Laura B. Harshbarger

Laura B. Harshbarger serves as a Contract Specialist within the Preparedness SECTION (PRE20) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Department of Homeland Security, where she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions to support national resilience initiatives. Her work centers on acquiring critical administrative, technical, and logistical services that enhance emergency response capacity, incident management frameworks, and workforce readiness. She routinely handles complex acquisitions under FAR Part 12 and Part 15, with a focus on performance-based contracting and requirements development aligned with DHS mission priorities. Her portfolio spans a diverse range of technical and support services essential to operational preparedness. While specific contractor names are not disclosed, Harshbarger maintains a broad network of vendor partnerships, engaging both large-capacity providers and small businesses across specialized technical domains. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach to market engagement, ensuring competitive solicitations while fostering long-term vendor relationships built on compliance, performance accountability, and mission alignment. She actively collaborates with industry stakeholders through pre-solicitation outreach and market research to refine requirements and encourage participation from diverse sources. Harshbarger demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 76.3% of her acquisitions conducted as open competitions and 15.8% designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. An additional 7.9% are competed under the 8(a) program, reflecting her strategic emphasis on expanding opportunities for disadvantaged businesses. Her contracting patterns consistently prioritize small business inclusion without compromising competition or mission outcomes. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services), 334516 and 334519 (analytical and control instrumentation manufacturing), and 811219 (miscellaneous technical repair services), indicating a specialization in training systems, laboratory equipment, and precision measurement devices. She also procures specialized computer services under NAICS 541519, underscoring her expertise in technical solutions that support data-driven emergency operations and incident analysis.