Sharon Kent

Sharon S. Kent serves as a Contract Specialist within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), supporting the agency’s mission to advance scientific understanding of oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal systems. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions, from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration, ensuring compliance with FAR and agency-specific regulations. Her acquisitions primarily support environmental monitoring, research and development, and operational infrastructure, enabling NOAA’s critical work in climate resilience, weather forecasting, and marine ecosystem protection. Kent maintains consistent relationships with a diverse pool of contractors, including specialized environmental consulting firms like Pure Enviro-Management, LLC, research service providers such as Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP, and technical service organizations including JNB Services LLC and the Regents of the University of Colorado. She frequently collaborates with both small businesses and educational entities, fostering partnerships that align with NOAA’s scientific and operational needs. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical expertise, often engaging vendors with proven capabilities in environmental data systems and field instrumentation. Her procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with approximately 70.7% of awards issued without set-asides. However, she actively supports small business participation, with nearly 27.3% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and minor allocations to HUBZone and Women-Owned Small Business concerns, demonstrating a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals. Kent’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541990 (Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), followed by 541712 (Research and Development in Physical and Engineering Sciences) and 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services). She routinely acquires services related to environmental data analysis, field sampling, remote sensing support, and specialized equipment leasing, reflecting deep expertise in scientific and technical procurement domains critical to NOAA’s operational success.