Carol D. Castle

Carol D. Castle serves as a Contract Negotiator responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle for complex technical and support services across federal programs. In this role, she ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while facilitating fair and competitive contract awards. Her responsibilities include pre-solicitation planning, source selection support, contract drafting, and post-award negotiation to align vendor performance with mission objectives. She specializes in acquisitions involving aerospace components, fire protection systems, and independent testing services, often working with contractors to clarify technical requirements and ensure contractual clarity under FAR guidelines. While specific contractor names are not available, Castle maintains a balanced procurement approach, engaging both large prime contractors and small businesses across multiple tiers of the supply chain. Her negotiation style emphasizes transparency, risk mitigation, and performance-based outcomes, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in mutual accountability. She frequently collaborates with technical evaluators and program managers to align contracting strategies with operational needs, ensuring that deliverables meet stringent quality and safety standards. Castle demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 36.8% of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for small businesses, particularly those with expertise in niche technical domains. She avoids over-reliance on large prime contractors and actively promotes competition among qualified small businesses, aligning with broader federal socioeconomic goals without compromising acquisition integrity. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 336413 for other aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment, where she handles specialized components for defense and civil aviation systems. She also regularly procures fire protection systems (NAICS 922160) and independent testing laboratory services (NAICS 541380), demonstrating deep familiarity with technical specifications, certification requirements, and quality assurance protocols. Additional support services in security systems and general operations further underscore her versatility in managing diverse, mission-critical acquisitions.