Mimi Antonio Hetzel

Mimi Antonio Hetzel serves as a Contract Specialist within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), supporting the agency’s mission to advance scientific understanding of oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal systems through strategic procurement of technical and environmental services. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirement development and market research to contract award and administration, ensuring compliance with FAR and agency-specific regulations. Her portfolio primarily encompasses professional, scientific, and technical services critical to environmental monitoring, research, and coastal resilience initiatives, with a focus on delivering mission-critical capabilities through transparent and competitive contracting practices. Hetzel 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 blend of academic, environmental consulting, and specialized service providers with deep expertise in marine science, data analysis, and environmental management. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term collaboration with vendors who demonstrate technical proficiency, regulatory compliance, and alignment with NOAA’s scientific objectives. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 70% of awards issued without set-aside designations, while maintaining a deliberate 30% commitment to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This balance underscores her dedication to fostering competition while actively enabling small business participation across diverse socioeconomic categories, including SBA-certified firms and service-disabled veteran-owned enterprises. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services), reflecting her specialization in procuring scientific research, environmental impact assessments, and data analytics. She also regularly acquires services under 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing) and 483114 (Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation), supporting NOAA’s operational fleet and field research needs, while occasionally sourcing specialized analytical instrumentation under 334516.