Shawnna Sims

Shawnna Sims serves as a Contracting Officer within the Department of Homeland Security’s Contracting and Procurement office under the Transportation Security Administration, where she plays a pivotal role in securing mission-critical capabilities to enhance national transportation security. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for specialized equipment and support services, including explosive detection systems, irradiation apparatus, and GPS-enabled rail monitoring technologies. Her work directly supports the agency’s strategic imperative to modernize aviation and transit security infrastructure through compliant, efficient, and technically sound procurement practices. Sims ensures all acquisitions align with federal regulations and DHS procurement policies, prioritizing performance-based outcomes and risk mitigation in high-stakes operational environments. While specific contractor relationships are not currently available in the dataset, Sims routinely engages with a diverse pool of vendors capable of delivering complex, high-integrity security solutions. Her contracting patterns suggest collaboration with firms possessing technical expertise in detection systems, cybersecurity services, and operational logistics, often requiring rigorous certification and compliance with DHS security standards. She fosters partnerships with both large prime contractors and qualified small businesses, emphasizing accountability, innovation, and supply chain resilience. Sims demonstrates a clear preference for non-set-aside procurements, with 75% of her acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. However, she actively supports socioeconomic goals by allocating 25% of her portfolio to HUBZone-certified small businesses, reflecting a balanced commitment to both efficiency and equitable opportunity in federal contracting. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services) and NAICS 611699 (All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction), which may reflect ancillary support needs for secure facility operations and specialized training programs. Though seemingly divergent from core security tech, these categories likely support mission-enabling functions such as cleanroom maintenance for detection equipment or security workforce development. Sims brings nuanced expertise in aligning non-traditional service contracts with high-security operational requirements.