James Kim

James Kim supports the procurement mission of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center by managing complex acquisitions in space science and Earth observation technologies. He oversees the solicitation and award of contracts for advanced scientific instrumentation, spacecraft subsystems, and mission-critical research and development services, ensuring alignment with NASA’s strategic goals in climate monitoring, deep-space communications, and space weather forecasting. His work bridges technical requirements from mission scientists with acquisition regulations under FAR and NASA FAR Supplement, enabling the timely delivery of high-reliability systems for orbital and planetary missions. Kim maintains consistent partnerships with leading technical institutions and specialized contractors, notably the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC. These relationships reflect a pattern of collaboration with high-caliber research organizations and niche engineering firms capable of delivering cutting-edge hardware, sensor systems, and analytical platforms. His contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term vendor engagement, often involving cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contracts for R&D-intensive efforts. His procurement portfolio demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly half of all awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides dominate, his consistent use of small business set-asides signals a deliberate strategy to cultivate innovation from agile, specialized vendors. This approach supports NASA’s broader goal of expanding the industrial base for space technology development. Kim’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541715 (R&D in physical and engineering sciences) and 334516 (analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing), reflecting expertise in scientific instrumentation, remote sensing systems, and calibration technologies. He routinely acquires custom-built sensors, data processing software, and high-precision measurement equipment, underscoring his deep familiarity with the technical domains of Earth observation, astrophysics, and space-based spectroscopy.