Debra A. Harber

Debra A. Harber serves as a Small Business Specialist, playing a pivotal role in advancing small business participation within federal procurement processes. Her responsibilities include advising contracting teams on socioeconomic program eligibility, ensuring compliance with small business set-aside regulations, and facilitating meaningful opportunities for small businesses to compete for federal contracts. She supports the agency’s broader mission to promote equitable access to government contracting by embedding small business inclusion into the acquisition lifecycle—from market research and solicitation design to contract award and performance monitoring. Harber typically handles complex service-based acquisitions, particularly in professional and technical domains requiring specialized expertise. While no specific contractor relationships are identified in available data, Harber works closely with a broad network of small business contractors, including those certified under 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB programs. Her approach emphasizes capacity building and mentorship, fostering long-term vendor partnerships that align with agency needs and small business readiness. She actively collaborates with contracting officers to structure solicitations that maximize small business participation while maintaining competitive integrity and performance standards. Harber’s procurement patterns reflect a strong commitment to small business inclusion, with 100% of her acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This indicates her focus on ensuring small businesses compete on an equal footing within open, unrestricted markets rather than relying on reserved categories. She champions full and open competition while strategically guiding small businesses to qualify for and succeed in these environments through education, outreach, and tailored technical assistance. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541330—Engineering Services—where she supports the acquisition of professional engineering solutions such as systems design, infrastructure analysis, and technical consulting. Her domain expertise lies in complex, high-precision engineering services requiring certified professionals and rigorous compliance frameworks, positioning her as a key advocate for small engineering firms in the federal marketplace.