Jim Vannatta

Jim Van Natta serves as a key procurement lead within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, supporting critical acquisitions aligned with NOAA’s mission to advance oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal science. He manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on marine instrumentation, environmental monitoring systems, and infrastructure support, ensuring the agency’s operational readiness through timely and compliant sourcing. His work directly enables data collection, predictive modeling, and coastal resilience initiatives by securing specialized equipment and technical services essential to NOAA’s scientific and operational missions. Van Natta maintains consistent partnerships with a select group of contractors, including WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD, TRONCONI SEGARRA & ASSOCIATES LLP, JNB SERVICES LLC, PURE ENVIRO-MANAGEMENT, LLC, and THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. These relationships reflect a strategic alignment with firms capable of delivering high-precision engineering, environmental compliance services, and research-driven solutions. His contracting patterns emphasize long-term vendor collaboration, particularly with organizations possessing niche expertise in marine systems and field-deployable instrumentation. A strong advocate for small business participation, Van Natta prioritizes Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with over 63% of his awards designated for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate commitment to expanding economic opportunity while tapping into agile, specialized vendors capable of meeting NOAA’s technical demands. His procurement approach consistently leverages socioeconomic programs to enhance competition and innovation within the federal supply base. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing) and 238210 (Electrical Contractors), indicating deep engagement with vessel modernization, marine electrical systems, and underwater sensor integration. He also routinely procures specialized fluid power components and engine equipment for autonomous marine platforms, demonstrating technical fluency in maritime engineering domains critical to NOAA’s fleet and sensor networks.