Matthew A. Phelps

Matthew A. Phelps serves as a Contract Specialist within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that support the agency’s mission of advancing oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal science. He manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions spanning research and development, facilities support, and specialized equipment manufacturing, ensuring compliance with federal contracting regulations and alignment with NOAA’s strategic priorities in environmental monitoring and climate resilience. His work directly enables the procurement of critical instrumentation, data systems, and operational services essential to NOAA’s scientific and operational missions. Phelps maintains consistent working relationships with a select group 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, technical services, and environmental management vendors, indicating a preference for firms with proven expertise in scientific support, environmental compliance, and specialized engineering services. His contracting patterns suggest a focus on long-term, mission-critical collaborations rather than transactional procurement. A strong advocate for small business participation, Phelps consistently prioritizes Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with 55% of his awards designated for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster economic inclusion and leverage the innovation capacity of small, agile vendors. His contracting patterns show no reliance on 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, indicating a broad-based small business focus rather than targeted socioeconomic programs. His primary NAICS focus areas include Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Research and Development in Physical and Engineering Sciences (541712), and Facilities Support Services (561210), underscoring his expertise in procuring maritime infrastructure, scientific R&D, and operational support services. He frequently acquires specialized communications equipment (334220) and professional technical services (541990), demonstrating deep familiarity with the technical demands of NOAA’s oceanographic and atmospheric research programs.