Carrie Balactar

Carrie Balactar serves as a procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in advanced manufacturing and electronic instrumentation sectors. She plays a critical role in executing agency mission objectives by securing specialized equipment and technical systems essential for precision measurement, industrial control, and defense-related applications. Her acquisitions typically involve high-precision instruments, semiconductor components, and engineered surface coatings, requiring deep technical evaluation and compliance with federal procurement regulations under FAR Part 15. She ensures that procurements align with national security and technological readiness goals through rigorous source selection and contract administration. Balactar maintains a balanced contractor ecosystem, engaging both large-tier manufacturers and specialized small businesses capable of delivering custom-engineered solutions. She frequently collaborates with firms possessing ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications, particularly those with expertise in low-volume, high-reliability production. Her working relationships emphasize technical capability over volume, favoring vendors with proven track records in ruggedized instrumentation, signal conditioning systems, and controlled-environment manufacturing processes. She prioritizes responsiveness, quality control, and supply chain resilience in vendor selection. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 71.4% of awards issued under full and open competition. However, she consistently leverages Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to fostering innovation through small business participation. While no specific socioeconomic categories are dominant, her reliance on small business set-asides signals a strategic intent to cultivate a diverse supplier base with niche technical capabilities. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334515 and 334513, encompassing the acquisition of electrical signal measurement devices and industrial process control instruments. She also routinely procures metal coating and semiconductor manufacturing services, indicating expertise in electro-mechanical systems and defense-critical supply chains. Her domain knowledge spans precision metrology, embedded instrumentation, and high-reliability electronics, making her a key liaison between technical stakeholders and acquisition teams.