Mrs. Elizabeth Van Horn

Elizabeth A. Van Horn serves as a Contracting Specialist responsible for managing complex acquisition programs aligned with federal procurement regulations under FAR Part 19 and related socioeconomic authorities. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring mission-critical services are procured efficiently and in compliance with statutory small business goals. Her portfolio primarily encompasses flight training services and research and development activities in physical, engineering, and life sciences, supporting national defense, aviation, and scientific innovation objectives. Van Horn exercises full contracting authority from solicitation through award and contract administration, ensuring transparency, competition, and regulatory adherence across all phases of the acquisition lifecycle. Van Horn cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse range of vendors, particularly those qualified to deliver specialized flight instruction and scientific R&D services. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages both large prime contractors and small business subcontractors to ensure technical excellence and market diversity. Her working model emphasizes open competition, clear performance metrics, and performance-based contracting structures to drive accountability and outcomes. A strong advocate for small business participation, Van Horn prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, directing approximately 60% of her acquisitions to small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster economic opportunity and enhance innovation through socioeconomic contracting. Her pattern demonstrates consistent alignment with federal goals to expand access for small businesses, with no preference for 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides—instead favoring broad small business eligibility under the Total Small Business category. Her technical expertise centers on NAICS 611512 (Flight Training) and 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), where she procures curriculum development, simulator systems, flight instructor services, laboratory testing, and engineering analysis. Van Horn’s domain knowledge ensures acquisitions meet rigorous technical standards while supporting mission-critical aviation and scientific programs.