software development lifecycle practices.