Keith Long

Keith Long serves as a Contracting Officer within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he manages the acquisition of scientific and technical services critical to NOAA’s mission of environmental monitoring, climate resilience, and oceanographic research. He specializes in procuring research and development solutions, data systems, and advanced instrumentation to support Earth system modeling and coastal infrastructure assessment. His portfolio primarily includes performance-based contracts under FAR Part 12 and Part 37, ensuring alignment with NOAA’s strategic priorities in atmospheric science, marine ecosystem protection, and operational weather forecasting. Keith maintains consistent relationships with a select group of contractors, including the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP, JNB Services LLC, Pure Enviro-Management, LLC, and The Regents of the University of Colorado. These partnerships reflect a preference for academic institutions, specialized environmental consultants, and firms with proven expertise in scientific data management and field instrumentation. His contracting approach emphasizes technical proficiency, past performance evaluation, and long-term service delivery capabilities, fostering collaborative, mission-aligned vendor relationships. His procurement strategy prioritizes open competition, with 70% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides, while maintaining a robust 30% commitment to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. He actively supports small business participation across multiple socioeconomic categories, consistently awarding contracts to firms capable of delivering high-value scientific and technical services, without reliance on 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB preferences. Keith’s primary NAICS focus is 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), reflecting his leadership in acquiring advanced scientific services, including environmental modeling, sensor development, and data analytics. He also procures software and IT services under 541519 and specialized equipment under 335312, demonstrating deep technical expertise in oceanic and atmospheric instrumentation, geospatial systems, and integrated observational networks.