Nina Payne-Smithers

Nina Payne-Smithers serves as a Supervisor in federal procurement, overseeing the planning, solicitation, and award of complex hardware and aerospace-related acquisitions. In this leadership role, she ensures compliance with FAR regulations while guiding contract teams through technical evaluations, source selection, and post-award management. Her portfolio centers on high-precision manufacturing and defense-critical components, aligning with national security and infrastructure modernization priorities. She routinely manages solicitations requiring rigorous engineering validation and supply chain integrity, often coordinating with technical specialists to define performance-based requirements. While specific contractor names are not available, her procurement patterns indicate consistent engagement with manufacturers capable of meeting stringent MIL-SPEC and AS9100 standards. She fosters partnerships with firms possessing advanced fabrication capabilities, particularly those experienced in precision metalworking, electronic component integration, and turbine system assembly. Her approach emphasizes vendor reliability, quality control systems, and on-time delivery performance, reflecting a preference for contractors with proven track records in regulated industrial environments. Payne-Smithers demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 34% of her awards directed toward Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, and an additional 6.2% allocated to HUBZone firms. Though the majority of her acquisitions remain open to full and open competition, her consistent use of small business set-asides signals a deliberate strategy to expand market access for qualified disadvantaged and geographically targeted vendors, in alignment with federal socioeconomic goals. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 332510 (Hardware Manufacturing), with significant activity in turbine and aircraft component manufacturing (333611 and 336413). She specializes in sourcing mission-critical hardware including turbine generator units, aircraft auxiliary systems, and custom electronic components, reflecting deep expertise in defense aerospace and industrial control systems. Her technical domain knowledge ensures that solicitations accurately capture performance, durability, and interoperability requirements for high-stakes applications.