Kathy Thomerson

Kathy Thomerson serves as a Contract Specialist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that support the agency’s mission to advance measurement science, standards, and technological innovation. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions spanning scientific instrumentation, industrial equipment, and facility-related services, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning purchases with NIST’s strategic priorities in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and precision metrology. Her work directly enables critical research infrastructure and laboratory capabilities essential to national economic competitiveness and security. Thomerson maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Quality Biological, Inc., Advanced Technologies and Laboratories (ATL) International, Inc., and Physical Electronics USA, Inc., reflecting her focus on specialized scientific and technical vendors. She frequently collaborates with firms capable of delivering high-precision equipment, calibration services, and industrial gas systems required for NIST’s laboratories. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term vendor reliability, fostering partnerships with suppliers who understand the unique demands of federal research environments. A strong advocate for small business participation, Thomerson prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, which account for 60% of her awards, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding economic opportunity among small firms. She also actively supports Women-Owned Small Businesses, reflecting a balanced socioeconomic contracting strategy that aligns with federal goals while maintaining acquisition integrity. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction), supporting NIST’s facility modernization efforts, and 334519 (Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing), which underpins the agency’s core work in instrumentation development. She also regularly procures industrial gas systems (325120) and specialized equipment leasing services (532490), showcasing deep technical familiarity with the physical and analytical infrastructure required for cutting-edge scientific research.