Susan Messina

Susan Messina 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 complex acquisitions for advanced detection systems, cybersecurity services, and operational support solutions, including explosive detection equipment, irradiation systems, and GPS-enabled rail monitoring technologies. Her work directly supports the agency’s mandate to modernize aviation and transit infrastructure through technically sophisticated, high-integrity procurements that align with federal acquisition regulations and national security priorities. Messina cultivates strategic partnerships with a diverse range of vendors, including prime contractors specializing in aerospace engineering, systems integration, and cybersecurity services. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages firms with proven expertise in designing and deploying secure, mission-specific technologies for federal transportation environments. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous technical evaluations, and vendor accountability to ensure compliance with stringent security and reliability standards. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 83.3% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides, while maintaining a deliberate 16.7% commitment to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This balance enables her to access specialized technical capabilities while fostering opportunities for qualified small businesses, particularly those with expertise in engineering and IT services. She does not prioritize specific socioeconomic categories like 8(a) or HUBZone, instead focusing on capability-driven competition within the small business base. Messina’s primary NAICS focus includes 511210 (Software Publishers), 541330 (Engineering Services), and 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), reflecting her emphasis on software-enabled security systems and technical consulting. She also regularly procures from manufacturers in NAICS 334511 for detection and navigation instrumentation and contractors in 488119 for airport operations support. Her domain expertise centers on integrating cutting-edge technologies into high-stakes transportation security environments, ensuring acquisitions meet both operational needs and regulatory compliance standards.