Linda S DiStefano

Linda S. DiStefano serves as a Contracting Officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she manages the acquisition of scientific, environmental, and operational services critical to NOAA’s mission of advancing oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal research. She oversees the full lifecycle of procurements—from market research and solicitation to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal regulations and alignment with NOAA’s strategic priorities in climate resilience, marine ecosystem protection, and predictive modeling. Her portfolio primarily includes professional, scientific, and technical services supporting data collection, environmental analysis, and coastal infrastructure initiatives. DiStefano maintains consistent working relationships with a diverse set of contractors, including the 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, nonprofit, and small business entities engaged in environmental research, technical consulting, and specialized operational support. Her procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with organizations possessing domain-specific expertise in marine science and environmental management. A strong advocate for small business participation, DiStefano consistently prioritizes Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with 76.4% of her awards designated for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster economic inclusion and leverage the innovation of small, agile vendors in support of NOAA’s mission-critical objectives. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a clear preference for socioeconomic programs that enhance competition and expand the pool of qualified federal suppliers. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), 541990 (Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), and 114111 (Finfish Fishing), underscoring her expertise in procuring scientific research, environmental monitoring services, and fisheries-related data collection. She regularly supports acquisitions involving oceanographic instrumentation, ecological modeling, and coastal resource management, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with NOAA’s operational and scientific domains.