Kristin Tauber

Kristin Tauber serves as a key procurement professional at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance human spaceflight systems and life sciences research. She manages complex acquisitions in engineering, analytical instrumentation, and software development, ensuring that critical capabilities for crewed missions—ranging from microgravity physiology studies to spacecraft guidance systems—are delivered with technical rigor and regulatory compliance. Her work directly enables mission-critical research and operational readiness for low Earth orbit, lunar, and deep space exploration programs, with a focus on high-integrity, mission-essential contracts that align with NASA’s strategic priorities in radiation biology and human systems integration. Tauber maintains strategic relationships with specialized contractors including Sierra Space Corp, Aspera Biomedicines, Inc., and Single Crystal Diamond Inc., reflecting a preference for niche technology providers with deep domain expertise in advanced materials, biomedical instrumentation, and spacecraft systems. Her contracting patterns indicate a reliance on vendors capable of delivering custom-engineered solutions, particularly in precision manufacturing and laboratory-grade analytical equipment. She fosters long-term partnerships with firms that demonstrate proven technical capability, innovation, and adherence to NASA’s stringent quality and safety standards. Her procurement portfolio is predominantly open competition, with 85.7% of awards issued under no set-aside, indicating a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic preferences. However, she consistently allocates 14.3% of awards to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but deliberate commitment to small business participation where technical requirements permit. Her primary NAICS focus includes Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), reflecting heavy investment in mission-critical software for life support systems and data analysis, alongside Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516) and Hardware Manufacturing (332510), underscoring her technical expertise in procuring specialized scientific instruments and embedded systems for spaceflight applications. She also engages with institutions in higher education (611310) for research collaboration and workforce development initiatives tied to NASA’s human exploration goals.