Kristin L. Lems

Kristin L. Lems serves as a Contracting Officer for the Research and Development Center (70Z032) under the U.S. Coast Guard’s Department of Homeland Security, where she manages the acquisition of mission-critical technologies that enhance maritime domain awareness and operational resilience. Her portfolio focuses on the development and integration of advanced sensing, navigation, and autonomous systems to support search and rescue, environmental response, and maritime security operations. She is responsible for executing full lifecycle procurements under FAR and DFARS guidelines, ensuring compliance with federal innovation mandates while aligning acquisitions with the Center’s strategic technology roadmap. While specific contractor relationships are not currently available, Ms. Lems engages with a diverse range of vendors, including defense contractors, research institutions, and technology innovators specializing in maritime systems. Her procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with firms capable of delivering rapid prototyping, systems integration, and field-deployable hardware and software solutions. She fosters partnerships with entities possessing proven expertise in ruggedized sensor development, data fusion architectures, and unmanned maritime platforms. Ms. Lems demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 18.2% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her contracts are open competition, she actively encourages qualified small businesses to compete for opportunities in technical domains aligned with Coast Guard R&D priorities. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach that prioritizes innovation while supporting socioeconomic goals through small business engagement. Her primary NAICS focus includes environmental consulting services, search and detection system manufacturing, and navigational services to shipping. She routinely procures advanced maritime sensors, autonomous vessel systems, environmental monitoring equipment, and inland waterway logistics support technologies. Her expertise lies at the intersection of operational maritime needs and cutting-edge engineering solutions, ensuring that acquisitions directly enhance Coast Guard mission effectiveness in complex maritime environments.