Amanda J. Mercado

Amanda J. Mercado serves as a Contract Administrator for FA2550 50 Cons Pkp within the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions for aerospace and space domain systems. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for advanced communications infrastructure, precision electronic instrumentation, and mission-support services essential to national defense. Her work directly enables the modernization of satellite telecommunications, ground-based radio networks, and real-time data acquisition systems, ensuring operational readiness across space and air operations. Mercado specializes in complex technical procurements requiring stringent compliance with DoD acquisition regulations and cybersecurity standards. Her primary contractor relationships include the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and Blue Skies Furniture LLC, reflecting a unique blend of public-sector collaboration and niche vendor engagement. While these entities may appear atypical for a space operations context, their involvement suggests specialized support services—such as workforce development coordination or facility logistics—that underpin the agency’s operational sustainment. Mercado fosters collaborative, compliance-driven partnerships, emphasizing transparency and adherence to federal contracting protocols. Mercado demonstrates an unwavering commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 100% of her acquisitions designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This consistent preference underscores a strategic focus on empowering small businesses as vital contributors to national defense innovation. She actively prioritizes small business participation across all contract types, ensuring equitable access to high-value technical opportunities. Her procurement portfolio is evenly split between NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 562111 (Solid Waste Collection), indicating a dual focus on advanced technical engineering support and specialized environmental services for remote or expeditionary sites. This uncommon combination reveals expertise in both high-tech systems integration and mission-enabling logistics, reflecting the unique operational demands of aerospace and space infrastructure sustainment.