Linda D Brainard

Linda D. Brainard serves as a Contracting Officer within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she manages the acquisition of professional, scientific, and technical services critical to advancing oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal research. Her portfolio supports NOAA’s mission of environmental stewardship and climate resilience through the procurement of data collection systems, modeling tools, and operational support services. She specializes in complex, performance-based contracts requiring technical expertise in environmental science and remote sensing, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-aligned outcomes. Brainard maintains established relationships with a range of contractors, including WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD, TRONCONI SEGARRA & ASSOCIATES LLP, JNB SERVICES LLC, PURE ENVIRO-MANAGEMENT, LLC, and THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. These partnerships reflect a blend of academic, consulting, and specialized service providers engaged in environmental analysis, scientific research, and technical advisory services. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term collaboration with vendors capable of delivering high-integrity scientific outputs under stringent regulatory and data governance frameworks. While the majority of her acquisitions are open to all competitors, Brainard consistently allocates approximately 20% of her portfolio to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to fostering small business participation in NOAA’s scientific missions. She does not typically utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, instead prioritizing broad small business eligibility to encourage innovation and capacity building across diverse service providers. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS codes 541990, 541690, and 541620, reflecting deep engagement with environmental consulting, scientific research services, and specialized technical support. She frequently acquires services related to ecosystem monitoring, climate modeling, and coastal resilience planning, underscoring her expertise in procuring mission-critical scientific and analytical capabilities to support NOAA’s operational and research imperatives.