Lori Smith

Lori Smith serves as a Contracting Officer for the National Continuity SECTION (CON50) within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where she oversees the acquisition of critical infrastructure and technical services essential to national emergency communications resilience. Her portfolio centers on securing robust, redundant, and secure systems that sustain operational continuity during catastrophic events. She manages a diverse range of procurements under FAR Part 15, including construction, engineering support, and specialized technical services, ensuring compliance with DHS and FEMA mission-critical standards. Smith plays a pivotal role in aligning acquisition strategies with the agency’s mandate to harden national communication networks against disruption. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Smith maintains collaborative relationships with a broad spectrum of vendors, including firms specializing in communications infrastructure, emergency response logistics, and systems integration. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, lifecycle cost analysis, and technical validation, fostering partnerships with both large primes and qualified small businesses capable of delivering rapid, secure solutions under high-stakes conditions. Smith exhibits a strong preference for open competition, with 78.6% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides, reflecting the urgency and complexity of mission requirements. However, she consistently allocates 21.4% of awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding small business participation without compromising operational readiness or technical integrity. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237130 for power and communication line construction, with significant activity in administrative management consulting (541611), motor vehicle towing (488410), automotive repair (811111), and tire manufacturing (326211). These reflect the multifaceted nature of continuity operations—spanning physical infrastructure, fleet support, and strategic planning—underscoring her expertise in integrating disparate technical domains to sustain national resilience.