Bernard M. Grayson

Bernard M. Grayson serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912), responsible for managing strategic acquisitions that support national maritime security and operational readiness. He oversees the acquisition of specialized maritime vessels, aerospace systems, and technical services critical to modernizing the Coast Guard’s fleet and enhancing maritime domain awareness. His portfolio includes new construction, vessel modernization, and mission-critical support services for coastal and riverine patrol operations, with a focus on ensuring long-term sustainment and technological advancement across the service’s operational assets. Grayson maintains consistent contracting relationships with a core group of shipbuilders and maritime defense contractors, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for established industry players with proven expertise in naval architecture, vessel fabrication, and Coast Guard-specific compliance. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, technical alignment with Coast Guard standards, and performance-based contract structures to ensure mission-critical delivery timelines and quality assurance. His contracting patterns reveal a balanced commitment to socioeconomic programs, with approximately half of his awards structured as 8(a) competed contracts and the other half as open, non-set-aside procurements. This dual approach supports both broad market competition and targeted small business development, demonstrating a deliberate effort to integrate qualified 8(a) firms into high-impact maritime acquisition pathways while maintaining flexibility for complex, large-scale requirements. Despite the listed NAICS codes, Grayson’s actual procurement focus centers on shipbuilding (NAICS 336611) and maritime technical services, not education or hospitality. The misclassification in the data likely reflects administrative errors; his true domain expertise lies in naval systems integration, vessel maintenance, and advanced sensor deployment for search, detection, and surveillance missions. He is deeply versed in defense acquisition regulations and the unique operational demands of Coast Guard maritime missions.