Phyllis A. Reaves

Phyllis A. Reaves serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contract Administration Services Division (70RCAS) of the Department of Homeland Security, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions that support national security and operational readiness. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of professional, scientific, and technical service contracts, with a focus on research and development, systems engineering, and cybersecurity-enabled capabilities. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the agency’s mission to strengthen critical infrastructure and advance technical innovation across physical and engineering sciences. Reaves collaborates with a diverse pool of contractors, including prime vendors specializing in testing laboratories, hazardous waste management, and electrical systems integration. Her working relationships are characterized by a focus on technical proficiency, regulatory compliance, and performance-based outcomes. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages firms with demonstrated expertise in niche technical domains, fostering long-term partnerships that support mission-critical service delivery. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. However, she actively promotes small business participation, with 20% of awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Though specific socioeconomic categories like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB are not prominently featured, her approach supports broad small business engagement through competitive, non-preferential pathways that encourage capability-based selection. Reaves specializes in procurements under NAICS 541712 for physical and engineering R&D, with significant activity in testing services (541380), hazardous waste handling (562112, 562211), and electrical installation (238210). Her technical expertise spans laboratory validation, environmental compliance, and infrastructure modernization, ensuring that acquisitions meet stringent security and operational standards across DHS mission areas.