Candy L. Cross

Candy Cross serves as a secondary procurement liaison within the Defense Logistics Agency’s Energy office (SPE605), supporting the strategic acquisition of critical energy resources to sustain global military operations. While not a primary contracting officer, Cross plays a vital role in facilitating contract execution, vendor coordination, and compliance oversight for fuel supply chain initiatives. Their work centers on petroleum-based logistics, ensuring alignment with DLA Energy’s mission to maintain uninterrupted fuel availability for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Cross typically handles complex, high-priority acquisitions involving fuel procurement, storage, and distribution infrastructure, often collaborating with primary contracting officers to validate contractor performance and regulatory adherence. Cross maintains a focused working relationship with key contractors including QATAR FUEL (WOQOD) and UNITED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS GROUP, both of which provide essential international fuel logistics and supply chain support. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, performance-based agreements requiring strict compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses related to global energy security and contingency operations. The working pattern reflects a reliance on experienced, multinational vendors capable of delivering refined petroleum products under austere and dynamic operational conditions. Set-aside preferences reveal a nearly balanced approach between small business participation and open competition, with 49.1% of acquisitions designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This demonstrates a deliberate commitment to fostering small business engagement in the energy logistics sector, particularly among firms qualified to support fuel distribution and wholesale operations. While no specific socioeconomic set-asides dominate, the consistent use of small business set-asides underscores an institutional emphasis on broadening vendor diversity within the energy supply chain. The procurement portfolio is overwhelmingly concentrated in NAICS 324110 (Petroleum Refineries), reflecting deep expertise in the acquisition of refined fuels and related refining infrastructure. Secondary focus areas include NAICS 424720 for petroleum merchant wholesalers, indicating procurement of bulk fuel distribution services. Cross’s technical domain expertise lies in the end-to-end management of fuel supply chain logistics, from refinery output to forward-deployed military installations, ensuring operational readiness through compliant, resilient procurement practices.