Heather

Heather Hirshman serves as a Contracting Officer within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle for mission-critical scientific, technical, and operational contracts. She plays a pivotal role in advancing NOAA’s mandate to enhance environmental monitoring, oceanographic research, and coastal resilience by securing specialized services and advanced instrumentation. Her portfolio primarily encompasses professional and technical services, sensor systems, and marine infrastructure support, with a strong emphasis on ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and mission-aligned outcomes. Hirshman maintains enduring relationships with a select group of contractors, including the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP, JNB Services LLC, Pure Enviro-Management, LLC, and The Regents of the University of Colorado. These partnerships reflect a consistent engagement with both nonprofit educational entities and small, specialized firms capable of delivering niche scientific, environmental, and engineering solutions. Her contracting approach emphasizes collaboration with vendors possessing deep domain expertise in marine systems and data acquisition technologies. A strong advocate for socioeconomic inclusion, Hirshman prioritizes small business participation, with approximately 60.5% of her awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity-building among small, often woman- or minority-owned firms, aligning with federal goals to broaden vendor diversity in federal science contracting. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS codes 541990 (professional scientific services), 336611 (shipbuilding and repair), and 334511 (nautical and navigation systems manufacturing), underscoring her technical expertise in oceanographic instrumentation, environmental monitoring equipment, and maritime support services. She routinely procures specialized sensors, data collection platforms, and maintenance services critical to NOAA’s operational fleet and research missions.