Carlos Bernal

Carlos Bernal serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock (N00167), supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to advance maritime warfare capabilities through research, development, and testing of naval systems. He manages complex acquisitions focused on advanced sensor integration, hydrodynamic performance, signature management, and propulsion technologies, ensuring alignment with strategic naval modernization priorities. His portfolio includes engineering services, specialized design, and mission-critical instrumentation procurement, often requiring technical oversight and compliance with stringent defense standards. Bernal plays a pivotal role in translating operational requirements into executable contract actions that support the lifecycle of surface and underwater platforms. He maintains established relationships with leading defense contractors including BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Goodrich Corp, and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, as well as specialized joint ventures such as CB Design & Huitt Zollars Joint Venture, LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established industry players with proven expertise in naval systems engineering, nonhazardous waste treatment for shipyard compliance, and advanced electronic manufacturing. His contracting approach emphasizes technical capability, past performance, and regulatory adherence over sole-source reliance, fostering competitive yet mission-focused vendor engagement. Bernal’s acquisition strategy reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 90.9% of awards issued under no set-aside provisions. While small business participation is limited, he consistently allocates approximately 9.1% of contracts to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating measured but deliberate support for small business involvement without compromising technical rigor or schedule integrity. His primary NAICS focus areas include 334511 for nautical and guidance systems, 541330 for engineering services, and 541490 for specialized design, underscoring deep technical engagement in sensor systems, computational modeling, and naval platform integration. He routinely procures high-precision instrumentation, prototype hardware, and systems engineering support critical to stealth, survivability, and underwater acoustics research.