Shirley M McCarthy

Shirley M. McCarthy serves as a Contract Specialist at the Public Buildings Service R1 Administration Support Center-BOS under the General Services Administration, where she manages the acquisition of critical facilities maintenance and operational support services for federal properties in Region 1. Her role encompasses the full lifecycle of procurement—from needs assessment and market research to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and GSA policy. She routinely handles complex service-based acquisitions including building systems maintenance, environmental operations, and facility support contracts, aligning procurement outcomes with the agency’s mission to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable federal workspaces. McCarthy works closely with a diverse base of contractors specializing in building infrastructure and facility services, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance accountability and regulatory adherence. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she engages regularly with firms possessing proven capabilities in HVAC, plumbing, glazing, and integrated facilities management. Her procurement approach emphasizes competitive bidding, clear performance metrics, and post-award oversight to ensure contractor compliance and mission readiness. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with approximately 74% of awards issued without set-asides. However, she consistently prioritizes small business participation, with nearly 16% of awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and over 10% reserved for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. This demonstrates a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility and market competitiveness. McCarthy’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors) and 561210 (Facilities Support Services), reflecting her technical expertise in building systems maintenance and integrated operations. She also procures related services such as glass and glazing installations and real estate support activities, demonstrating a deep understanding of the physical infrastructure lifecycle and the interdependent nature of federal facility management.