Diana South

Diana South serves as a Contracting Officer for FA7000 10 Cons Lgc within the Department of the Air Force, where she leads the acquisition of precision instrumentation, laboratory equipment, and specialized technical systems critical to aerospace research and cadet training at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Her portfolio centers on procuring high-accuracy measuring devices, analytical instruments, and advanced training equipment to sustain operational readiness and facility modernization. She manages full lifecycle contracting actions—from market research and solicitation to award and closeout—ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning purchases with strategic technical priorities. Diana maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized vendors, including SAWASAWA LLC, LAVISION, INC., and TEAL DRONES INC., who provide advanced analytical instrumentation, unmanned aerial systems, and laboratory-grade measurement technologies. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in scientific and technical domains, often engaging firms with niche capabilities in instrumentation calibration, sensor development, and aerospace-grade equipment. These partnerships are characterized by repeat engagements and technical collaboration to meet evolving training and research requirements. Diana demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with over half of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. While the majority of awards are small business set-asides, she also routinely utilizes no-set-aside procurements when technical complexity or scale demands broader market competition. A small but intentional portion of her portfolio supports HUBZone firms, reflecting a deliberate effort to promote geographic and socioeconomic diversity among her vendor base. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS categories related to analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing and electrical signal measurement systems, with additional activity in sporting and athletic goods manufacturing—often tied to cadet physical training equipment. She specializes in acquiring high-precision, mission-critical technical systems that support aerospace science, data collection, and hands-on training, requiring deep familiarity with federal technical specifications and performance-based acquisition methodologies.