Karen La Bouff-Kind

Karen La Bouff-Kind serves as a Contract Specialist within the DSC Contracting Services Division of the National Park Service, where she manages the acquisition lifecycle for critical infrastructure projects across America’s protected lands. Her work supports the agency’s mission to preserve historic structures, modernize visitor facilities, and upgrade utility systems in ecologically sensitive and remote locations. She primarily handles construction, engineering, and specialty trade contracts under FAR Part 36, ensuring compliance with environmental, historic preservation, and accessibility standards. Her acquisitions are strategically aligned with long-term asset management goals, emphasizing resilience, sustainability, and cultural resource protection. La Bouff-Kind maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of experienced contractors, including HDR Engineering Inc., Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc., and McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for firms with proven expertise in historic rehabilitation, site preparation, and complex utility systems. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and technical qualification, fostering long-term vendor collaboration while ensuring adherence to federal construction and engineering standards. Her contracting patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 79% of awards issued without set-aside designations. However, she actively supports small business participation, with approximately 21% of awards directed toward Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While she does not frequently utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, her consistent use of small business set-asides demonstrates a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified small contractors in the construction and engineering sectors. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) and 238990 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors), with significant activity in plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning systems (238220) and engineering services (541330). She specializes in acquiring services related to structural rehabilitation, site development, and infrastructure modernization, requiring deep technical knowledge of historic preservation standards and federal construction codes.