Alice Cords

Alice Cords serves as a procurement lead for the Port of Bellingham, overseeing the acquisition of specialized fabricated metal products and engineering services critical to the port’s infrastructure modernization and sustainability initiatives. In this role, she ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while aligning contract awards with the agency’s strategic priorities in maritime operations, environmental remediation, and transportation connectivity. Her responsibilities include managing full lifecycle procurements—from needs assessment and solicitation development to contract award and performance monitoring—primarily for capital improvement projects involving terminal upgrades and renewable energy integration. While no specific contractor relationships are currently documented, Cords routinely engages with vendors capable of delivering custom metal fabrication and technical engineering solutions tailored to marine environments. Her procurement patterns suggest a preference for vendors with demonstrated expertise in corrosion-resistant materials, structural steel fabrication, and shore power system design. She fosters collaborative, performance-based vendor partnerships that emphasize technical compliance, safety standards, and long-term operational reliability. Cords maintains a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-aside designations. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability and value over socioeconomic categorization, though she remains compliant with all federal small business participation requirements. Her approach prioritizes merit-based selection, ensuring that qualified firms—regardless of size or certification—are evaluated on technical merit, past performance, and alignment with the Port’s operational needs. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 332999 (All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing) and 541330 (Engineering Services), encompassing custom marine hardware, structural components for piers and cranes, and specialized civil and mechanical engineering design. She has deep expertise in procuring solutions that meet U.S. Coast Guard and EPA standards, particularly in projects involving sustainable energy infrastructure, including shore power and solar integration systems for port facilities.