Nicole Gould

Nicole Gould serves as a procurement lead within the Information Technology Commodities and Telecommunications unit of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where she oversees the acquisition of mission-critical IT infrastructure and secure telecommunications systems essential to national disaster response and emergency operations. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of contracts for hardware, software, network services, and command-and-control platforms that ensure interoperability across federal, state, and local emergency agencies. She plays a pivotal role in aligning procurement strategy with DHS cybersecurity standards and FEMA’s resilience objectives, ensuring that acquired technologies support real-time data sharing, secure communications, and operational continuity during crises. Gould maintains collaborative relationships with a broad spectrum of technology vendors, including prime contractors specializing in defense-grade communications, cloud-based data platforms, and cybersecurity solutions. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with firms capable of delivering FISMA-compliant systems, encrypted radio networks, and scalable IT services that meet stringent federal interoperability requirements. Her working patterns emphasize performance-based contracting, rigorous technical evaluations, and vendor accountability under firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement mechanisms. Her procurement approach reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-aside designations, indicating a focus on capability, compliance, and mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences. This reflects a strategic prioritization of technical merit and operational readiness in high-stakes emergency environments. Gould’s primary acquisition focus centers on NAICS categories related to telecommunications equipment, enterprise IT services, and cybersecurity infrastructure. She routinely procures secure voice and data networks, satellite communications systems, hardened endpoints, and integrated emergency management software platforms. Her technical expertise lies in ensuring that all acquired systems adhere to NIST standards and support the National Incident Management System, enabling seamless coordination across multi-agency response efforts.