Andrew Cates

Andrew Cates serves as a key procurement lead within the FA3010 81 Cons Cc under the Department of the Air Force, overseeing acquisitions critical to sustaining and modernizing military infrastructure and medical support systems. He manages a diverse portfolio of construction and engineering contracts aimed at enhancing operational readiness, including barracks modernization, facility upgrades, and mission-critical environmental and communications systems. His role centers on ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the Air Force’s strategic infrastructure priorities, emphasizing timely delivery, quality assurance, and long-term sustainment of high-use facilities. Cates maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, TRIPOD CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC, and VETERAN ELEVATED SOLUTIONS, LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for firms with proven expertise in site preparation, commercial building construction, and civil engineering services. His contracting approach emphasizes reliability, performance history, and local operational knowledge, fostering long-term vendor collaboration to meet mission-critical deadlines and quality standards across geographically dispersed installations. A defining feature of Cates’ procurement strategy is his strong emphasis on socioeconomic set-asides, with over 81% of awards designated for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs), reflecting a deep institutional commitment to veteran-owned enterprise. HUBZone contractors account for an additional 11% of awards, demonstrating a deliberate effort to channel resources into economically disadvantaged communities. This pattern underscores a strategic alignment with DoD mandates to promote equitable small business participation in defense infrastructure contracting. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS categories 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction), and 238910 (Site Preparation), indicating expertise in heavy civil engineering and facility development. He regularly manages contracts for electrical systems, site grading, and infrastructure rehabilitation, requiring precise technical oversight and adherence to military construction specifications. His domain knowledge spans both structural and utility systems essential to Air Force base resilience and mission continuity.