April R. Bennett

April R. Bennett serves as a Contract Specialist at U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City (70Z081), under the Department of Homeland Security, where she manages the acquisition lifecycle for critical aviation and infrastructure support contracts. Her role is central to sustaining operational readiness by ensuring timely, compliant, and cost-effective procurement of specialized equipment and services essential to air station operations. She primarily handles complex acquisitions under FAR Part 15, with a focus on technical specifications for aircraft components, maintenance support, and facility modernization, often coordinating with engineering and logistics teams to align contract requirements with mission-critical needs. Bennett maintains established relationships with key contractors including C-PHASE SERVICES, LLC, STERILECO LLC, MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS CORPORATION, and JOHNS BROTHERS SECURITY, INC., reflecting a mix of specialized aviation support, environmental compliance, and security services vendors. Her contracting patterns indicate a preference for proven performers with demonstrated technical expertise in aviation systems and facility infrastructure, fostering long-term vendor partnerships built on reliability and regulatory adherence. Her procurement portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 93.3% of awards issued without set-asides, indicating a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is limited to 6.7% of awards, primarily under Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5), she ensures compliance with all socioeconomic requirements and actively evaluates small business capabilities when technical requirements align. Bennett’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), accounting for 86.7% of her activity, with additional emphasis on NAICS 488190 (Other Support Activities for Air Transportation) and 336412 (Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing). She specializes in procuring mission-critical aviation components, maintenance kits, and support services essential to Coast Guard rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft operations, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with aerospace logistics and federal aviation standards.