Laura Quave

Laura Quave serves as a primary contracting professional within the NASA Shared Services Center, responsible for managing mission-critical acquisitions that sustain NASA’s scientific and operational infrastructure. She oversees the procurement of high-precision analytical instruments, specialized software systems, and engineering services essential to advancing space exploration and Earth science missions. Her work directly supports the agency’s mandate to enable enterprise-wide technical capabilities through strategic sourcing of cutting-edge technology, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-aligned specifications. Quave maintains consistent contracting relationships with NEXTROW INC and PENN OAK SERVICES LLC, both of which provide specialized instrumentation, software development, and technical support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical reliability and performance-based outcomes, often engaging contractors with demonstrated expertise in laboratory-grade equipment and mission-critical data systems. These relationships reflect a preference for vendors capable of delivering customized, high-integrity solutions under stringent NASA quality and security standards. Her contracting patterns show a strong emphasis on small business participation, with 36.6% of awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of acquisitions remain open to all competitors, Quave actively prioritizes opportunities for small businesses with relevant technical capabilities, aligning with NASA’s broader socioeconomic goals without compromising mission requirements. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Software Publishers (513210), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), and Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), reflecting deep expertise in procuring scientific instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and mission-specific software. She specializes in sourcing precision measurement devices, laboratory automation tools, and research-grade computing platforms that underpin NASA’s experimental and analytical workflows.