Susan G Knose

Susan G. Knose serves as a Contract Specialist within the Procurement Directorate Contracting Division of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that sustain border security operations and enhance canine enforcement capabilities. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for specialized analytical instrumentation, detection equipment, and support services essential to the agency’s operational readiness. Her portfolio centers on high-precision technical procurement aligned with federal acquisition regulations, ensuring timely delivery of mission-enabling resources to frontline personnel. Knose’s work directly supports the agency’s strategic priorities in canine detection, facility security, and advanced analytical capabilities. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Knose maintains robust working relationships with a diverse pool of vendors, including manufacturers of laboratory and detection instrumentation, pet care service providers, and technical support firms. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, competitive bidding, and compliance with FAR standards, fostering transparent and accountable vendor partnerships. She frequently engages with firms possessing specialized technical certifications and proven experience in federal government contracting environments. Knose’s procurement strategy reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 20% of her awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and a modest but consistent allocation to HUBZone concerns. While the majority of her contracts remain open to all competitors, her active use of socioeconomic set-asides demonstrates a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for small, disadvantaged, and geographically targeted businesses. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in acquiring sophisticated detection and analytical systems used in narcotics, explosives, and contraband identification. She also regularly procures pet care services under NAICS 812910 to sustain the agency’s K9 units, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of both high-tech instrumentation and operational logistics supporting canine teams.