Mary E. Nauss

Mary E. Nauss serves as a procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in advanced technology and engineering domains. She plays a critical role in executing the agency’s mission by overseeing the solicitation, evaluation, and award of contracts for mission-critical systems, particularly in aerospace instrumentation and electronic component manufacturing. Her work ensures timely delivery of high-performance systems used in defense, navigation, and communication applications. Nauss typically handles competitive procurements under FAR Part 15, with a strong emphasis on technical merit and industrial base resilience, often coordinating with engineering and program management teams to align contract requirements with operational needs. Her contractor relationships span a diverse base of industry partners, including firms specializing in aeronautical system integration, electronic component fabrication, and professional engineering services. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with mid-tier and small technology manufacturers capable of meeting stringent performance and compliance standards. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and long-term vendor collaboration, fostering innovation through clear technical specifications and rigorous source selection criteria. Nauss demonstrates a clear preference for open competition, with 83.3% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides, reflecting a focus on broad market access and technical capability. However, she actively supports small business participation, allocating 16.7% of her awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, ensuring opportunities for qualified small firms in high-tech manufacturing and engineering services. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334511 for aeronautical and navigation systems, complemented by significant activity in engineering services (541330), electronic component manufacturing (334419), and software development (511210). She specializes in procuring precision instruments, avionics subsystems, and mission-critical electronic assemblies, demonstrating deep technical fluency in defense and aerospace procurement domains.