Debra A Smith

Debra A. Smith serves as a Purchasing Agent for U.S. Coast Guard Base Miami (70Z028), where she plays a critical role in securing the goods and services essential to maintaining maritime infrastructure and operational readiness. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions, she handles acquisitions ranging from specialized electrical components to facility modernization services, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-critical timelines. Her work directly supports the sustainment of aging maritime facilities, vessel maintenance systems, and base operations vital to national security, search and rescue, and port safety missions. Smith maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, PHOENIX MARINE LLC, and ATZ SOLUTION LLC, who provide specialized construction, marine services, and technical solutions tailored to Coast Guard infrastructure needs. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance reliability and regulatory compliance, often engaging firms with proven expertise in marine environments and federal facility upgrades. A strong advocate for small business participation, Smith consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Aside contracts under FAR 19.5, directing approximately 90% of her acquisitions to small businesses. This reflects a deliberate socioeconomic strategy to foster local economic resilience and increase opportunities for small, disadvantaged, and veteran-owned firms within the maritime support sector. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 335999 (miscellaneous electrical equipment) and 339999 (miscellaneous manufacturing), reflecting deep engagement with custom electrical systems, instrumentation, and specialized manufacturing components. She also routinely procures computer and communications equipment under NAICS 334290 and 423430, demonstrating technical fluency in maritime navigation systems, sensor integration, and IT infrastructure support critical to Coast Guard operational platforms.