James N Kortz

James N. Kortz serves as a Contracting Officer within the Public Buildings Service’s Greater West region under the General Services Administration, where he leads the acquisition of federal facility infrastructure projects critical to mission-critical operations. His responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle management of construction contracts, from requirements definition and market research to solicitation, evaluation, award, and contract administration. Kortz specializes in commercial and institutional building construction procurements, ensuring compliance with federal building codes, accessibility standards, and sustainability mandates. He plays a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s mission to modernize and resiliently maintain federal properties across the region, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency, elevator modernization, and ADA compliance. Kortz cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of qualified contractors specializing in public-sector construction, including general contractors, construction managers, and specialty trade firms with proven experience in federal facility upgrades. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages with firms capable of delivering complex, high-integrity construction services under stringent federal oversight. His working relationships are characterized by transparency, rigorous performance monitoring, and a focus on contractor accountability to meet stringent safety and quality benchmarks. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Kortz prioritizes socioeconomic contracting through aggressive use of full and partial set-asides. Nearly all of his acquisitions are structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with an equal emphasis on Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-asides, reflecting a deliberate strategy to expand economic opportunity for veteran entrepreneurs and small firms. His contracting patterns demonstrate a consistent, institutional commitment to leveraging small business capabilities in federal construction. His primary technical domain is NAICS 236220 — Commercial and Institutional Building Construction — where he oversees projects involving structural renovations, HVAC upgrades, roofing, accessibility retrofits, and building system modernizations. Kortz’s expertise lies in managing multi-trade, integrated construction contracts that demand coordination among architects, engineers, and specialty subcontractors to deliver safe, code-compliant, and energy-efficient federal facilities.