Lori A. Love

Lori A. Love serves as the primary contracting lead for the Drug Enforcement Administration, playing a critical role in advancing the agency’s mission to disrupt illicit drug trafficking through strategic procurement of enforcement-enabled capabilities. She oversees the acquisition of secure communications systems, forensic analytical instrumentation, and cyber-enabled surveillance technologies that support intelligence-driven investigations. Her work ensures that DEA field operations are equipped with mission-critical tools compliant with federal security standards, aligning procurement decisions with national security priorities and operational exigencies. Love maintains consistent partnerships with a select group of contractors including VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC, ARCTIC SLOPE MISSION SERVICES LLC, FORFEITURE SUPPORT ASSOCIATES LLC, METLANG LLC, and NTT DATA FEDERAL SERVICES, INC. These relationships reflect a focus on specialized vendors capable of delivering tailored solutions in digital forensics, asset forfeiture support, and secure IT infrastructure. Her contracting approach emphasizes reliability, compliance, and technical precision, often requiring vendors to meet stringent DOJ and DEA cybersecurity and data integrity requirements. Her procurement patterns reveal an overwhelming preference for Local Area Set-Aside contracts under FAR 26.2, accounting for 94.7% of her awards, indicating a strong commitment to supporting regional economic development and small business participation within the agency’s operational footprint. This pattern underscores a deliberate strategy to leverage local vendors for logistical and mission support services, reinforcing community-based contracting practices. Notably, her NAICS classification focus is heavily concentrated in 721110 (Hotels and Motels) and 722320 (Caterers), reflecting the necessity to procure lodging and hospitality services for DEA personnel conducting extended field operations, surveillance deployments, and multi-agency task force activities. While seemingly non-traditional, these categories are mission-enabling, ensuring operational continuity and compliance with federal travel and accommodation standards.