Annette.H. Lakes

Annette H. Lakes serves as a Contract Specialist within the W072 Endist Chicago office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where she plays a pivotal role in executing civil infrastructure acquisitions critical to military readiness and national defense. She manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions for heavy civil engineering projects, including water control systems, harbor facilities, erosion control structures, and related public works infrastructure. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to enhance operational resilience through the planning, construction, and maintenance of vital civil works assets. Annette specializes in complex, multi-year construction and engineering contracts governed by FAR Part 36, ensuring compliance with federal regulations while delivering mission-critical capabilities on schedule. Annette maintains strong, ongoing relationships with key contractors such as MORRISH-WALLACE CONSTRUCTION, INC., and Boh Environmental, L.L.C., who consistently deliver high-value civil engineering services. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and contractor accountability, fostering long-term partnerships with firms possessing proven expertise in heavy construction and environmental remediation. She works closely with vendors to ensure technical compliance, safety standards, and sustainable construction practices across diverse project sites. Annette demonstrates a robust commitment to small business participation, with over half of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to promote economic opportunity and workforce development within the defense industrial base. While no set-aside remains a significant portion of her portfolio, her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores her dedication to socioeconomic contracting goals. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), with significant activity in water and sewer infrastructure (237110) and power line construction (237130). She routinely procures specialized services involving flood risk reduction, hydraulic engineering, and environmental compliance, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works standards and federal construction codes.