Susan Eicher

Susan Eicher supports the Contract Administration Services Division within the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Procurement Operations, where she plays a critical role in managing the acquisition of professional, scientific, and technical services essential to national security and operational readiness. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract administration for high-priority R&D and systems engineering efforts, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while advancing mission-critical capabilities in physical and engineering sciences. She routinely oversees complex service contracts requiring technical oversight, performance monitoring, and contractor accountability to maintain systems integrity across DHS operations. Eicher cultivates strategic partnerships with a diverse range of contractors, including large prime firms specializing in defense and cybersecurity services, as well as niche technical service providers with deep domain expertise in systems engineering and research support. Her working relationships emphasize performance-based outcomes, rigorous contract compliance, and collaborative problem-solving to meet evolving operational demands. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages vendors capable of delivering high-assurance technical solutions under stringent security and compliance standards. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 77.3% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. Nevertheless, she actively promotes socioeconomic opportunities, allocating 13.6% of awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and 9.1% to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both efficiency and inclusive contracting. Eicher’s primary technical focus lies in NAICS 541712—research and development in physical and engineering sciences—where she procures advanced scientific services, systems engineering support, and cybersecurity R&D. Additional focus areas include national security operations (928110) and specialized computer services (541519), reflecting her expertise in supporting DHS’s mission through technically complex, mission-driven acquisitions.