Carla W Howard

Carla W. Howard serves as a key procurement lead within the Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, supporting the U.S. Navy’s operational readiness through the acquisition of specialized industrial instrumentation and process control systems. Responsible for managing complex contracting actions under the N00189 authority, she ensures the timely delivery of mission-critical equipment used in naval platform maintenance, environmental monitoring, and technical diagnostics. Her acquisitions are strategically aligned with fleet sustainment priorities, focusing on high-precision instruments that measure, display, and control industrial process variables critical to maritime systems reliability. Howard maintains established working relationships with a select group of industry partners, including Obsidian Global, LLC, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Computational Physics Inc., among others. These partnerships reflect a blend of technical expertise and systems integration capabilities, with contractors providing advanced sensor technologies, data acquisition systems, and engineering support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, technical compliance, and lifecycle support, fostering long-term collaborations with firms capable of meeting stringent naval specifications and certification requirements. A strong advocate for small business participation, Howard consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Aside contracts, allocating approximately two-thirds of her acquisition portfolio to small businesses under FAR 19.5. This pattern underscores a deliberate strategy to cultivate a diverse supplier base capable of delivering niche instrumentation solutions, while ensuring equitable access to Department of Navy opportunities. Her contracting practices align with broader DoD socioeconomic goals, promoting innovation and capacity building within the small business community. Her procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 334513, encompassing the acquisition of industrial process control instruments, analog and digital display systems, and sensor-based monitoring equipment. These procurements directly support naval engineering and maintenance operations, requiring deep technical understanding of calibration standards, environmental ruggedization, and military-grade performance criteria. Howard’s expertise lies in translating complex technical requirements into solicitation language that ensures vendor compliance and mission effectiveness.