Andrew Hertel

Andrew Hertel serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Precision Systems Division, supporting advanced research and development initiatives for the Department of the Air Force. He manages complex acquisitions of high-precision analytical instrumentation, electromagnetic measurement systems, and specialized data acquisition software critical to aerospace and defense missions. His work directly enables the design, integration, and sustainment of mission-critical scientific platforms, ensuring alignment with AFRL’s strategic priorities in next-generation sensing and signal analysis. Hertel typically handles competitive procurements under FAR Part 15, with a focus on technical evaluations for R&D and engineering services requiring rigorous performance specifications. Hertel maintains consistent partnerships with leading technology providers, including The MathWorks, Inc. for advanced simulation and modeling software, and Potomac Electrical Services, LLC for precision instrumentation calibration and maintenance. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in aerospace-grade systems, often leveraging long-term service agreements and performance-based contracts to ensure reliability and technical continuity. These relationships are built on deep technical alignment, with vendors frequently engaged in early-stage requirements development and prototype validation phases. While the majority of his acquisitions—86.4%—are conducted without set-asides, Hertel demonstrates targeted support for small business participation, with 11.4% of awards designated for total small business set-asides and 2.3% reserved for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. His approach balances mission-critical performance needs with socioeconomic objectives, ensuring small businesses are competitively considered for niche capabilities where they can deliver specialized expertise. His procurement focus is overwhelmingly centered on NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in procuring mass spectrometers, spectrophotometers, and high-resolution signal analyzers. He also routinely acquires systems under NAICS 334519 for precision control devices and NAICS 811210 for calibration and repair services, underscoring his specialization in sustaining complex scientific hardware throughout its lifecycle.