Deborah A. Simmons

Deborah K. Simmons is a seasoned procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in advanced technical domains, with a focus on specialized instrumentation and aerospace systems. She plays a critical role in executing the agency’s mission-critical procurement strategy, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while delivering high-performance solutions for national defense and scientific applications. Her portfolio primarily encompasses contracts for precision measurement systems, avionics components, and mission-critical electronic instrumentation, requiring deep technical oversight and rigorous source selection processes. Her contractor relationships center on manufacturers and engineering service providers with proven expertise in aerospace, electrical instrumentation, and systems integration. She consistently engages with Tier-1 defense contractors and niche suppliers capable of meeting stringent MIL-STD and AS9100 quality standards. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships built on technical reliability, supply chain resilience, and adherence to performance-based specifications. Simmons demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with approximately 89% of her acquisitions conducted without set-aside restrictions. However, she actively supports small business participation, allocating roughly 11% of her contracting activity to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate effort to foster innovation and expand the industrial base among qualified small manufacturers. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334515 (instrumentation for electrical signal measurement) and 336413 (aircraft auxiliary equipment manufacturing), underscoring her expertise in avionics, navigation systems, and test-and-measurement hardware. She also procures specialized technical services under NAICS 541990, indicating a need for engineering support in system validation and calibration. Her work demands a nuanced understanding of electronic warfare systems, sensor technologies, and aerospace component certification, positioning her as a key liaison between technical requirements and acquisition execution.