Matt Sanders

Matt Sanders serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), supporting complex procurement initiatives aligned with the agency’s mission to advance oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal science. In this role, he provides technical oversight and acquisition strategy for high-stakes contracts involving marine instrumentation, environmental monitoring systems, and coastal infrastructure solutions. His expertise bridges scientific requirements with federal contracting regulations, ensuring that acquisitions meet rigorous technical standards while adhering to FAR compliance. Sanders typically handles acquisitions for specialized equipment, research support services, and operational systems critical to NOAA’s observational networks and predictive modeling capabilities. He maintains consistent working relationships with a select group 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 preference for institutions with proven capabilities in marine technology development, environmental compliance, and scientific data management. Sanders fosters collaborative, long-term vendor relationships grounded in technical credibility and performance reliability, often engaging firms with domain-specific experience in oceanographic instrumentation and coastal resilience systems. His procurement patterns show a strong emphasis on open competition, with 74.2% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. However, he actively supports small business participation, with nearly one-fifth of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and a notable focus on Women-Owned Small Businesses. This reflects a balanced approach that prioritizes technical excellence while promoting socioeconomic diversity in the contractor base. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), reflecting NOAA’s need for vessel modifications and maritime platform integration. He also regularly procures services under NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services) for facility maintenance and 334511 (Nautical System Manufacturing) for navigation and sensing equipment, demonstrating deep expertise in maritime and environmental technology domains.