LaShawn Smith

La Shawn Smith serves as a Contracting Officer within the Community Survivor Assistance SEC under the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where she leads the acquisition of mission-critical goods and services to support disaster-affected communities. Her portfolio centers on rapid deployment of temporary housing, operational infrastructure, and essential support services following major emergencies. She manages full lifecycle procurements—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations while prioritizing speed, scalability, and resilience in response operations. Her work directly enables the agency’s mandate to deliver safe, dignified, and functional living conditions to survivors. Smith maintains a broad vendor network across diverse industries, primarily engaging with general contractors, engineering firms, and specialized manufacturers of transportable housing and infrastructure components. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently partners with firms capable of delivering turnkey solutions under tight timelines, including those with expertise in modular construction, emergency power systems, and logistics coordination. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and clear deliverables to ensure accountability in high-stakes environments. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 95.7% of awards issued without set-asides, indicating a focus on maximizing competition and capability. Nevertheless, she actively supports small business participation, with 4.3% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to socioeconomic goals without compromising mission readiness. Smith’s procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 561990 (All Other Support Services), 335312 (Motor and Generator Manufacturing), and 541330 (Engineering Services), reflecting her expertise in acquiring emergency power systems, temporary facility support, and technical design services. She also frequently procures roofing, siding, and insulation materials through 423330, underscoring her operational grasp of shelter construction and environmental resilience. Her domain expertise lies at the intersection of emergency response logistics and infrastructure deployment.