Norma C. James

Norma C. James serves as a Contracting Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard’s CEU JUNEAU (70Z087) unit under the Department of Homeland Security, where she manages complex acquisitions to sustain and modernize critical infrastructure in Alaska and other remote, austere environments. Her portfolio primarily encompasses construction, repair, and environmental remediation projects essential to operational readiness, including facilities, utilities, and support systems in challenging Arctic and coastal conditions. She exercises full contracting authority under the FAR, ensuring compliance with federal procurement standards while aligning acquisitions with the agency’s strategic goals for resilience and mission continuity. James cultivates strong partnerships with a diverse range of vendors, particularly small businesses capable of delivering specialized services in remote logistics, heavy construction, and industrial maintenance. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages firms with proven experience in extreme-environment engineering, cold-weather construction techniques, and military-grade infrastructure repair. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous site assessments, and vendor qualifications tailored to the unique demands of Arctic operations. A staunch advocate for small business participation, James directs 81.8% of her acquisitions toward total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate and sustained commitment to socioeconomic contracting. Her awards frequently support 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB firms with expertise in infrastructure maintenance and environmental compliance, reinforcing the agency’s mission to empower underserved communities while building local capacity in Alaska and other underserved regions. Her technical focus centers on NAICS 237310 (highway and bridge construction), 238290 (building equipment contracting), and 811310 (industrial machinery repair), underscoring her specialization in civil works, mechanical systems, and facility sustainment. She routinely procures services related to power transmission, pipeline infrastructure, and environmental remediation, demonstrating deep domain knowledge in mission-critical infrastructure lifecycle management under extreme operational constraints.