Sandra K Shaffner

Sandra K. Shaffner serves as a Contract Specialist within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she plays a critical role in executing complex procurement actions that support the agency’s mission of environmental monitoring, oceanographic research, and climate resilience. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for professional, scientific, and technical services, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and aligning contracting strategies with NOAA’s operational priorities in marine science, weather forecasting, and coastal infrastructure. Her work directly enables the acquisition of data collection systems, analytical tools, and research support services essential to advancing Earth system science. Shaffner maintains consistent relationships with a diverse pool of contractors, including WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD, TRONCONI SEGARRA & ASSOCIATES LLP, JNB SERVICES LLC, PURE ENVIRO-MANAGEMENT, LLC, and THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. These partnerships reflect a blend of academic institutions, specialized consulting firms, and environmental service providers, indicating a preference for entities with technical expertise in environmental science, data analysis, and operational support. Her contracting patterns suggest a focus on collaborative, mission-critical engagements that require domain-specific knowledge and agile delivery models. Her procurement portfolio demonstrates a strong emphasis on open competition, with 81.3% of awards issued without set-aside designations, while maintaining a meaningful commitment to small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, accounting for 18.8% of awards. This balance reflects a strategic approach to ensuring both competition and socioeconomic inclusion without compromising mission requirements. Shaffner’s primary NAICS focus areas include 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), underscoring her specialization in procuring research support, environmental modeling, and technical advisory services. She also regularly engages vendors in educational support and higher education sectors, aligning with NOAA’s partnerships with academic institutions for workforce development and scientific collaboration.